Month: July 2015

July Events at the Ocean Beach Green Center

July 9th Thursday 7 p.m. Film Night “I Am” – is a 2010 documentary by commercially successful director Tom Shadyac.

July Events NOT at the Ocean Beach Green Center

July 9 Thursday 11:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m. Solar for Homeowners

July 11 Saturday 10:00 a.m. Climate Mobilization Coalition Come help plan for the upcoming events in San Diego on climate action. Meetings on Saturdays at People’s Co-op in the community room, 4765 Voltaire St.

July 11 Saturday 1:00 – 3:00 1oo Year Centennial of the Red House – OB’s famous activist house from the 1970s has been preserved by the Gawronskis, and they’re having a celebration at the place itself.

July 11 Saturday 9:00 a.m. Friends of Famosa Slough work parties . Meet along W. Pt. Loma Blvd about 200 feet east of the corner of Famosa Blvd. and W. Pt. Loma Blvd Nature and Bird Walks July 18 Saturday 1:00 p.m. .

An Interview With CEO, Dr. David Blair

By Barbara Zaragoza / South Bay Compass

Eye On The Locals: I’m a curious person and when I see something historic happening in my community, I feel an urgent need to document and ask questions. When A Green Alternative opened in Otay Mesa on March 20, 2015 — only two blocks from a major U.S.-Mexico port of entry — I couldn’t help but find out more.

(Editor: The OB Rag covered its opening back in March.)

A Green Alternative is the first medicinal marijuana dispensary that has legally opened in the City and County of San Diego. It’s a historic moment, highly controversial and located in my neck of the wood–the South Bay. So I walked right up to the storefront security guard and asked for an interview.

As the CEO, Dr. David Blair, later told me: he asks his staff not to treat people the way they would like to be treated, but to treat people the way …

By Ernie McCray

I’ve been thinking about an old departed friend. My best friend. Thomas Ross. Loved the dude although we were dissimilar in some ways. He was stocky and bear-like strong and prone to growl every now and then and I was sinewy and laid back, trying to live life with a grin.

Anyway, he’s been on my mind because his son, Ron, keeps me posted on his grandson, Tavian, who’s got college track coaches salivating to beat the band because the dude recently ran the 400 in forty-seven-point-six seconds (47.60).

Thomas would say to that: “The dude can step, Jack!” He would be so proud of his progeny. Especially since he’s doing his thing for Tucson High, our old high school. And, we were pretty decent jocks too. Football. Basketball. All-State and all. Living the life, strutting down the hall, wearing the big red “T.” “Badgers” to the bone!

OBcean Lives Off the Grid

Local Kids’ Recipes Chosen in School District Contest

Trash is down this year due to Mallow Out campaign; Volunteers picked up 2,140 pounds of trash on “Day After”

OB Friends of the Library Meet Tues, July 14

OB Historical Society Presents: Newport Ave.-Thru-The-Decades – July 16th

Coast-to-Coast Run Ends in OB
Another Officer Shooting With No Body Camera
Hula Hoop Dance Instructor Got Start in OB
Background on Pizza Port
Future Lifeguards Did the Plunge

Councilwoman On Hand to Announce Funding for 2 Park Rangers for Area

By Lois Lane

When the Sunset Cliffs Natural Park Advisory Committee held their July 6th meeting, District 2 Councilwoman Lorie Zapf was the main event. Elected more than a year ago, she stated she had “waited until she had good news” to visit us.

Before 25 attendees, Zapf announced the addition of two park rangers for the park from the recently-approved City of San Diego budget. One ranger will cover Ocean Beach and Sunset Cliffs; the other will be assigned across all city beach parks.

Originally published on July 7, 2015.

At the most recent Ocean Beach Planning Board meeting last week, Chair John Ambert outlined a number of OB intersections that will have crosswalks and stop signs installed, information released to the OBPB by the City.

Five intersections are impacted and affected. The funds for four of them have not yet been identified – only Newport and Abbott improvements earmarked. The other projects are under review and do not have funding at this time.

Come inside for the list and photos.

By John Lawrence

Pakistan’s heat wave took a toll of more than 1200 dead, the deadliest heat wave on record. Power outages added to the misery, leaving many without fans, water or light at the beginning of Ramadan, when many Muslims do not eat or drink during daylight hours. More than 14,000 people were hospitalized in Karachi, the nation’s largest city.

The heat wave came just weeks after torrid temperatures caused nearly 2,200 deaths in neighboring India. This devastating weather is being seen as the effects of human-caused climate change. The Pakistan heat wave will join the heat wave in India as one of the 10 deadliest in world history.

In the latest OB Rag poll of our readers on who they’d like to see in San Diego’s mayor seat, Donna Frye, David Alvarez and Kevin Faulconer took the lead.

Of the top three, Donna Frye came out ahead with 26%. David Alvarez had 23%, barely nudging out Kevin Faulconer who received 22%. Frye – a former City Councilwoman and top contender for mayor a few years ago, was the top choice of all the possible candidates.

Other well-known Democrats were in the single-digits, with Toni Atkins with 7%, Lorena Gonzalez at 4% and Nathan Fletcher at 1%.

Originally posted at OB Rag on July 6, 2015

By Bob Sorben – Creator of the Original OB Seagull

Back in the 50’s and early 60’s we all hung out on the beach at the foot of Newport. OB was ruled by the locals and the defense of our beach town from outsiders was almost tribal. We fought with other local communities whenever an occasion arose. Of course, there were always fights amongst ourselves, and some just liked to fight.

The Point was actually broken up into clubs and each had followers, but we intermingled as one. The Sunset Surfers of the 40’s & 50’s and, the Qwiigs Surfing Club, which dated back to the 30’s were the beginning.

By Jim Miller

Just when you think you can go about your daily routine unmolested, you come across an article while you are having your morning cup of coffee telling you that, “Scientists show that future events decide what happens in the past.”

From OB Town Council.

Here’s photos comparing Saturday, July 4th this year with what it all looked like in 2013, 2 years ago.

The Ocean Beach planners were certainly busy at their last meeting, held on Wednesday, July 1st. They approved 2 projects, one on Santa Monica and the other on Cape May, they heralded an update on crosswalks and stop signs coming to OB, and they hosted an impromptu debate on the status of OB’s Community Plan Update.

Concerns Raised Over Status of OB Community Plan

Several veterans of OB’s Community Plan update process expressed their concerns over the status of the plan – as it is currently heading to the August meeting of the California Coastal Commission, to be held locally in Chula Vista. Both Mindy Pellissier and Gio Ingolia, co-chairs of the committee that led the update process, were concerned about the timing and any changes to the Plan that city staff were making.