News and Notices for Ocean Beach, Point Loma and the Beaches

OBHS presents “The  Carlson & Higgins  O.B. Scandals” – Thurs, April 21

This Thursday,  April 21, 7 pm  at P.L. United Methodist Church, 1984 Sunset Cliffs Blvd., O.B., the OBHS presents “The  Carlson & Higgins  O.B. Scandals” By Bruce Semelsberger. In 1887 Billy Carlson and Frank Higgins (credited as the founders of  O.B.) renamed “Mussel Beds” to “Ocean Beach”. Following that they were linked to numerous scandals. To name a few: land deals, an O.B. hotel and trains. Later Carlson became San Diego’s youngest Mayor; while Higgin’s became a tragic figure. Suggested OBHS Program donation $5, but any donation is appreciated.  Bruce Semelsberger is the Archivist for the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum 1985 – present. Bruce built an archival collection and gives lectures on the railroad. Bruce also lectures about local history. He has been prominent  feature speaker at The Congress of History of  San Diego and Imperial Counties annual conferences.

OB Green Center – Annual Anniversary Celebration Fundraiser- Sat., April 23rd

Come help the OB Green Center Celebrate Earth Day & 27 Years of Environmental, Peace,  and Social Justice Activism!  Saturday April 23, 2016 2:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.  There will be music & speakers, refreshments & raffle. It’s a Great Community Event! Honoring co-founders: Colleen Dietzel & Kip Krueger; Ocean Beach Green Center 4843 B Voltaire Street 92107, 619-225-1083

OB Pier Surf Classic on April 30th

The inaugural Ocean Beach Pier Surf Classic, sponsored by Hodad’s OB, AWOL Productions and Revolt Surf, a local surf contest for ages young and old, will take place 7 a.m. Saturday, April 30. The event will be raising funds for the Ocean Beach Community Foundation’s youth sports and activities in the 92107 area. There will also be Family Challenge divisions in longboard and shortboard competitions. AWOL (a way of life), established in 2002, is a local brand inspired by surf, skate and moto, which is a lifestyle dedicated to bringing the community of Ocean Beach together. For more information, visit obsurfclassic.com.

Meanwhile, Still Time for Art at Pier’s 50th Birthday Celebration

There’s still time for artists to enter submissions to qualify for the Ocean Beach Pier 50th Anniversary Art Show. Deadline for art submissions is 5 p.m. Friday, May 6. Applicants can send their high-quality digital entries to obpiercalltoartists@gmail.com. Submissions should include applicant contact information. To have questions answered, or for more information, call (619) 224-4906.

Frank Gormlie to Speak on “Hippies in OB” – Sat., April 30th – at OB Library

The editor of  the OB Rag, sometimes described as a gadfly and muckraker, is giving a talk on “the hippies of Ocean Beach” on Saturday, April 30th, at the OB Library, corner of Sunset Cliffs Blvd and Santa Monica Ave. Come for fun and discussion, 2 to 3 pm.

O.B. Reggae Band Remembers Patrolling Iran with New Single, “Black Line”

Based in Ocean Beach, electronic reggae band Trans_Conduit is fronted by Osprey Recording studio and label owner Kevin Mankins, alongside Cape May Sound operator Ed Fletcher (Cubensis, Electric Waste Band). An experience from Mankins’s service in the U.S. Navy from 2002 through 2011 inspired a new single, “Black Line,” named for the geographical boundary near the Persian Gulf coastline that his ship patrolled as part of the ongoing effort to keep nuclear materials out of Iran. SD Reader.

Richard Louv to Speak at Pre-Earth Day Event to Inspire a Reconnection with Nature

Best-selling author to donate book-signing proceeds to local environmental organizations. San Diego’s environmental organizations and a well-known, local author invite parents, grandparents, educators and all community leaders to celebrate the publication of his new book, “Vitamin N: The Essential Guide to a Nature-Rich Life.” Attendees will have the opportunity to interface with more than two dozen exhibitors, each working to connect children and families with the natural world in San Diego. Richard Louv, a San Diego resident, is an esteemed journalist and author of nine books, including the New York Times bestseller, “Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder.”  Tuesday, April 19 at 7 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University campus, inside Brown Chapel (3900 Lomaland Drive, San Diego, 92106.

Jessops Project Battles Point Loma Grassroots Group

The controversial Jessop project has had its ups and downs. Now opponents, a grass-roots group known as Preserve Point Loma (PPL), claim numerous problems with it, such as steep narrow access, concerns for fire safety and fears of a potentially unstable hillside. Detractors also allege the project is inconsistent with the Peninsula Community Plan, insisting as well that it deviates from the City Municipal Code.

See our first report and earlier reporting – and on Feb. 9, 2015 we stated:

The group Preserve Point Loma has mobilized its supporters to try to prevent the City Council from voting to approve a project on the grounds of the Jessop family estate. The 4 lot subdivision is being proposed for the old Jessop estate, which is located at 414 La Crescentia Drive. Members of Preserve Point Loma believe the project, known as “The Point Loma Summit Subdivision” is in violation of the Peninsula Community Plan. Not approved by the Peninsula planners but approved by the San Diego Planning Commission, it’s the showdown of the month at the City Council….

For the latest see San Diego Community News Group – Controversial Point Loma Summit project back in court.

