Life Events

Floppy’s New Wheels

December 20, 2016 by Source

By South OB Girl

Over the years you may have seen the Welsh corgi Floppy at the side of his owner, Steve Mallory, who is the owner of Mallory Furniture on Newport Ave in Ocean Beach.

Recently you may have seen 16-year old Floppy in his new “ride.” A shopping cart which was abandoned in Mallory’s parking lot, with no markings of Vons or Ralphs or any business name. After asking police officers if using the cart would be okay – Mallory has transformed the cart into a portable bed to take Floppy out on strolls. As quite tragically, Floppy now suffers from a genetic disorder, canine degenerative myelopathy.

Canine degenerative myelopathy is an incurable, progressive disease of the canine spinal cord that is similar in many ways to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Progressive weakness and in-coordination of the rear limbs are often the first signs seen in affected dogs, with progression over time to complete paralysis. Mallory says the first sign for Floppy was that he could not walk up stairs.

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75th Anniversary Party at Pacific Shores

December 19, 2016 by Source
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By South OB Girl

Friday night – December 16th – was the 75th Anniversary Party at Pacific Shores.

This was not an average Friday night at Pac Shores. Locals as well as people from all over the county came out for the special event.

Billy Butter catered a feast that was free to all who arrived before the food ran out. It was a decadent meal. Roast beef with gravy and horseradish sauce. Baked potatoes with flavored butters which Billy makes himself. Dinner rolls and salad. A full dinner. Laid out in the back room where the pool table is. Billy’s grandfather used to cook at Pac Shores when he came back from fishing trips. It is a family tradition that Billy has continued.

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It’s Time to Let Our Light Shine

December 14, 2016 by Ernie McCray

2324860157_7d39208c02By Ernie McCray

As I more and more awaken from the shock to my body and soul as a result of Donald Trump being my president, I keep thinking back to my Sunday School days in the 40’s singing a song our teacher, Mr. Chandler, taught us:

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine…

Mr. Chandler, a beautiful man, with a voice like Paul Robeson’s, would tell us:

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Layla and the Owl’s Eyes: Ecopsychology and Being Human

December 12, 2016 by Source

By Will Falk / San Diego Free Press

owlRecently walking up Main Street in Park City, Utah, I saw in the Visitor’s Center doorway what looked like a man holding a great-horned owl surrounded by children. As his voice carried across the street, I heard the man explain that this owl had been found with an injured wing after being struck by a car.

I love owls. I love the haunting sound of their hoots in the darkest hours before dawn. I love the joy that accompanies the lucky sight of a splash of brown feathers against newly-fallen snow when an owl makes the rare decision to reveal herself in winter daylight. I love how owls’ mysterious nature have made them omens in so many cultures’ imaginations. So, when I saw what I thought was a great-horned owl, I automatically crossed the street with a feeling of anticipation.

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Is It Starting Already? Bah Humbug!

December 9, 2016 by Judi Curry

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By Judi Curry

One of my least favorite places to go to at this time of the year is the United States Post Office. And, more specifically, the Ocean Beach Post Office. Those of you living in the area probably know what I mean without any explanation. Because I am getting orders for my cookbook for holiday gifts, I seem to be spending a great deal of time at the OB Post Office. And…I seem to be spending a great deal of time STANDING IN LINE at this same post office.

It doesn’t seem to matter what time of the day I go to mail my packages. On Monday I went at 4:00pm. I stood in line for 12 minutes waiting to see a postal employee. Why did I stand in line for so long? Because, dear reader, there were 16 people in line and only two windows open. And it seemed that everyone had a number of packages to be sent, or an extraordinary amount of money orders to be purchased.

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Support Grows for Ocean Beach Christmas Tree that Leans to the Left

December 8, 2016 by Staff

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Claudia Peters Jack, the unofficial “Mayor of OB”, explained the bend in OB’s left-leaning Christmas Tree at the very foot of Newport Avenue as natural, and added:

“It was on Worden Street growing next to another tree through the same trunk. The tree [was] very healthy when it was cut.”

She was quoted from a facebook comment in a cute article by Ken Stone of Times of San Diego entitled, “Obecians Stick Up for Left-Leaning Yule Tree: ‘Let It Be, Let It Be’ “

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More Shenanigans at Ebers and Greene Street Project in Ocean Beach

December 7, 2016 by Frank Gormlie

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There’s been more shenanigans of late, apparently, at the controversial construction project at Ebers and Greene Streets in northeast OB.

