Book on History of San Diego Lifeguards to Be Released in Ocean Beach
After 10 years of research and writing, the book titled “Help! San Diego Lifeguards to the Rescue” will be released 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 23 at a public ceremony at the Ocean Beach Lifeguard Station, foot of Santa Monica at Abbott Street. The book was authored by Michael T. Martino, who served as a lifeguard and aquatic specialist (chief lifeguard) of California State Park System.
The public event will also memorialize the 13 people who drowned on May 5, 1918 at Ocean Beach including 11 WWI soldiers and sailors from Camp Kearny and Point Loma due to a mass rip current. Sixty people were rescued. The program will also feature selected musical tributes, a lifeguard paddle out near the drowning location, and historical reflections. Wonderland Ocean Pub restaurant will host a reception following across the street at 5083 Santa Monica Ave. Arrive early, carpool, carshare, bike or take public transit as parking will be limited. sdnews.com
Stolen Pink Trike Taken During Falling Sky Pottery Class – Reward Offered
While she was taking a pottery class Wednesday night at Falling Sky, someone stole her trike, which was parked/chained at the corner of Santa Monica and Abbott. She’s had the trike, which is deep pink for 8 years – bought it at Bernie’s Bike Shop. A reward is being offered. The class was from 6 pm. to 9 and the owner came out to find it gone at around 8:45 p.m. It has a Bernie’s Bike Shop sticker on it, plus a Bernie Sanders sticker. There aren’t many trikes of the same color in town. It’s Farmers’ Market day/night, so there were a lot of people around. Also, it was wedged in between rental bikes that had been left by the chaining posts in a haphazard fashion, so that gave whoever took it more cover. Contact the OB Rag for more info – obragblog@gmail.com
SeaWorld San Diego Attendance Continues to Slide
SeaWorld San Diego suffered a large slide in attendance , where visitation sank by 13.9 percent, just a year after visitation was flat. It and Orlando SeaWorld suffered sharp drops in 2017, even as theme parks across North America returned to a year of solid visitor growth. Both marine parks saw double-digit declines in attendance, while the top 20 parks posted an overall 2.3 percent increase. San Diego Union-Tribune
Bicycle Injuries Up – Have a Happy ‘Bike to Work Day’ May 17
Bicycle injury accidents have ticked up in the city of San Diego this year, as the city has seen thousands of dockless bikes appear across its neighborhoods since January. New city data shows that there were 130 injury accidents involving bicyclists through May 1, 2018, up from 102 in the same period of 2017. A San Diego Police spokesman said it would take more research to determine whether the uptick is related to dockless bikes. However, the data shows that some parts of the city are seeing fewer incidents, while others are seeing more. Hillcrest, for instance, has seen improvement. By May 1, 2017, there were already seven injury accidents in the heart of the neighborhood. This year there have not been any. However, there has been an increase on Mission Boulevard along the coast, which has no bike lane and can get narrow. In 2017, there was just one injury accident on the boulevard. Through May 1, that number was up to six. …
Stephan Vance, choose to commute daily by bike. He rides from Ocean Beach to his job at the San Diego Association of Governments. “Don’t do anything you wouldn’t do if you were driving driving a car,” he said, noting some key tips are to ride with traffic on the ride side of the road, be predictable, and always signal. Thursday, May 17 is bike to work day, with SANDAG hosting a series of pit stops and events along hundreds of miles of bikeways in the region. 10News
Kanten Russell. from a screen capture of Fox5
Point Loma Native Builds Skateboard Parks for Kids
Kanten Russell spent 12 years as a professional skateboarder but found his true passion after he retired, building skate parks for kids. He’s helped design and create at least six skate parks in San Diego — but there’s one in El Cajon that holds extra special value. It was built for 12-year-old Rocco Worley, an avid skater with a rare tumor in his cerebellum that required surgery, chemotherapy and plenty of bedrest in 2017. “When can I get out of this stupid hospital?” is all Rocco could ask himself. But during his treatment last year, the Make-A-Wish Foundation granted Rocco’s request. It wasn’t a special trip or to meet someone famous. His wish was for a custom-built skate park in his own backyard. So Russell, the Point Loma native and pro-skater-turned-engineer, helped design Rocco a one-of-a-kind skate mecca. Fox5
Benefit for Young Girl Who Needs Surgery – OB Brewery May 21
A young girl needs surgery for a rare heart condition, and the Ocean Beach community is stepping in to help with her medical expenses at a fundraiser at OB Brewery Monday, May 21 from 4 to 10 p.m. at 5041 Newport Ave. Lyric Ivy Spracklen was born with Ebstein’s anomaly, a rare congenital heart defect. Her heart of the nearly 4-year-old has enlarged to the point where it requires open-heart surgery for her to continue a normal life. “A total of $1 from each pint gets donated to Lyric’s heart fund (until the kegs run out),” said OB Brewery general manager Scott Watkins. “A percentage of all food and beverage purchases during this event will also go towards Lyric’s fund and her family to help with the surgery. Ten percent of our net sales that night will be going to the family.” Watkins added the fundraiser will include “our amazing silent auction and raffle, filled with lovingly donated goods and services from several local artists and businesses.” ————OB Brewery, 5041 Newport Ave., Monday, May 21 from 4 to 10 p.m., Info: gofundme.com/lyrics-life-saving-heart-surgery ; sdnews.com
