OB Rag’s Week-End Sedition News From Ocean Beach and Point Loma

Pelicans in the sunset. Photo by Jim Grant.

Here’s the OB Rag’s “Weekend Sedition” – a round-up of local Ocean Beach and Point Loma news and notes and observations, plus other news of interest.

Memorial for Anne Gillin on Sat., May 16

A memorial for Anne Gillin will be held on Saturday at 3 pm on Bermuda Beach, at the end of Bermuda Ave. Please bring your photos of her for a collage, and your fond memories. Anne’s body was found off Shelter Island on April 28.

 City Atty Office Ordered 10 Medical Pot Dispensaries to Close – Including 1 in OB

The City Attorney’s Office ordered 10 marijuana dispensaries closed Thursday after illegal pot shops were found operating around the county. … So far, the City Attorney’s Office has closed 265 illegal dispensaries. The City Council has established specific guidelines for the locations and conditions in which marijuana dispensaries can operate legally in San Diego. … The dispensaries ordered closed [included]: Coastal ReLeaf OB, 5056 Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach. Defendant was the property owner, Gary R. Hoag, also known as Gary R. Corio. Coastal ReLeaf OB was ordered closed on April 22, 2015. KUSI.

Colony of Cats Fed by OB Joggers and Bikers

A colony of cats abandoned by their owners has taken over a jetty in Ocean Beach and they are living in the rocks. The county says there is nothing they can do, but neighbors are taking action. Tom Voss was cycling in the area when he noticed the cats and saw that people were feeding them by putting out dishes of food and water. Now Voss and others pack a little food before a ride or a walk down the jetty… 10News  found out there is a local group that traps the cats, gets them fixed and brings them back to the jetty. They have managed to get the number of cats in the colony down from 80 to about 35.

Collier Park Tree

The eucalyptus tree in Collier Park that fell during the night in last weekend’s storm has been totally removed and the site has been cleared up by city workers.  The park’s drinking fountain was also fixed.

March vs Monsanto – May 23

The March and Rally is scheduled for May 23, 2015. People are encouraged to arrive at 10am to visit educational displays, followed by the Rally at 11am, and the March, starting at Noon. The event location is the Bea Evenson Fountain at Balboa Park, between the Ruben H. Fleet Space Theater and the Natural History Museum. Parking is plentiful and free.March Against Monsanto San Diego Organizers Consider Route with GMO-Free Chipotle Restaurants

The third year of the event, the March on Monsanto drew more than 2,400 marchers in the first year, and the quality of the event has improved each year. Organizers expect a large turnout and heavy media coverage this year due to the World Health Organization announcement that Monsanto’s Roundup is carcinogenic, lawsuits by the City of San Diego and the San Diego Port District against Monsanto for polluting San Diego Bay with PCBs, and now this stunning announcement that a major restaurant chain is banning GMOs.

Robert Scheer in Town at Benefit Dinner – May 16th

On Saturday, May 16, progressive radio station KNSJ 89.1 will host a benefit dinner and presentation by award-winning editor, author, and investigative journalist Robert Scheer.  This event will be held at the First Church of the Brethren at 3850 Westgate Place, San Diego.  Mr. Scheer will discuss his latest book, They Know Everything About You:  How Data-Collecting Corporations and Snooping Government Agencies Are Destroying Democracy.”  The dinner will go from 6-7 pm, while the talk is scheduled from 7-9 pm. Tickets for the dinner and talk combined will cost $16 in advance and $19 at the door. Tickets may also be purchased separately for $10 each. Tickets can be purchased online from knsj.org. Proceeds from the dinner and presentation will go towards the continued funding of KNSJ 89.1.

