News and Notices from Ocean Beach and Point Loma – Mid-September 2016

OBcean Partners with National Geographic to Get Plastic Out of the Oceans

A sunny Sunday morning draws crowds to San Diego’s Ocean Beach in California. It starts with a single piece of trash: it’s only one plastic bottle discarded on the sand after a great day out. How much harm can it do? To Davidoff Cool Water Ambassador Scott Eastwood the answer is simple: too much. “Many people don’t realise that plastics don’t break down but often turn into microplastics which are then eaten by fish,” he says. Estimates suggest that by 2050 our oceans will contain more plastic than fish by weight, and while the oceans cover 70% of our planet less than 3% of our seas are protected. “Oceans are the giver of life,” continues Scott. “We can’t ignore this problem.” National Geographic

Tonight – Sept 16th – 12th Ocean Beach’s Funniest Person Contest at Winston’s

Friday September 16th at Winston’s Beach Club. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the door.

Comedian Marcus Given to Perform Live at OB Friday

After performing stand-up comedy for just 14 months, local comedian Marcus Givan has already landed his first TV credit. On September 1st, Marcus taped a live performance for the TV show “Laughs” on Fox. Since first honing his craft in San Diego, Marcus’s exponential talent has recently led him to Los Angeles. Following his September 1st “Laughs” taping at the Pechanga Casino & Resort in Temecula, this reporter caught up with Marcus to discuss comedy, television, and what he’s got planned next. Voice and Viewpoint

Belching Beaver Opens

Yup, the latest OB brewery – or more properly – beer tasting room – has opened on Newport Avenue just within the last week and half or so. Belching Beaver opened its doors next to the winery and is pouring. South OB Girl caught up with the opening and met bartender Matt Cook, an old friend of the OB Rag.

Matt Cook has a new job.

Nancy Casady to Resign as General Manager of People’s and Will Take On Veggie Cafe

The current general manager at People’s Natural Food Market, Nancy Casady, will resign at the first of the year and take on being the head of the new vegetarian restaurant that the store plans to open.

OB Home Broken Into and Robbed During Fumigation

An Ocean Beach family was ripped off Sunday night, Sept. 12th, after thieves broke into their property while it was being fumigated for termites. The family was away for the weekend. Purses, credit cards, Christmas gifts for the children were stolen, as well as cash. Authorities were able to pull fingerprints from he scene and are working on a lead after the homeowner’s credit card was used at a nearby 7-Eleven shortly afterward. For more – Fox5

Azucar’s Owner Gets a Plug at San Diego Mag

Vivian Hernandez-Jackson, chef-owner of Ocean Beach’s Cuban-style patisserie Azúcar, got a plugb recently in San Diego Magazine, apparently by stopping by at a happyhour and revealed” her favorite menu items, including a traditional Cuban meat pie, and that one time she made an R-rated custom cake.”

R-Rated Puppet Show at OB Playhouse

“Avenue Q,” the R-rated adult musical comedy at the the OB Playhouse, boasts of “full puppet nudity” but actually has a number of messages, particularly for millennials. For example, even though you may grow up to realize that you’re not as “special” as you’ve been told all your life, and anything you’re worried or fretting about is just “For Now,” everyone’s life “sucks” now and again.

AVENUE Q” has just been extended through Oct. 9, at the OB Playhouse, 4944 Newport Ave. in Ocean Beach. Performances are 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets ($25-$35) are available at 619-795-9305 or online at obplayhouse.com Running time: 2 hrs. Times of San Diego

Dozens of surfers paddled out at the Ocean Beach Pier for MS

Saturday 10th witnessed dozens of surfers paddling out at the OB Pier in support of those with Multiple Sclerosis.  It was the 3rd Annual ‘Wave Goodbye to MS’ Paddle for the Cure, which was emceed by CBS News 8’s Jeff Zevely. Participants took their boards for a quick trip around the pier before enjoying a beach party fundraiser to benefit Multiple Sclerosis research. CBS8

Jesus Fish Fest Surf Contest Comes Off in OB

On a recent Saturday  fifty-six San Diego surfers of various ages, abilities, and backgrounds, gathered together at Avalanche Jetty in Ocean Beach for the inaugural Jesus Fish Fest. In this unique, outside-the-box, community contest, the playing field was leveled with all of the competitors surfing on identical 5’7 fishes during their heats. The four boards, shaped by legendary San Diego shaper Hank Warner, each represented one of the four Gospels that tell the story of Jesus’ life. Each board was sponsored by a local church in the San Diego area and was only waxed up and surfed for the first time on the morning of the contest. At the conclusion of the contest a lucky drawing was held to give away the boards to four lucky surfers, regardless of whether they won the contest or lost their first heat. Inertia

Jensen’s in Point Loma: Hiring Fair and Block Party

As has been in the news, Jensen’s Finest Foods is moving into the small shopping center at Catalina and Talbot. After neighbors got a petition together with 3,000 signatures opposing a move by CVS into the vacant buildings left by the departure of Fresh & Easy, Jensen’s jumped onto the scene. Here’s our earlier report from last March:

It will be the first market in San Diego County for the San Bernardino County-based chain, which has eight other stores, 4 in Riverside County and another 4 in San Bernardino County. A vice-president told the SD Union-Tribune that it may not be for 6 months that the new Jensen’s can open its doors. They want to install a deli and a kitchen for fresh food – a delightful change from the mainly prepackaged foods that Fresh & Easy had offered.  … VP Matt Zack stated that the company wants to hire about 50 workers – which it will do closer to the opening date.