OB Hit and Run Suspect Pleads Not Guilty at First Court Appearance
Jaron Blake Hillyer, 27, accused of a hit and run crash that seriously injured a good Samaritan who was helping two people stranded in a broken-down car in Ocean Beach pleaded not guilty Tuesday May 15 to a felony hit-and-run charge. 99% of all defendants plead not guilty at their first hearing – the arraignment because they or their lawyer have not been given the opportunity to review any evidence and respond. Hillyer allegedly fled after his Subaru Outback Legacy station wagon struck 26-year-old Julio Vasquez in the 2900 block of Sunset Cliffs Boulevard shortly after midnight April 9. For background. Times of San Diego
Slightly Stoopid to Release New Studio Album
Reggae-rockers Slightly Stoopid will issue a new studio album entitled Everyday Life, Everyday People on July 13. Today, the Southern California natives unveiled the LP’s lead single, “If You Want It.” Slightly Stoopid recorded the album with a variety of producers at studios around the world. James M. Wisner, George Spits (LlamaBeats), Michael “Miguel” Happoldt, Jerry Wonda and Colin “Bulby” York each contributed production work to Everyday Life, Everyday People. The band recruited a number of guests to add to the LP including UB40’s Ali Campbell, reggae star Alborosie, blues-rocker G. Love, rapper Chali 2na, Sly Dunbar of Sly & Robbie fame, vocalist Don Carlos and Yellowman. Alborosie is featured on “If You Want It.” “It’s been an epic journey making this latest record with many legendary guest vocalists and musicians. From start to finish we had a blast!” said founding member Miles Doughty in a statement announcing the album. Everday Life, Everyday People, which was inspired by the band’s hometown of Ocean Beach/San Diego and features cover art by Jay Alders, is available for pre-order here and listen to “If You Want It” here.
Vet Finishes Walk-Across the Country in OB for Veteran Homelessness
Shane Harris took the final steps of his cross-country, seven-month-long journey to bring awareness to veteran homelessness on the Ocean Beach Pier Saturday. Harris, who started in Jacksonville, Florida, is a Navy veteran who found himself unemployed and nearly homeless a few years ago. He was raising his teenage daughter at the time. Harris served in the Navy from 1990 to 1996. His seven-month walk was called the “Hike for Vets” and raised awareness for the roughly the 40,000 homeless veterans in the United States. 7SanDiego
High School Students Can Sleep Longer
High School students at Point Loma High School and at other high schools in the San Diego Unified School District may soon have to adjust their alarm clocks. The district has approved a plan to start working towards an 8:30 a.m. or later start time, and it is anticipating that all schools will be on board by the fall of 2020. The school board knows this may be inconvenient for some parents, but they cite studies that show a later start time improves attendance and student achievement.
It will be up to each school to implement a plan on what time they’ll start school for the day, and each school will determine how they’ll make the transition over the next two school years. Different schools across the district are taking part in pilot programs right now to see what works best. Some schools are also trying out an online course in place of the first-period class which would allow students to start the day at second period. The district hopes that option will be available at all high schools by the 2019 school year. 7SanDiego
Big Sam’s Funky Nation at Winstons
Led by former Dirty Dozen Brass Band trombonist and singer “Big Sam” Williams, Big Sam’s Funky Nation specializes in throwing down the funk, Big Easy-style. Drawing from, funk, rock, hip-hop, jazz and more, this six-man New Orleans band has dubbed its zesty fusion of styles Noladelic PowerFunk. With six albums under its belt, along with performances at such major festivals as Bonnaroo, Williams and his group know how to expertly turn each performance into a rollicking party. Their repertoire mixes band originals with classics by James Brown, Sly & The Family Stone, Parliament-Funkadelic, Allen Toussaint and more to create an infectiously propulsive musical gumbo. —Big Sam’s Funky Nation, with Finnegan Blue: 9:30 p.m. Friday, May 18 @Winstons, 1921 Bacon St., Ocean Beach. $20 (must be 21 or older). (619) 222-6822
Slightly Stoopid’s Miles Doughty On SD Roots, Padres Fandom, New Music & Being Done With The Chargers
Slightly Stoopid’s Miles Doughty spent an hour in-studio to discuss his Ocean Beach roots, early music roots living out of a fan, his Padres fandom and why he’s done with the Chargers and the NFL on Mighty 1090 Interview.
Ocean Beach’s Gianni Buonomo Vintners Wins Gold Medal
Gianni Buonomo Vintners in Ocean Beach was awarded a gold medal for its 2013 Blaufra?nkisch at the Hilton Head Island International Wine Competition, which played host to the event that brought in the heavy hitters from the international wine world. Wines were judged by master sommeliers, advanced sommeliers and certified wine educators. “Winning a gold medal right next to Tuscan wine god Marchese Piero Antinori is really unbelievable, but it happened,” said Keith Rolle, winemaker of Gianni Buonomo Vintners, located at 4836 Newport Ave. “They’ve been making wine for more than 600 years. I’ve been making wine for just a bit less than that.” Gianni Buonomo will be hosting a celebration event and the release of their 2014 vintage Blaufra?nkisch from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 2. Traditional Austrian bites will also be served. The ticketed event is open to the public. San Diego Community News Group
Got Sand? Got Sealevel Rise?