Plum Street House in Perpetual Remodel Under Ultimatum

The courts have ordered the owner of a “perpetual remodel” on Plum Street in Point Loma to resume work on his half-finished mansion, setting target dates for him to complete work and also make needed public improvements, like sidewalk replacement.  After years of inaction, Point Lomans are hopeful the city will now finally hold property owner Francisco Mendiola’s feet to the fire. They expect the city to ensure the property owner will meet his court-ordered deadlines and finish his abandoned remodel at the corner of 1676 Plum St. and Lowell. San Diego Community News Group 

Carlsbad May Have Won Fight Against Power Plant

Carlsbad’s long fight against a big, ugly power plant on the shores of its beautiful beaches, long considered uphill, may yet end in victory. The California Public Utilities Commission, after years of supporting NRG’s bid to build more plants on the site, last week did an abrupt about-face, voting to not approve San Diego Gas & Electric’s proposed contract for a new natural gas plant until more information rolls in about alternative, renewable energy sources.

NRG won’t build the plant unless it has a contract in place to sell the energy that gets generated by the plant, whose construction appeared a sure thing, especially after the San Onofre Nuclear Generation Station was shut down three years ago. Seaside Courier.

PL-OB Dems Program on Sex Trafficking of Minors in San Diego – May 17

The Point Loma – OB Democratic Club is holding their monthly meeting, May 17, and the program consists of a presentation and panel on “Sex Trafficking of Minors in San Diego: Why is this problem growing and what can we do to put a stop to this modern day slavery?”  It’s free and open to the public beginning at 4:00PM – 5:30PM at the Point Loma Assembly, 3035 Talbot St, San Diego, CA 92106 For additional info call (619) 800-5098 or here.

Trafficking is a lucrative and growing business. San Diego has one of the highest rates of sex trafficking in the nation. Rather than shy away from an uncomfortable subject this month’s meeting looks to discuss the issue openly and especially as it applies to our community. Clubmember Sarah Boot  organized a panel of speakers and will be the moderator. Panelists include Alessandra Serano, Asst US Attorney,  Sergeant Chris Cameron, of the San Diego County Human Trafficking Task Force, Susan Munsey, the Executive Director and founder of GenerateHope, a long-term recovery program for young women caught up in the trade.

Overweight, the San Salvador Replica Postpones Official Launch

From Dave Rice at The Reader: “The planned floating of the full-scale replica of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo’s 1542 ship, the San Salvador, was grounded prior to its highly anticipated April 19 launch date. Engineers discovered the 151-ton ship weighed too much. “It was 20 tons more than expected,” said Robyn Gallant, the San Diego Maritime Museum’s spokesperson. It turned out to weigh more than the largest crane in San Diego could handle.” More.   We heard that the new launch date is sometime this summer.

52 Crimes Within One Mile Radius of Bacon Street Over 10 Day Period

The Crime report for 4/24/2015 – 5/3/2015 indicates that 52 crimes were found.  This is within a 1 mile radius of 2160 Bacon St, San Diego, California, 92107. By our quick count, this slice of OB shows 22 crimes involved alcohol or drugs, including minor in possession and DUIs, 13 involved some kind of theft, residential burglary or car theft, 7 were instances of physical battery, 6 were vandalism or malicious mischief, 3 were for fraud and one for criminal threats. Why this period? It’s just what we had available.

John Noble of Coastal Sage Adopts a Plot in Balboa Park

Peninsula gardener John Noble and his associates have adopted a garden in the heart of Balboa Park that was showcased in the recent May 9 “party of the century,” one of the major events of the park’s 2015 centennial celebration. “It has been the most wonderful experience of my life,” said Noble, who took part in support group Friends of Balboa Park’s Adopt-A-Plot program with the city’s Park & Recreation Department for the 2015 centennial. San Diego Community News Group

Point Loma Nazarene Extends Nursing Program

Following a similar agreement made between Point Loma Nazarene University and Palomar College, students at San Diego City and MiraCosta colleges this fall will be able to earn bachelor degrees in nursing at their campuses. … The state board did not allow any of the 15 colleges to offer degrees in nursing, a field where graduates are in high demand. The private Point Loma Nazarene University stepped in to offer nursing instead. Applications for the nursing program can be found at http://gps.pointloma.edu/rn-to-bsn.