Taste of Point Loma – Wed., April 20th

Wednesday, April 20th is the annual Taste of Point Loma, and 20 restaurants will be serving up their samples. The event, hosted by the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, is scheduled from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Shuttle services will be available to attendees throughout the night. Participating restaurants include Bali Hai, The Elegant Truffle, The Wine Pub, Seaside Pho & Grill, Brigantine Seafood & Oyster Bar, EAT at The Pearl, Miguel’s Cocina, Quarterdeck Restaurant & Bar, Vessel Restaurant at Kona Kai, Old Venice Restaurant, Mitch’s Seafood, Point Loma Café, Northside Shack, Pomodoro Restaurant Italiano, Pummaro, Blue Wave Bar & Grill, Westy’s Antiques & Tavern, Point Break Cafe and The Living Room Coffeehouse & Bistro. For more, Times of San Diego

Revenge Girls Take Over the Masons

A local performance troupe will take over Ocean Beach’s Masonic Lodge with an original dinner-theater presentation of a rollicking Old West tale of women seeking their revenge and the men who must pay for their foul deeds. Featuring live music, sexy dancers, a full dinner and a few surprises, the play’s cast and crew have an Ocean Beach flavor. “It’s mostly Ocean Beach people,” said Sooty Hetrick, producer and co-writer of “Revenge Girls of the West.” The performances at 7 p.m. on April 23 and 24 will be the third time Shetrick Entertainment has produced “immersive” theater at the Masonic, where the wall separating actors and audience is removed. sdnews.com

OBcean Honored by USD for Net-Based Mortgage Co.

Vincent Kasperick, who created AimLoan.com, an Internet-based mortgage company, will be honored by the University of San Diego on April 30. Kasperick, who received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of San Diego School of Business in 1984, will receive the Author E. Hughes Award for Career Achievement. Vincent and his spouse, Candance, are OB residents. More.

Body of Man Washed Ashore Near Belmont Park on Apr. 15

A man in a wetsuit was found dead April 15 in the surf near a popular oceanfront restaurant at Belmont Park. A beachgoer spotted the body of Robert Jeckel Jr., 52, near the Cannonball restaurant in the 3100 block of Ocean Front Walk shortly before 5 a.m., according to the county Medical Examiner’s Office and San Diego Fire- Rescue Department. A ruling on what led to the death of Jeckel, who apparently had no fixed address of residence, was on hold pending autopsy results. Fox5

Point Loman Wins Real Estate Award – Involved in Famosa Project

Kyle Clark, senior director at The Heritage Group, has been named a 2015 CoStar Power Broker by CoStar Group Inc. The annual industry award recognizes distinguished professionals in commercial real estate brokerage. Recognition is awarded to firms and individual brokers who closed the highest transaction volumes in commercial property sales or leases in 2015 within their respective markets. Clark is actively involved in the Point Loma community. He previously served as commodore of the San Diego Yacht Club. Clark has local transactions, including something close to Ocean Beach, the sale of the commercial component of the new Famosa mixed-use project at the intersection of Catalina and Voltaire. sdnews.com

Annual Point Loma Cluster Choral Concert – April 28th

The voices of the 3 main public schools unite on April 28th for the annual Point Loma Cluster Choral Concert. Dana and Correia middle schools along with Point Loma High School have choral groups – that will perform separately at the 3rd annual event. It will be held at Correia Middle School, 4302 Valeta St. The entertainment begins at 6:30 p.m. Because the choir programs are unfunded, financial support remains a priority, and a raffle and bake sale will be held to generate a sustaining budget.

PB Has Local Futbol Club

Pacific Beach has its own pro club to root for on Saturday evenings at Mission Bay High School. Albion SC Pros has tapped into the local passion for futbol by playing home games on the Buccaneers’ pitch with a fun, festive family-friendly atmosphere. sdnews.com

Temecula Molester Caught in OB

A Temecula-area man who had been accused of sexually abusing a girl has pleaded guilty and is expected to face 50 years in prison. He went missing and ended up being caught in Ocean Beach. Press Enterprise

PB Town Council Meets on Crime Issues

People on the PB Town Council feel the crime rates in Pacific Beach has increased. They believe  complicating factors are under-staffing at the SDPD, city and state policies that complicate enforcing laws, and alcohol related crimes. So, they have organized a PB community meeting to discuss crime issues. Speakers include Capt. Mark Hanten, SDPD Northern Division, and Rob Hall, Media Specialist.

The meeting will be Wednesday, April 20th at Crown Point Jr Music Academy, 4033 Ingraham St @ Pacific Beach Drive. Meeting begins at 6:30pm, speakers at 7:00pm. The contact person is Denise Friedman, who can be reached – denisewfriedman@gmail.com

Walk to Fight Stigma of Mental Illness – April 30th at Liberty Station

On Saturday, April 30, thousands of walkers and runners are expected for the 2016 San Diego County NAMI Walk and Health and Human Services Agency Wellness Expo. The event will take place from 7:30 a.m. to noon at NTC Park in Liberty Station, 2455 Cushing Road, in Point Loma. The walk kicks off May Is Mental Health Month and is one of the most public displays of support for mental health issues and stigma reduction. The event is free and open to the public. sdnews.com

Coastkeeper Ocean Commotion Concert – Sat., April 30 – Campland

San Diego Coastkeeper invites San Diego to party for area waters at its fifth annual Ocean Commotion Concert on Saturday, April 30 at Campland on the Bay. The vent at celebrates aquatic playgrounds and raises money to protect and restore San Diego County’s water quality and supply. Oceanside’s The Barnwell Shift will again donate a performance and headline the show. In addition to funky music, guests can participate in a drawing for prizes from an array of local businesses. Past years’ drawings included gift certificates to restaurants and breweries, surf and skate gear, apparel, vacation stays, beach rentals and more. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 the day of the show. Parking inside Campland is also available for $10 a vehicle. For more information about this event, visit sdcoastkeeper.org.