News and Notes from Ocean Beach and Point Loma – April 2019

Madmunch Grilled Cheezer Co. Paints its Doors

The long-anticipated opening of the OB grilled cheese sandwich place on Newport Ave just took a step closer to reality. Workers painted the front of the store and installed the company’s logo. Wayne Starker caught the painter near the end of his tasks and took the pic.

OB Senior Badly Injured by Hit-and-Run Scooter Rider

OB social media has a report of a senior OBcean who was badly injured by a scooter, whose rider just kept on going. He was forced to walk home, bleeding. And now he has a long recovery road ahead of him. Ironically, the San Diego City Council is today considering Mayor Faulconer’s weak proposals to sort of restrict them. One commenter said our sidewalks have become “ridewalks”.

Free Seeds at OB Library

Most people go to the library to check out books, but now you can check out a new seed collection that will sprout into plants, fruits, and vegetables. For those interested in growing their own food or plants, it’s a simple process: fill out a membership form at the Ocean Beach Library, choose up to six seeds from an album, and take them home to plant. Once the plant grows, the hope is the gardener will cultivate the seeds and return them back to the library. The library boasts the only seed trove in the entire City of San Diego library system.

There are many different types of seeds to choose from. Anyone can sign up to get edible chia seeds, cilantro, and, beets. There are atypical options too such as ground cherry seeds (a type of tomato). “We have seeds from native plants around here as well,” Rivera said. “Neighbors have given us a lot of local seeds.” You can even get seeds from the Torrey Pine tree, one of the rarest trees in the United States. Over 75 people have already signed up since the seed library opened in March. The seeds were donated to the library by San Diego Seed Company, the California Native Plant Society, and members of the community. 7SanDiego

Paddleboarder Found Guilty in Felony Assault on Point Loma Surfer

A verdict has been reached in the trial of the paddleboarder who fractured a surfer’s skull with his paddle at Sunset Cliffs. Last week, a jury found Paul Konen guilty of assault with a deadly weapon causing bodily injury. He faces up to seven years in prison. On June 26, 2018, 34-year-old Konen hit a 56-year-old surfer named Kevin Eslinger over the head with his paddle after a dispute in the water. Eslinger told the court that Konen, who was on a paddleboard, was acting dangerously in the minutes leading up to the assault. “The prosecution contends that after Konen nearly ran into Eslinger out on the water — forcing Eslinger to duck his head in order to avoid being struck by Konen’s paddleboard — Eslinger objected to Konen’s flouting of proper surfing etiquette,” the prosecution said. “Konen remarked, ‘If I can catch a wave, it’s mine,’ the victim alleged.”

Soon after that initial confrontation, Eslinger says that Konen ran into his wife and knocked her from her board. Eslinger then paddled over to Konen to confront him. It was then that he alleges Konen hit him over the head with his paddle. After the attack, Eslinger swam back to shore under his own power. Eslinger was left with a fractured skull and brain damage that affects his speaking. During his testimony, Eslinger explained what his condition felt like. It was “as if someone had their hand over my mouth from the inside,” he said. Konen’s defense attorney told the jury that the incident was all a mistake. “The question is did my client intentionally assault Mr. Eslinger or was there a situation where Mr. Eslinger got in front of my client’s path and got hurt?” defense attorney Bryan McCarthy asked before going on to state that Konen was acting in self-defense. The Inertia

Costa Mesa Murder Victim Had PL Nazarene Ties

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department coroner identified a murder victim whose body was found over the weekend in Newport Beach, along with a male victim, as 48-year-old Wendi Miller of Costa Mesa. Miller was a licensed psychologist specializing in abuse and domestic violence counseling, and support groups for women and children. She wrote two books, “Betrayed Vows,” and the “Care Point Training Manual for Facilitators of Support Groups.” Miller received a master’s degree in counseling from Hope International University in Fullerton and a bachelor’s degree in communications from Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego. Anyone with information on the killings was asked to call Detective Rick Henry at 949-644-3797. Times of San Diego

Police Helicopter Searches for Stolen Boat from Mission Bay

San Diego police called in a search helicopter to help find a boat that was stolen from a Mission Bay dock overnight but the vessel and the suspected thief were nowhere to be found. The 15-foot power boat was docked in the Quivira Basin of Mission Bay when at about midnight someone began pulling the boat out of the Marina, the San Diego Police Department said. 7SanDiego

Woman Now Owns San Diego’s Largest Independently Owned Community Newspaper Chain – Including Peninsula Beacon

A woman is now the leader of San Diego’s largest independently owned community newspaper chain. Julie Main and her company are now publishing seven local community newspapers, including La Jolla Village News, Beach & Bay Press, Peninsula Beacon, La Mesa Courier, Mission Times Courier, San Diego Uptown News and San Diego Downtown News. This was in Times of San Diego.