For the Hiring Fair, interview dates will be Sept. 30 from 2 to 6 p.m., and Oct. 1 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 955 Catalina Blvd. Go to Jensensfoods.com/careers to access an application. Sending it in ahead of time is advised.

Neighborhood Block Party: Volunteers are organizing a welcoming party for Jensen’s in the parking lot at the Catalina/Talbot shopping center. The event will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday Oct. 29. Come find out, enjoy vendors’ samples, take a tour, meet and help civic groups. Games and activities for the kids are planned. Information is available from Jose de la Garza (joserdelagarza@gmail.com), Don Sevrens (donsevrens@rocketmail.com), Celeste Grant (celeste.grant@att.net) or Mike Ryan (Mikeonthemike@cox.net).

Actual store opening: Probably the first half of November. The remodeled store will have its own kitchen and services not available before. (Hat tip to Don Sevrens)

 Gretchen Newsom in the News and It Wasn’t About OB

OB’s own Gretchen Newsom was in the news today – Friday, Sept. 16th – and it had nothing to do about OB. Newsom, the current chair of the OB Town Council, wears another hat, that of the political director of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 569. The local is a member of the Quality of Life Coalition, a group of labor, environmental and transportation groups that oppose Measure A on the November ballot. Here’s the reference from today’s SD Union-Tribune:

Opponents of a proposed sales tax increase for transportation claimed victories after a judge determined that some parts of a ballot argument in favor were misleading, but did not accept accusations that other parts of the argument were false.

As a result of San Diego County Superior Court Judge Katherine Bacal’s order, there will be a slight change to the official argument in support of Measure A on November’s ballot. Instead of saying that the sales tax increase will reduce the cost of mass transit fares for seniors, students, the disabled and veterans, it will instead say that it will provide money to expand mass transit services for those groups. …

“The judge agreed with us that a number of statements in the primary argument were misleading,” said Ricardo Ochoa, the lawyer representing the Quality of Life Coalition a group of labor, environmental and transportation groups. The case was brought by Gretchen Newsom, the political director of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 569, a member of the coalition. (Our emphasis)

OB’s Jefferson Jay on Huffington Post

Stand-up comic and rock musician, Jefferson Jay is a fixture with a respectable following in some of southern California’s grittiest and glitziest comedy, music and hipster dives. But what some of neither Jay’s comedy nor music fans might not know is that the namesake and frontman of the Jefferson Jay Band is also the publisher of “largest ‘365 project’ in the history of the World Wide Web.”  Jay is currently in the home stretch of committing his music, musings, career and life to digital permanence three times every day for a year, from Christmas, 2015 to Christmas Eve, 2016. He did the same thing back in 2011. I asked the Ocean Beach (San Diego), Calif.-based artist what the project means in the grand scheme of things and why you should care. Huffington Post

 OBcean Co-Owner of New Photography Studio at Liberty Station

Ocean Beach resident Michele Ballantyne and a partner are becoming owners of a new Liberty Station photography studio, which has taken them from the pet business to the art world. Both University of San Diego students, the pair have teamed to create MK Envision Galleries, the latest art gallery to be opened in the growing arts district of Liberty Station. The 1,700-square-foot ground-floor gallery space is in an old barracks building at the former Point Loma Naval Training Center. San Diego Community News

Karen’s Consignment Celebrates a Quarter of a Century

Karen’s Consignment Gallery, located at 4051 Voltaire St. in Point Loma, is celebrating its 25 years. Lee and Dave have each worked at the shop for nearly 20 years. And a high percentage of the customers visit the 8,500-square foot showroom on a weekly basis to hunt for previously-owned designer furniture, home décor, artwork, and jewelry. What changes constantly, though, are the treasures inside the store.San Diego Community News Group –

PLNU, as seen through Non-Christian Eyes

by Ombretta Di Dio – Ben Kallish is a senior at Point Loma Nazarene University. If you ran into him, you might probably mistake him for another transfer student. You would be surprised to find out he is not. Kallish actually belongs to that minority of PLNU students that identifies as Non-Christian. Specifically, he was raised in a Jewish family. “[Growing up] we would keep Sabbath, celebrated all major holidays. I used to go to Hebrew school, and I was in a youth group,” he said about his childhood.  Later in life, Kallish distanced himself from his faith. At 14, he got exposed to Buddhism and Daoism, and he stopped practicing Conservative Judaism. LomaBeat.com

