“OB Gothic” – Jane and Tom Gawronski
Highlights of O.B.’s Historic Beach Cottages
The OB Historical Society’s monthly presentation this month is all about OB’s historic cottages. Kathy Blavatt, Jane Gawronski & Tom Gawronski will give the presentation about O.B.’sHistoric Beach Cottages, a subject that is near-and-dear to their hearts. All three have local planning board experience and been advocates in preserving our historic structures.
Tom and Jane own historic Ocean Beach homes including the famous “Red House”. Kathy has interviewed cottage owners, collected photos and written about O.B.’s historic homes. These presenters will talk about the importance of the Mills Act, the role the cottages play in the Ocean Beach Community Plan (approved at San Diego City Council 2014), and in retaining our beach town character.
Cottage owners are welcome and encouraged to talk and show photos of their houses towards the last segment of the program. Please come and learn why preserving O.B.’s cottages is so important. This program is FREE! Thursday, February 19, at 7 pm at the P.L. United Methodist Church at 1984 Sunset Cliffs Blvd., O.B.
OBceans Upset with Maroutis’ Arrest
Many OBceans were concerned and upset with the arrest of well-known Jimmy Maroutis last Sunday, Feb. 15th. There were 100’s of hits, 143 “likes” and over 2 dozen comments to our report on his arrest, when we last looked. Several commenters said they were making complaints about it, as it was absurd for the police to arrest this person, who usually pushes a cart through the streets and alleys of northeast Ocean Beach. His description did not fit that of the stabber. This push-back has even generated a response by SDPD Lieutenant Jason Weeden, Western Division in the comments to that article.
The OB Rag spoke with Maroutis yesterday, Tuesday, Feb. 17th. He confirmed that he was handcuffed, thrown into the back of a police SUV, and taken to a cell at Western Division, where he was questioned without his lawyer present about the stabbing. He told us he doesn’t go up the hill to the site of the stabbing. He seemed anxious and worried, although we reassured him that he was not charged with any crime.
Local Artist David Linton Passes
A well-known local water-color and pastel artist, David Linton passed away unexpectedly Jan. 30, 2015. David and his wife, Carol, have been long-time Ocean Beach residents. The Beacon reports:
This award-winning artist exhibited in some of the leading galleries in Boston, New York, Hartford, Los Angeles and San Diego. He was commissioned to do paintings and design work for the 1987, 1992 and 1995 America’s Cup events, painted Bob Dole’s portrait at a GOP Convention in San Diego; portraits of Cher and Arthur Ashe, murals and his illustrations were featured in many monthly San Diego magazines. He did in-store demonstrations and taught color theory for companies such as Sennilier, Windsor & Newton, daVinci and many more.
More about David, his paintings and reproductions: DavidLintonArt.com.
Two People Rescued by Lifeguards at Sunset Cliffs.
Two people were rescued by lifeguards during an incident that happened around 1:40 p.m. on the 1200 block of Sunset Cliffs Boulevard, on Sunday, Feb 15, 2015. They were transported from the scene, officials said, and lifeguards said they were rescuing a surfer that fell on the rocks at Sunset Cliffs. There were injuries in the water, they said. The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department and the San Diego Lifeguards responded. 7SanDiego
Famosa Slough and Mission Bay Wetlands Walk
The Reader ran an informative and descriptive view of a walk through the last remant of the Mission Bay wetlands, including OB’s Famosa Bay.
The Famosa Slough State Marine Conservation Area is a 25-acre wetland that connects to the San Diego River Estuary via a 12-acre natural channel. The slough includes fresh water, brackish, and salt-marsh habitats. It is a “go to” spot for birders, neighbors, and those interested in what is the remnant of the San Diego river delta at the south end of False Bay or Mission Bay wetlands.
Bossman Died of Natural Causes and Hodad’s Opened in 1973 – Not 1969
Many know by now, but just to pass the word to those that haven’t heard, at 56, Mike “Bossman” Hardin of Hodad’s passed away due to natural causes, a heart attack. An autopsy had been performed. Mike was found in a hotel room at a Holiday Inn in Chowchilla, Calif., by hotel staff around 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5th. Hardin had checked in the night before. He had been up in Oregon visiting his daughter and was driving back to OB to participate in a memorial for Kyle Witkowski, one of Mike’s workers killed in a car crash.