Woman Fractures Leg in Scooter Crash in on Pacific Highway Near I-5

A 46-year-old woman was hospitalized Tuesday morning with a fractured femur after she glanced down at her cellphone’s GPS map and crashed the electric scooter she was riding in the Mission Hills area, police said. It happened around 9:30 p.m. Monday, April 22, on the 4100 block of Pacific Highway near Interstate 5. The woman was riding an electric scooter northbound on Pacific Highway when she looked down at her cellphone’s GPS map, lost control of the scooter and crashed, the officer said. She was taken to a hospital for treatment of a fractured femur, which was not believed to be life-threatening, however, “extensive surgery” will be required, police said. Intoxication was not believed to have been a factor in the crash. Patch San Diego

OBcean to Stand Trial for Murder Attempt, Arson and More

A superior court judge ruled last week that OBcean Michael Tellechea will stand trial for attempted murder, arson, assault and other serious crimes. Statements from Tellechea’s former defense attorney, Andrea Bayer, where important evidence against him during his preliminary hearing. Bayer pleaded guilty last year to buying a .357 Magnum handgun for Tellechea. Bayer won an acquittal for Tellechea as his attorney in a 2016 felony case, in which Tellechea was charged with kidnapping, torture and assault. Court documents and evidence in Tellechea’s current case confirm that Bayer became romantically involved with her former client after she represented him. Bayer co-signed the rental agreement for Tellechea’s Ocean Beach home and accessed a county-owned computer system to check on criminal warrants filed against Tellechea and his twin brother and co-defendant, Matthew, testimony revealed. 7SanDiego

Paradise Point Resort Adopts OB Elementary

Paradise Point Resort & Spa of San Diego announced this week that it is collaborating with Ocean Beach Elementary through the Adopt-a-School Program — in what will manifest as a mutually beneficial partnership with perks for students and teachers , plus volunteer and service opportunities for hotel employees. The Paradise Point team will dedicate time, funds and experiences to support the school, and lend their skills and support to the after-school program, recess monitoring and classroom activities. Patch La Jolla

Latest on San Diego Airport Jet Noise, the Studies and $3 Billion Airport Expansion

Here’s the latest news addressing the commercial jet noise associated with the FAA’s NextGen Metroplex system, the impact studies commissioned by the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority (SDCRAA) and the recently proposed $3 billion airport expansion. … A noise exposure map will be constructed in the Part 150 process to assess the impact on Ocean Beach and other areas immediately around the airport. Another related issue in the Part 150 Study will be the current 290 degree heading requirement for nighttime noise abatement, primarily in Point Loma. See this opinion piece at La Jolla Light.

Mental Competency Hearing for Carjacker Arrested in Midway After He Couldn’t Start High-Tech Car

An April 29 mental competency hearing was set on April 17 for a would-be carjacker who was unable to start a high-tech car during a robbery in the Midway District. The attorney for Robert John Bustillos, 49, has told a judge he is not sure if his client is mentally competent, so a psychiatrist is set to interview him in jail. Bustillos is accused of holding up a man at a convenience store on Midway Drive by demanding his keys to his Chevrolet Volt and phone at gunpoint around 6:05 a.m. on Jan. 7. The victim went back into the 7-Eleven store where the owner locked the door as Bustillos attempted to drive the car. However, he could not figure out how to start the hybrid. He exited the vehicle and threw the keys and phone away in frustration, as seen on security camera video. San Diego Police arrested Bustillos about six blocks away later that morning. Bustillos is charged with robbery and attempted carjacking in San Diego Superior Court. Criminal proceedings are suspended and he has yet to undergo a preliminary hearing. Bustillos remains in the central jail without bail. sdnews.com

Midway Gym Gets Visit from Humane Society After Backlash for Offering Puppy as Raffle Prize

A mixed martial arts gym in the Midway District that was offering a puppy as a raffle prize to drive up memberships has tapped out of the contest after a visit from the humane society. Victory MMA and Fitness was offering a 9-week-old Boxer to new membership signees who were entered in a raffle. After posting a photo of the sweet pup, along with the rules of the contest, on social media, the were met with immediate backlash from the community. Realizing his mistake, gym owner Joe Mannino is now trying to find a home for “Victory” the right way. “We didn’t do this to break the law, so we immediately stopped it,” Mannino said. His gym has been a staple in the Midway District for nearly three decades. Mannino said he paid a breeder $2,200 $22,000 for Victory, a pure-bred boxer pup. 7SanDiego

PB DUI Checkpoint Nets 14 Arrests

A sobriety checkpoint conducted in Pacific Beach April 14 resulted in more than a dozen arrests. The San Diego Police Department conducted the checkpoint between 11 p.m. Friday and 3 a.m. Saturday April 12-13 on Mission Bay Drive just north of where it meets Interstate 5. Officers evaluated 27 drivers, and arrested 14 of those on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. Police also issued one citation for a driving on a suspended or revoked license, and issued five other citations for unspecified violations. More than 1,800 cars passed through the checkpoint. Times of San Diego