This time around, the shenanigans include the theft of $1000s worth of property, a change of locks and a threat of eviction against the man who has been living on the property site.

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San Diego DA’s Unjust Asset Forfeiture Fight Over Family’s Savings Continues

November 22, 2016 by Source

James Slatic. asset Forfeiture victim Photo via Americans for Safe Access

By Terrie BestSan Diego Americans for Safe Access

The James Slatic family sat in San Diego Civil court Monday, November 15th, along with an impressive group of supporters, to listen to testimony on just why The San Diego District Attorney confiscated each of the family of four’s checking and savings accounts and has refused to give the funds back in the absence of criminal behavior.

It was tough to understand government seizing money from two young girls and their parents and as the testimony unfolded it became clear no financial investigation was conducted either. Still, anti-cannabis Judge Jay Bloom ruled against the family and the case will now be moving up to a higher court.

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Tripping Down Newport Ave in Ocean Beach – What’s New?

November 17, 2016 by Frank Gormlie

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By Frank Gormlie

Every so often, the OB Rag publishes an update on what’s been happening on Newport Avenue, the main commercial street in Ocean Beach. What new businesses have opened up – and what places have closed down. The following is what we found, tripping down the Ave on Wednesday, November 16th.

New Velvet Hair Lounge

Barely 2 months since it’s been open, the Velvet Hair Lounge offers a bright, very clean-looking hair-cutting shop, sandwiched next to Stuff to Puff and the tire business on the corner of Newport and Cable Street. …

Not Much Happening at OBBean

Not too far away, the future OBBean store is still closed up, and no progress apparently can be seen from its outward front.

New Acupuncture and Massage Place Soon to Open

On the bright side, there is a new acupuncture and massage storefront which looks about to open its doors, where the old videogame store was.

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Are Higher Water Bills in Ocean Beach and Point Loma Due to Loss of Water in Pipe Repairs?

November 15, 2016 by Judi Curry
Thumbnail image for Are Higher Water Bills in Ocean Beach and Point Loma Due to Loss of Water in Pipe Repairs?

Is It All Just a Coincidence?

By Judi Curry

You can’t live in Ocean Beach/Pt Loma and not notice the continual work being done on the water pipes throughout the entire neighborhood. You can’t live in Ocean Beach/Pt. Loma and expect not to find detours where just yesterday you were able to drive right through.

You can’t live in Ocean Beach/Pt. Loma without noticing sand bags in front of drainage ditches on many of the residential streets of the area. And you can’t live in Ocean Beach/Pt Loma without noticing the huge amount of water cascading down the streets.

So is it a coincidence that many of us received water bills this week that were higher than any previous month? Is it any coincidence that those of us that have taken measures to reduce our water usage are appalled at the amount of our water bills for the months of September-November?

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Standing Rock Solidarity Action at San Diego Army Corps of Engineers – Tues., Nov. 15th

November 14, 2016 by Staff
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On Tuesday, November 15th, Native Americans, environmentalists, and nurses will stage a protest at the San Diego Army Corps of Engineers office as part of a national day of action calling on the Army Corps and President Obama to revoke permits for the Dakota Access Pipeline.

There will be speakers – including local Native American leaders who’ve traveled to Standing Rock – and music. Organizers will sign and deliver individual postcards to the Army Corps.

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Surf’s Up on an Ocean Beach Friday in November

November 4, 2016 by Source

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Albert C Elliott caught the flavor of the day down at the OB Pier this morning, Friday, the 4th of November.

Here’s a collection of his shots.

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News from Ocean Beach and Point Loma – Early November 2016

November 3, 2016 by Frank Gormlie
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COME INSIDE FOR THE FOLLOWING STORIES (No, they are not links)

OB Dog Barked Every Time Trump Came on TV – Gives Owner Idea to Market Trump Dog-Chews

EPA Approves San Diego’s Recycle Plan – Pt Loma Treatment Plant Avoids Upgrade – Again

OB Man Dies in Motorcycle Crash

OB Lab Owner Concerned about Pesticides on Marijuana Products

News Blog for Point Loma Nazarene
Clean-Up on Voltaire Street – Nov. 5th

Audubon Urges Wetlands Conservation in De Anza Cove Restoration November 7th
How tall is too tall in Point Loma?

