Month: September 2015

*Hundreds Paddled Around OB Pier for Clean Water
*Nico’s California Burrito Wins 2nd Place
*OB Pizza Port Beer Wins 2 Bronzes
*OB Friends of Library Book Sale Report
*OB Rag Quoted By Former Nemesis on Short Term Vacation Rentals
*Pt Loma Nazarene Institute Study: Military Continues to Dominate San Diego Economy
*Gigantic 660-Plus Pound Marlin Off Point Loma
*Annual Cabrillo Festival Was Different This Year – New Discovery of Cabrillo’s Spanish Heritage
*Kids can fish for prizes in Ocean Beach Fishing Derby Saturday, Oct. 3rd
*Maryland’s Washington College Gives Props to Local Pt Loma Woman Volleyball Player
*Cliff Collapse at Tourmaline Sends Short-Term Renters Packing
*Former Sharp Cabrillo Hospital Property Sold for Language School in the Midway
*Former Midway Post Office Sold to Developer Planning Warehouse and Office Project
*Gulls Coming to the Midway District
Other Midway News
*Oktoberfest in Ocean Beach, Oct. 9-10

By Jill Richardson / OtherWords

When I began writing about agriculture nearly a decade ago, I learned quickly that people generally believed that Roundup, the best-selling weed killer made by Monsanto, was relatively harmless.

Roundup breaks down quickly, everyone said — and into non-toxic components, they added. If homeowners can buy it at gardening stores, and cities around the United States use it to kill weeds in parks where children play, it must be benign, right?

Wrong. Within the past year, the story has changed.

Two Locals Chosen to Be Observers

As of this posting, a simulated airplane crash is going on off the coast of Ocean Beach – Wednesday morning. It’s purpose is to help prepare first-responders for an actual event.

Scheduled to begin somewhere between 9 and 9:30 a.m., it reportedly can be seen from the OB Pier.

More than 300 first-responders – lifeguards, medics, police, and Coast Guard personnel – are expected to take part. They are the ones who would be directly involved in the real thing. Today’s mass-rescue exercise centers around a mock airliner crash-landing in the ocean.

From Hodad’s facebook website:

Years and years working for Bossman, it’s been an honor!

We discussed all these things we’d love to do for our city, our town, our beach, our community, our schools, our military, our customers and the Hodads employees.

He had this idea, that after every summer we wanted to treat ALL his employees to something to show his appreciation for all their hard work and loyalty. He always said that his biggest asset is his employees.

Nuclear Shutdown News chronicles the decline and fall of the nuclear power industry, both in the US and worldwide, and highlights the efforts of those who are working to create a nuclear free future.

By Michael Steinberg /Black Rain Press

Disaster Capitalism and the Shutdown of the San Onofre Nuclear Plant

This story starts with a clandestine dinner in Warsaw, Poland. Present are Michael Peevey, president of the California Public Utility Commission, and Stephen Pickett, a high ranking official with Southern California Edison, a major electrical utility.

5109 – 5111 Brighton: 2 Old Houses to Be Demolished and “Deviation” From OB’s Community Plan Sought

Once again, developers are attempting to push the envelop of OB’s famous FAR – floor area ratio – under the guise of building a “green” project. A proposed project for 5109 and 5111 Brighton calls for the demolition of two old houses and the construction of two single-family residences.

Trouble is, according to our count – the planned residences will total 4,668 square feet on a lot that is only .12 acres – or approximately 5,227 square feet.

Report of OBTC Meeting of Sept. 23rd

In an historic first – probably – the Ocean Beach Town Council held their monthly public meeting outside. Due to some kind of alarm problem at their usual venue – the Masonic Center – which made it impossible to meet inside, the Town Council met right outside using the blare of lights to illuminate their goings-on. Sixty audience members joined the ten or so OBTC board members.

Peninsula Closer to Getting New Park

By Don Sevrens

Ocean Beach and Point Loma, two of our city’s older neighborhoods, grew up haphazardly before the era of modern planning. Today they are 700 acres or more short of meeting park and recreational standards of 20 acres per 1,000 population. They also lack adequate recreation center facilities. Almost completely built out and with growing density, the peninsula communities can’t erase their park deficits.

So, a new park emerging is big – and welcome – news.

By Jim Miller

Last week the Pope came to America and delivered his groundbreaking message about the interrelated problems of climate change and economic inequality as well as the moral imperative to act to address them.

We heard this message at the same time we learned that we have lost half the world’s marine animals since 1970 and that Exxon’s own research had confirmed the human role in climate change decades ago even as they were heavily funding efforts to block solutions.

By the Ol’ OB Hippie

Does the Pope smoke dope? Does Pope Francis imbibe in the inhalation of medicinal cannabis?

No, really – I wanted to know if the Pope smoked dope. I have heard rumors to that effect – for years actually. And I wanted to find out.
I knew he was coming to the U.S., so I had to figure out a way to meet up with him.

Friends of the OB Library are holding their next Book Sale this Saturday, September 26, from 9:30 to 12:30 in front of our historic library. The Ocean Beach Branch Library is at 4801 Santa Monica Avenue.

Proceeds from the Book Sale go to fund books, materials, programs, and equipment for our wonderful library.

Last Week of OB Library Fine Discount Month

About 4pm on Thursday, Sept. 24th in the Midway District, reporter / photographer Dave Rice noticed a water show that he wanted to share with us.

The water show – a geyser in the Home Depot parking lot – was flooding the area.

Yet another water main break.

These photos tell the story.