 Sea Level Rise Concept Addressed By Coronado City Council

Sea level rise and its possible impact on the city of Coronado was the major topic discussed at the City Council meeting of Sept. 6, 2016. During a prior council meeting, City Councilmember Bill Sandke requested a staff report regarding what steps the city is taking to address sea level rise. The topic grew in importance to Sandke during a recent family trip to Amsterdam, where the Dutch have been defending their country against the incursion of water through a variety of means, including a lock and levy system, for five centuries.  Coronado Eagle Journal

First brewery with a café on site at Midway’s Modern Times

Since launching three years ago, Modern Times Beer has been one of the few breweries on the planet to roast its own coffee. During most of that time, it’s been selling cold brew and fresh beans through its tasting rooms and assorted accounts around town. On Labor Day, Modern Times added an even rarer distinction — serving hot brewed coffee and espresso within its tasting room. “We’re definitely the first brewery with a café on site,” says founder Jacob McKean. SD Reader

Sushi Lounge Opens in Point Loma

Opening Sept. 9th, appropriately in the Tunaville neighborhood of Point Loma, is the third location of Sushi Lounge; the eatery first opened in Poway in 2006 and expanded to Encinitas in 2012. Point Loma resident Katie Rooney, who co-owns the restaurants with Frank Interlandi, says the new Rosecrans outpost has a bigger focus on beverages — a bar section, with seating for 15, will pour local craft beer and wine, plus sake flights premium sake selections, and cocktails made with sake and soju. Offering lunch and dinner, the large lounge-like space holds a 22-seat sushi bar and a dining room that seats 65 at a mix of booths and tables; an outdoor patio is coming soon. The menu will be identical to their other restaurants in Poway and Encinitas, offering everything from small plates to nigiri sushi, sashimi and specialty rolls. Eater San Diego

  Notices ………….

September 16, Friday, 7pm Women of Substance Showcase
Grass Roots Oasis, 3130 Moore St (Old Town) Info & Updates (Admission) Women of Substance Radio presents their Showcase featuring San Diego’s Finest Women Singer-Songwriters: Randi Driscoll, Lisa Sanders, Sara Petite, M.E Law and Donna Larsen. $12.50 IN ADVANCE $15 at the Door

September 17th Saturday 9:00 a.m.to 12:00 p.m. Surfrider Coastal Cleanup Day Ocean Beach Pier, 5078 Niagara Ave, 92107. Join us for Coastal Cleanup Day! More info: sandiego.surfrider.org/ events

September 17th Saturday 6:00 pm to 11pm – the Point Loma High School Class of 1966 50th Re-Union. For more info, contact the OB Rag c/o Frank Gormlie obragblog@gmail.com

Pacific Beach Town Council meeting on Sept. 21st about Proposition J; The PBTC is holding a meeting Wenesday, September 21st, 6:30-8:30 pm – 4033 Ingraham St.
Auditorium of Crown Point Jr. Music Academy; This month’s meeting will feature an important report on Ballot Measure J. Should lease revenues from Mission Bay Park be redirected to improve other City Parks? If approved, how will this measure affect Pacific Beach and Mission Bay Park?

September 24th Saturday 7:30 am – 12:00 pm – Annual Ocean Beach Pier Pancake Breakfast , hosted by the OB Town Council; Ocean Beach Pier, 5091 Niagara Avenue; Mark your calendar for the Annual OB Pier Pancake Breakfast, a fun and popular tradition in OB that kicks off the big fundraising season for the OB Food and Toy Drive and our holiday events. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. Proceeds benefit the OB Food and Toy Drive and upcoming holiday events. Tickets are on sale at stores.

September 28th Wednesday 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – OB Town Council Meeting;The OB Town Council hosts public meetings on the 4th Wednesday most months; at the Masonic Center, 1711 Sunset Cliffs Blvd. San Diego, CA 92107 Regular speakers include local leaders, political, business and law enforcement and public safety representatives, as well as members from all corners of the Ocean Beach community. Whether you’re a long-time OBcean or just want to learn more about OB, all are welcome! Email: info@obtowncouncil.org

Every Saturday at 10:00 a.m. Sept 3rd, Sept 10th, Sept 17th, Sept 24th. Climate Mobilization Coalition Meeting Ocean Beach People’s Cooperative Community Room, 4765 Voltaire Street. Come help plan for the upcoming Climate Action events. Contact: oceanbeachgreencenter@gmail.com

Fourth Annual Bike for Boobs to Paint Point Loma Pink on October 16

Local breast cancer survivor raises money for The Breast Cancer Fund – – Bike for Boobs.  On Sunday, October 16, the fourth annual event returns to raise money for The Breast Cancer Fund, an organization dedicated to exposing and eliminating the environmental causes of breast cancer and stopping the disease before it starts. Beginning at 3 p.m., pretty-in-pink supporters will rendezvous on two wheels to join the San Diego County Bike Coalition and Wheel Women of San Diego for a leisurely bike ride around Shelter Island. Post pedaling, guests will reunite at The Pub for drinks, appetizers, live music, silent auction items and one grand auction prize that has included an electric pink bicycle in years past.