Point Loma Girl, 10, Competes on TV Cooking Show – Viewing Party Held at Raglan
Animal Rights Activists Call Navy’s Treatment of Dolphins Worse than SeaWorld

Point Loma Residents Still Upset Over FAA Changes in Airplane Departures
Homeless Serial Killer Suspect Incompetent to Stand Trial

Mission Beach Parents Receive Anon. Letter Criticizing Them for Raising Kids in “Tiny House”
Local Commercial Realty Firm Swinging Its Weight Around OB, Point Loma and Other Beaches

New Point Loma History Book Available
OB Restaurants Tapped as the “Third Space”

World Beach Games Coming to Mission Beach in 2019
$23B defense spending in San Diego County last year, report says

“Tellabration” Coming to Ocean Beach – Nov. 12th

An Appeal to Our Point Loma Friends

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How Can We Help Our Children Rise Above The Times?

November 1, 2016 by Ernie McCray

By Ernie McCray

ChildrenI’m thinking that our present times are not serving our children well. I mean, as I look at what’s going on in our society it seems as though we are all caught up in an atmosphere of lunacy wherein we have pretty much thrown our hands in the air like we just don’t care and kissed our way of life goodbye.

The saddest part of all this to me is our children are watching our madness, as only they know how: closely.

And they’ve got be as confused as they can be as they observe so many “grownups” going along with the program of a real live frightening bogeyman-like human being who crash landed in our midst and evolved, like a curse in an episode of the Twilight Zone, into a candidate for the highest office in our land.

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Special San Diego City Council Hearing on Short Term Vacation Rentals – Tues., Nov. 1st

October 31, 2016 by Staff
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The San Diego City Council will hold a Special Hearing on short-term vacation rentals in single family residential zones on Tuesday, November 1, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. in Golden Hall. Due to the anticipated interest, Golden Hall will open at 9:00 a.m., and public comment on the issue will be limited to one minute per person. (Golden Hall is in the same complex as City Hall.)

It is greatly anticipated that the hearing will focus on an edit to the San Diego Municipal Code proposed by Councilwomen Sheri Lightner and Lori Zapf during a press conference last Friday, October 28th, an edit they say will address community concerns about the vacation rentals in single family neighborhoods. The edit will clarify that STVRs are currently not permitted in Single Family Residential neighborhoods.

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OB Town Council Gears Up for the Holidays – Makes Call for Volunteers

October 31, 2016 by Source
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By Geoff Page / Special to the OB Rag

The OB Town Council (OBTC) held its regular public meeting on Wednesday, October 26th from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm at the Masonic Center, 1711 Sunset Cliffs Blvd. in Ocean Beach. There were approximately 25 people in attendance. The meeting started with non-agenda public comment when people may speak for two minutes on any topic that is not part of the official agenda.

There was a representative from the group Save Peninsula Trees (savepeninsulatrees@gmail.com), formed to protect the peninsula’s trees spurred on by the city’s Torrey pine removals on Saratoga Avenue in Ocean Beach.

Mara Elliott, a candidate for City Attorney in the upcoming election, then spoke. She as followed by a representative for a campaign finance reform group and the pastor of the Pt. Loma United Methodist Church.

The President, Gretchen Newsom, introduced the new board. Go to their website, to see a list of the 15 members. [Editor: Gretchen apparently has decided to luckily stick around for another term as president; Nate Bazydlo is the new Vice President; Melanie Williams is the new corresponding secretary; Corey Bruins is the recording secretary; and Andrew Waltz is the new community events committee chair.]

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A Remembrance to a Smoker Or Why to Vote YES on Proposition 56

October 24, 2016 by Judi Curry
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By Judi Curry

Seven years ago you left to go who knows where. The time of diagnosis and death was so very short. Sunday will be your birthday; cut short by the 3 packs a day you smoked for 30 years. Diagnosed with lung cancer after stopping smoking for 34 years, it still got you in the end.

I remember the day when the diagnosis was made, and I remember you saying that if you knew smoking would still get you, you never would have stopped. Your craved that cigarette for some 60 years, and often substituted Irish Whiskey (what else?) after dinner. What you really wanted was a smoke along with the Irish.