PLHS Baseball Team On a Roll

The Pointer baseball team hasn’t lost a game since March 13, and the team’s power surge at the plate continues. The 12-game winning streak, marred only by a March 19, 10-inning tie with Clairemont, has left the team alone in first place in the Eastern League and lifted the team to fourth in the 20-team San Diego CIF Div. II standings. Another major accomplishment came last Thursday when the Pointers defeated Bishop’s 9-4 in a Lions Tournament semifinal game in the morning before coming back to defeat Coronado (of Henderson, Nev.) in a thrilling 7-6 game the same afternoon to win the championship of the 6A Division. sdnews.com

Arts District Liberty Station Has 3 New Temporary Art Projects

The NTC Foundation, which oversees the development and operation of 26 buildings at ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station, has selected three new temporary art projects as part of a rotating public art program titled Installations at the Station. Featured San Diego artists will be Miki Iwasaki, Jason Xavier Lane and Michelle Montjoy. For more info see this.

Celebrate Independent Bookstore Day with Book Crawl – April 27-April 29

Run for Cover Bookstore and La Playa Books will celebrate America’s Independent Bookstore Day, April 27-April 29 as part of a book crawl collection of local bookstores. The annual event, now in its third year, includes nine San Diego bookstores that will showcase the unique niche of the indie bookstore. Prizes, swag bags, stickers, pins, buttons, arts and crafts, author presentations, book signings, contests, and of course the best in books, will be offered to those who relish aimlessly perusing between aisles of books. “It’s time for passports to get stamped, collect cool totes and meet amazing authors,” said Amy Hesselink, manager of La Playa Books at 1026 Rosecrans St. “We meet people who are totally crazy about books from San Diego and beyond. Last year we had visitors all the way from Arizona. We even had bikers bike the entire crawl.”

Run for Cover Bookstore, at 4912 Voltaire St., the newbie in the ensemble, is delighted to be a part of a community that has embraced their recent opening. According to its owner, Marianne Reiner, Ocean Beach was ready for a bookstore. Rooted in Ocean Beach as residents, Reiner is determined to be more than just a place filled with books. “We’ve established relationships to offer everyone more than just a bookstore,’ she said. “We’re making Run for Cover a community hub for inviting authors and hosting events; crafts for children, story time, poetry night, book clubs and of course a great selection of brand-new books. Crawlers will experience the magic behind the art of hand-selling books along with excellent customer service. San Diego Community News Group 

OB Kite Festival – May 18

The 71st annual Ocean Beach Kiwanis Kite Festival will be held on Saturday, May 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Robb Field, 2525 Bacon St. There will be kite building and decorating, prizes, professional kite fliers and amazing kite demonstrations and games, crafters, community organizations, gourmet food, carnival activities and live music from Beer Feat. Free event and free parking. For further information, e-mail oceanbeachkiwanis@gmail.com.

“Dog Sees God” at OB Playhouse – Thursday, April 25, 8 p.m.

“Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead” is playing on Thursday night. See what happens when the Peanuts gang become teenagers and must contend with friendship, bullying and self discovery. The teenage years have rained down hard on the beloved Peanuts gang. Disorders, both physical and mental, have driven many of them to harsh extremes. However, the death of a dog marks the beginning of a story that follows them through friendship, bullying and self discovery. Thursday, April 25, 8 p.m. at the Ocean Beach Playhouse and Arts Center, 4944 Newport Ave. Price: $14-$36. Click here for more details, and to get your tickets.

The OB Playhouse also is running a musical “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown”. These two shows give audiences two very different peaks into the life of the Peanuts Gang we all know and love.  You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brownis a joyful, family friendly musical that brings the comic strip to life with catchy songs and familiar vignettes. Both shows run in alternating repertory from 04/19/19-05/12/19.

Point Loma Garden Club Holds Plant Sale – April 27

The Point Loma Garden Club will host a plant sale on Saturday, April 27 from 9 a.m. to noon at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 3598 Talbot St. Items for sale include container plants, Tillandsias, native vegetables and herbs, succulent wreaths, gardener’s attire, decorator pots, garden art and homemade treats. Visit place.org for more information.

Point Loma Garden Walk on May 4 to Benefit Rady Children’s Hospital

The 18th annual Pt. Loma Garden Walk is coming up on May 4th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to benefit Rady Children’s Hospital. Guests will get a map and brochures, they can park, tour the homes and gardens, and shop at the Marketplace at All Soles Church Parking lot, and have a bite to eat from one of the food trucks. Tickets prices are $30 on line at the website.

Local Businesses in the “News”

• Cesarina – Point Loma
• Pizza Port – Ocean Beach
• Royale! Cocktails and Hamburgers – Ocean Beach, a mention
• Urbn Leaf –
• Solare – Point Loma
• Natural Style Chicken – Point Loma
• Surfrider Pizza – OB
• Buffalo Wild Wings – Midway
• OB Kabob
• Peace Pies – OB
• Cow Records – OB