Humans use more sand than any other natural resource besides air or water. It’s used in concrete and asphalt, which build the world’s buildings and roads. Sand is also needed to make glass. The sand used to construct towns and cities leads to development that then impedes sand’s natural flow from watersheds, diminishing one of its best sources of replenishment. Ironically, then, humans have contributed to the shortage of a precious resource by using sand to build in places that block it.
Development along the coast has dammed 60 percent of the watershed coming from the eastern mountainous areas like Julian and Mt. Palomar, according to Adam Young, project researcher for Integrative Oceanography Division at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. “That watershed has the potential to bring sand to these beaches,” Young said during a workshop on sea-level rise …Manmade development has greatly inhibited its flow, he added. Further contributing to the sand shortage are structures like …jetties that disrupt the movement of sand north to south…. Beach sand also comes from coastal bluffs. By armoring local cliffs with sea walls, we’ve reduced that particular sand source by 40 percent, according to Young. But sea walls could also be useful in protecting against sea-level rise, a phenomenon that has local coastal communities on alert. Coast News Group
Point Loma Fish Catch – 20,000 Pounds
Thousands of pounds of fish were offloaded Thursday May 17 in Point Loma, an occurrence that happens a few times a month in San Diego but is part of an evolving maritime industry. The Port of San Diego is highlighting the commercial fishing industry for “Maritime Month.” Many of the fishermen who work in San Diego have been a part of the local fishing industry for generations and spend weeks at a time at sea. On Thursday, four of those fishermen aboard the boat “Anthony G” used forklifts to unload about 20-thousand pounds of swordfish, tuna, manchong and other fresh catches at Driscoll’s Wharf in Point Loma. 7NBC
Hands Across the Sands at Mission Beach – May 19
Beach goers in San Diego will be joining hands across the sand at Mission Beach and Moonlight Beach this Saturday, May 19, as part of the globally coordinated Hands Across The Sand. They are standing up to defend our oceans from the federal government’s proposal to expand offshore drilling; we should have some great photos and possibly even some drone footage. At noon at Mission Beach, south side of grassy area. For more info, Contact: Jenny Park, Resource Media, jenny@resource-media.org, 415-867-1166.
Mariachi Music at OB Library, Sat, May 19
Hey OB! Time to mix it up! Get your Mariachi groove at the OB Library on Saturday at 2 pm. There is nothing like border music to set your feet a-tappin’! This Saturday at the OB Library, you will hear the creme de la creme of all the border genres: Tavo Alcoser and Mariachi 3.0. Not familiar with border music? This is your opportunity to hear it all and hear the best!
Kayaker Attempting California-to-Hawaii Crossing Found Unresponsive Near Pebble Beach
It was his fourth attempt, and it was technically fatal. R.W. Hand, who was making his latest go at crossing the great Pacific Ocean between California and Hawaii, was rescued off the coast of Monterey the morning of April 30. Hand, a 61-year-old wildland firefighter and former Army Ranger from Colorado, was found face down in Spanish Bay near Pebble Beach. “I was sure he was dead. He was blue, he looked dead as dead can be,” Jon Kramer told KSBW 8 after making contact. “But you never give up hope.” the Inertia
OB Street Fair and Chili Cook-off – in 39th Year
Now in its 39th year, the 2018 OB Street Fair & Chili Cook-Off will be serving up some big portions of tasty noshes with local tunes galore on Saturday, June 23. Running from 10 a.m.-8 p.m., the festival expects more than 70,000 visitors to hit the Ocean Beach streets — and they’ll be in for a good time when they get there. The annual free festival promises handmade art, local vendors, a beer garden, beachfront entertainment, a kids fun zone, community mural, great chili (of course) — and four stages of local, live music.
- The Main Stage (located at the OB Pier parking lot at the foot of Newport Avenue) features Americana group the Moves Collective, reggae-rockers Ease Up and funky groups Bomb Squad and the Sure Fire Soul Ensemble (among others).
- The 92107 Stage (Bacon Street at Santa Monica Avenue) has tapped some of the best country-fied pickers around — including the Electric Waste Band, the Country Rockin’ Rebels and the Shakedown String Band.
- The Bacon Sun Stage (Bacon Street at Niagara Avenue) brings out the alternative-rock stylings of League of Liars, Cardinal Moon, the Jefferson Jay Band and Skylar Lutes, as well as the reggae-rock groups Crucial Blend and the Hips.
- Artists Alley Stage (Cable Street between Niagara and Newport avenues) offers up blues-rock (and a little hard rock and punk here and there) with the Sickstring Outlaws, Nick Bone & the Big Scene, Falling Doves, Three Chord Justice and more.
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