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“Death Cafe” at OB Library – Sat., Oct. 22nd

October 21, 2016 by Source
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Did you know that on Saturday, October 22nd – the Ocean Beach Library is hosting a “Death Cafe” at 2 pm?

Now what, you may ask, is a “Death Cafe”?

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On Being Suicidal

October 11, 2016 by Source

By Will Falk / San Diego Free Press

Woman With Bangs By Pablo Picasso suicidal“I am suicidal.”

Three words only — but, the three most difficult words I’ve ever had to say. I did not want to say them. I fought so hard to leave them in the chill darkness of my depressed mind and now their expression feels like a declaration of defeat. I fear that giving voice to my suicidal thoughts will make them more dangerous. And, when I admit being suicidal, the demonic voices whispering on the edges of my consciousness will escape through my words to materialize as physical shadows hounding me wherever I go.

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El Cajon Police Return Medical Cannabis – Another Success for the Patient Community

October 10, 2016 by Source
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From San Diego Americans for Safe Access / October 10, 2016

With the stroke of a judge’s pen, Justice has prevailed. Pursuant to Court order, members of San Diego Alternative Care, a lawfully formed medical cannabis Cooperative, retrieved their property last week from the El Cajon Police Department, including 30 pounds of medical cannabis flower, 5 pounds of concentrates, and hundreds of medicated edibles and vape pen cartridges.

El Cajon Police had been in possession of SDAC’s property since late June when the department raided SDAC’s facility. Along with the apprehension of possibly facing felony charges, Cooperative members were confronted with the fact that their property was in police lockup. The property not only included medical cannabis products but also corporate documents, membership records, and office equipment.

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Rising Ocean Temperatures Causing Marine-Related Tropical Diseases and Harmful Algal Blooms

October 7, 2016 by Source
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Impact on Human Health Stressed

From Science Daily / October 4, 2016

Rising sea surface temperatures are causing marine-related tropical diseases and harmful algal blooms to spread towards the poles, a shift that is impacting human health, according to a chapter from a new report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) authored by professors from The University of Texas at Austin and Plymouth University.

The report, Explaining Ocean Warming: causes, scale, effects and consequences, was compiled for IUCN by 80 scientists in 12 countries and draws on several decades of scientific research from across the spectrum of marine science.

The chapter on “Impacts and effects of ocean warming on human health” highlights the spread of Vibrio vulnifucus, an often lethal disease-causing bacteria.

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Greening Your Wardrobe

October 6, 2016 by Source

By Sarah “Steve” Mosko / Boogie Green

apparel-clothingWhat typically comes to mind when contemplating our personal environmental footprint is the energy efficiency of the car we drive, how religiously we recycle, and maybe whether or not we have a water thirsty lawn.

However, everything we do and own has impacts on the environment, and that includes the choices we make in dressing ourselves.

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ACLU Seeks Answers in Arrests at El Cajon Vigil for Alfred Olango

October 6, 2016 by Source

San Diego ACLU troubled by “community reports of aggressive police response” and “potentially unlawful arrests” at peaceful vigil

Ferchil Ramos / San Diego ACLU

Alfred Olango KillingIn response to a video post by a community member at what appears to be a peaceful vigil at the site of the killing of Alfred Olango, the ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties sent a letter requesting information from the El Cajon Police Department (ECPD) concerning the arrests of individuals at the vigil on the evening of Saturday, October 1.

While no video necessarily tells the complete story, the available information raises serious questions that the arrests were unlawful. One of the factors in declaring an unlawful assembly is whether there is a clear and present danger of imminent violence.

The available information does not show the vigil itself presented a clear and present danger of imminent violence.

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OB Planners Take on Questions to City onTorrey Pines, the Ebers – Greene Project, and Project at 4768 Del Mar

October 4, 2016 by Frank Gormlie
Thumbnail image for OB Planners Take on Questions to City onTorrey Pines, the Ebers – Greene Project, and Project at 4768 Del Mar

The agenda for the Wednesday night’s OB Planning Board appears full, with reports and discussions on a number of popular issues – the Torrey Pines and the project at Ebers and Greene – as well as proposed project at 4768 Del Mar, plus it looks like at effort by the Board to reach out to the community during what’s being touted as “Archtoberfest”.