Channel 10News, which had broken the story, had initially reported that his body had been found in a Fresno hotel – later determined not to be true. The news station stated that “a family friend initially told 10News he had been found in a Fresno hotel,” about 30 miles from Chowchilla. Mike’s death and his legendary restaurant were in the mainstream San Diego news for deaths. Most – if not all – of the press got something wrong about Mike and his parents. To a station, they all reported that the original Hodad’s – a burger stand on the beach, opened in 1969. Not true. In an interview in 2009 with the OB Rag, we reported:
After their first hamburger place in El Cajon, Bryon and Virginia in 1973 bought a little burger stand in OB, right on the beach. It was called “Hodad’s”. They paid a local character by the name of Billy B for it, giving him all of $600.
U-T San Diego Gives Hidden Props to OB Rag and Missed ‘the Roger Hedgecock Scandal’
In its Sunday edition on Feb. 15th, the U-T San Diego did a special 2-page lay-out on San Diego’s “Scandals and Scoundrels” with photos and text on most of the Finest City’s dirty underwear. At the bottom of the pages were lists of “also-rans” by year – minor scandals of the past. One of them, listed for 2010, was the dust-up over the ‘don’t feed our homeless’ sticker in Ocean Beach. This is the U-T’s way of giving the OB Rag props, as we started the dust-up, calling for a boycott of the store that was selling the stickers, etc. The newspaper can’t come out and actually give out name, oh no.
The same spread in Sunday’s U-T mysteriously omits one of our city’s most endearing scandals and scoundrels, the Roger Hedgecock scandal where he – as mayor – had to resign to the spreading Dominilli scandal – which was mentioned. Hey, U-T, why does Roger get a pass?
Volunteers Plant 2000+ Trees Along the Planned River Parkway from OB to Mountains
A local tech firm and the San Diego River Park Foundation did some work just recently on the planned 52-mile river parkway that will stretch someday from the mountains near Julian to the sands of Ocean Beach. The City of Santee bought the Walker Preserve and have been sprucing it up. Over 2000 trees and scrubs were planted in the Santee section. U-T San Diego
Pacific Beach Pub Evacuated Due to Fire
A fire that began in the kitchen at the Pacific Beach Ale House on Grand Avenue had to be evacuated due to 2-alarm fire 3:13 p.m., on Feb. 16. Over a 100 customers and workers had to get out. Damage to the was estimated at $1 million, according to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department. The two-story building’s and the blaze was knocked down and fortunately no injuries were reported.
Local Surf-Rock Legend Recorded on OB Pier
Local surf-rock legend John Reis, also known as Speedo, Slasher and The Swami, teamed up with psychedelic punk band, The Blind Shake, for his latest project entitled Modern Surf Classics. -They set up and recorded on the Ocean Beach Pier and in the sand under the Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach. – The Daily Aztec
OB Warehouse Kicks Off Bubbly Brunch
Saturday, Feb. 21, OB Warehouse rolls out its “Beats, Bubbles & Brunch” service, offered from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, the brunch menu will include a mix of traditional breakfast dishes, fondues, pastries, salads and flatbreads, as well as $2 mimosas and $5 bloody marys, along with live music. OB Warehouse is at 4839 Newport Avenue, Ocean Beach.
Lysley Tenorio at the Writer’s Symposium at Point Loma Nazarene
Lysley Tenorio will be part of the Writer’s Symposium by the Sea, Tuesday, Feb. 24, the annual event at Point Loma Nazarene University. When: Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 7 p.m. Where: Crill Performance Hall, Point Loma Nazarene University, 3900 Lomaland Drive, Point Loma. Tickets: $10.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
“…one of our city’s most endearing scandals and scoundrels, Roger Hedgecock…” ‘endearing’ to whom?
I’m sure the Rag meant “enduring” much as it meant “rescued” instead of “recused” in the lifeguard story. I used to read the Detroit Free Press when I lived in Michigan and it was a major daily newspaper. The OB Rag shines in comparison to the typos and misspellings that paper was full of, but with either, the pints come through, eh Mr. Rick?
Hey Frank, why was I not informed about these pints coming through? I’d like to lay claim to at least a pitcher’s worth…
That’s a shame about Dave Linton. I found his work in the PB Post Office sometime ago and was quite taken with it. I went to his home and bought two prints of his OB Pier watercolor pictures, one as a nightscape and the other as a dayscape. I have the night version hanging in my office behind me right now. My son has the other in his home. David really was talented. When I commented on Mike Hardin’s passing I said that the death of young people and comedians affected me the most but I would also include artists. They provide something positive and uplifting in a world that sorely needs it. My condolences to Mr. Linton’s family, and to the world in general.
Is there a public memorial planned for Mike “Bossman” Hardin ? I’m sure lots of obeceans and ‘obeceans at heart’ surely want to pay their respects Mike was a ‘big bro’ to many both young and old and his passing really digs at this obecean.