OB Torrey Cut beforeThe Planning Board meets at the OB Recreation Center, 4726 Santa Monica Avenue, at 6pm sharp, Wednesday, October 5th.

Torrey Pines and Canopies

Of great interest will be the Board’s review of questions submitted to the City by the Friends of Peninsula Trees, as well as an update to City policies regarding trees and its reforesting efforts.

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Angst Over Police Shootings Rocks California Cities

October 4, 2016 by Doug Porter

rip-olango-via-aaron-belfer-facebook police shootings Via Facebook

By Doug Porter

Community unrest over the deaths of black people at the hands of police in California continued unabated throughout the weekend. And it wasn’t just in El Cajon/San Diego.

Alfred Olango died in El Cajon on Tuesday. A composite video taken from a security camera and a bystander’s cellphone was released on Friday. Carnell Snell Jr. died in Los Angeles on Saturday, the second police-involved death in two days. And a particularly grotesque video of the July 11th death of Joseph Mann in Sacramento surfaced showing police officers trying to run him down before chasing him down and firing 14 shots into him.

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Prop 56 – Tobacco Industry Lie Machine Runs at Top Speed Against It

October 4, 2016 by Doug Porter

cigarettes-in-bowlEXTRA EDITION: Saturday Laryngectomy Rant

By Doug Porter / San Diego Free Press

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Lung Association in California and American Heart Association have placed Prop 56 on the ballot increasing taxes on tobacco products and updating state law to include e-cigarettes as a taxable product.

The tobacco industry has amassed a $56 million dollar war chest to defeat Prop 56. They know arguing in favor of tobacco use won’t work, so they’ve unleashed a blizzard of bullcrap advertising seeking to confuse and obfuscate the matter.

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News from Ocean Beach and Point Loma – Early October 2016

October 3, 2016 by Frank Gormlie

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….OB’s First EV Charging Station Under Construction

….The Joint Moves Its Fence

….Rumors About 7-Eleven

….Ocean Beach Town Council Board Election Results….Kilowatt Brewing Still Under Construction

… Former Shades Being Scrapped

. …Status of Jensen’s Move into Old Fresh & Easy

COME INSIDE FOR STORIES

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Former Radio Host Stacey Taylor Lost Everything in Burglary – GoFundMe Set Up.

October 3, 2016 by Source
Thumbnail image for Former Radio Host Stacey Taylor Lost Everything in Burglary – GoFundMe Set Up.

By Miriam Raftery / East County Magazine

A GoFundMe site has been set up to help former San Diego talk radio show host Stacy Taylor, a former Alpine resident. A radio personality for multiple stations, most recently KLSD on Air America, Taylor posted on his Facebook page that his house in Rosarito,Mexico was burglarized.

“They got everything of value, computers, jewelry, a camera with 10 years of memories, from Alpine, to Ecuador, to Paris and a hundred places in between. Even all my clothing, running shoes, etc. But these were thieves with a heart as they left me a couple pairs of jeans,”he wrote.

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Lamenting a World Without Scully

September 27, 2016 by Source
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Part I – The End of an ERA

By Scott Stephens

In this unstable and unpredictable world, Los Angelino’s have always had one consistency since 1958. Vincent Edward Scully has called Dodger games every season since the team came to Los Angeles. His 67 seasons with the Dodgers (1950–present) is the longest tenure for any broadcaster with a single team in professional sports history. He is little more than a year away from his 90th birthday!

Scully never had an RBI; never scored a run and never hit a home run for the Dodgers. Despite not being on the playing field, he was the most recognizable sports personality in the history of Los Angeles. He was bigger than the Dodgers; bigger than baseball. Through the years players came and went but there was always Vinny. It is difficult to comprehend what he meant to this city.

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Mary Louise Parker, OB Peoples, Mixed Nut House, and Me

September 21, 2016 by Michael Steinberg
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By Michael Steinberg

This past summer, while perusing library shelves 3000 miles from OB, I came upon actress Mary Louise Parker’s 2015 reminiscence, Dear Mr. You, wherein she recounts relationships with some of the men in her life.

As I glanced down the table of contents, one name jumped out and set off a set off a tsunami of flashbacks.

The year was 1984, the place Ocean Beach People’s Food Co-op, aka OB Peoples or just Peoples.

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