Ocean Beach

Editordude Note: The following is an interview with our friend, OBcean Gio Ingolia, who sits on the powerful Mission Bay Park Committee, via email.

Question: Gio –I know you’ve been involved in Ocean Beach for many years as a community volunteer, on the OB Planning Board and the OB Town Council. Can you give a brief history of some of the roles you’ve taken on, things you’ve done, positions you’ve occupied?

Answer: I served on the Ocean Beach Planning board for 8 years. This included 4 years as vice chair, and the chair for 2 years. …I co-chaired (2 yrs.) the Ocean Beach Community Plan Sub-Committee, along with Mindy Pelissier. Currently I sit on the Ocean Beach Town Council.

Recently – within the context of discussions over the City of San Diego’s plans to bring massive redevelopment to the Midway District on this site – there has been some serious disparagement of the 30 foot height limit, and it’s being blamed for everything from the housing crisis to the lack of affordability at the coast.

So, apparently it’s time, once again, to present some local history – the origins of the 30 foot height limit – and some of the good folks who made it happen. It all began back in the late Sixties when beach residents began to rebel against a wave of unbridled development occurring at the coast.

It’s basically “mum’s the word” at OB’s hostel on Newport Avenue about their recent application for a liquor license with the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Concerns have been raised in some quarters of the community about yet another alcohol establishment on OB’s main commercial drag.

But even if granted, USA Hostel Ocean Beach only plans to serve its own guests – those travelers who lease out spaces at the hostel. No one from the outside would be allowed into the 2-story iconic building – they have 24/7 staffing at the only front door, I was assured by Julie, the on-site manager,

Twenty years ago, Jim Bell – OB’s well-known ecology consultant – bought an old building on Voltaire Street in Ocean Beach, which once housed a variety of businesses over the years, including Seedless, one of the incarnations of Hodads and Effie’s Cafe. And for 2 decades Bell rented out the numerous interior rooms while he worked out of his office, “the cave”, deep inside the building.

Now the property is up for sale. Jim Bell’s daughter Heather, who lives in Seattle, confirmed to this reporter she is trying to sell it. The lot is 50 by 100 feet. This turn in events is all due to Jim’s failing health – he’s now bedridden in a local Point Loma senior assisted living facility, and his well-being is dependent on the sale.

The upcoming Peninsula Community Planning Board meeting should be interesting as a San Diego Housing Commission representative and advocates for the Point Loma bike track will all be present. The bike track is on the agenda.

The Board meets Thursday, May 17 at the Point Loma Library, 3701 Voltaire Street, from 6:30 to 9pm.

Around 7pm, track advocate Katie Bendixen will assist the Board in a discussion about open space, development of the property at Famosa and Nimitz and the future of what’s called the Famosa Pump Track.

This Thursday, May 17, the Ocean Beach Historical Society will present: “Picture Perfect – Three of O.B.’s Top Photographers”, at Water’s Edge Faith Community at 1984 Sunset Cliffs Blvd., at 7 PM,

The above photograph is of three of O.B.’s top photographers and OB Exposed! judges Cliff Beck, Steve Rowell, and Joe Ewing.

Actual sign sign discovered somewhere in Ocean Beach. “Follow that dream” – very appropriate. It’s anonymous street art.

There’s apparently a bunch of artists, or different networks of artists (or maybe just one) who are teasing OB with their anonymous street art. And this latest street sign – very “professionally” crafted and quietly installed – makes for great art. (Thank you – whomever you are. )

They have struck before.

by Dakota Campagna / Lomabeat.com

With summer less than two months away, the journey to get the perfect beach body is in full force. Here are three gyms that will make your workout out a little less gruesome and are offering some of the top deals in San Diego.

Dan McKinney Family YMCA (La Jolla):

The Dan McKinney YMCA in La Jolla is one of the most beautiful gyms to work out at. They have an upstairs weight room, as well as a separate cardio room next to it. If you were to walk outside on the top floor, there is a balcony with a turf carpet where you can stretch, work out abs, etc.

OB Kite Festival has a new location!

The 70th annual Ocean Beach Kite Festival – that’s right, the 70th – is moving to a new and bigger venue this year. The traditional free event will now be held at Robb Field on Saturday, May 12, from 10 am to 4 pm.

The new Robb Field location will give everyone more room to fly their kites, as well as lots of free parking.

Children will learn how to make and fly a simple kite, with all materials and instruction included.

There’s also food, music (from OB’s own Beer Feat band), jumpies, and a craft fair. Prizes for the best decorated kites

Editordude: The OB Rag’s Joaquin Antique, the author of numerous “OB Walkabouts”, just returned from a trip to Italy.

By Joaquin Antique

The more I travel the more I’m surprised at how familiar things can feel in other places. One of the things I relish about travel is experiencing how different other places can be, but I often find that the commonalities and shared experiences between us are what’s most amazing.

Take the coastal eddy for example. It doesn’t matter if you’re in OB or on the Amalfi Coast, when the fog rolls in it can ruin your day. Or you can just groove on it until it burns off and then it’s glorious. Yellow and green bikes cluttering up your neighborhood or polluting your view?

By Brett Warnke

When librarian Matt Beatty talks about his paddle-skating, he doesn’t smile–not in that broad proud way of the athlete, but in a tiny mischievous lift of his mustache.

“It’s an old person’s extreme sport,” he said.

His wit is dry but he gets wet every morning swimming in the chilly waters bubbling under the OB Pier and makes his way to the place where we have all seen him, the OB Library, the human face of our odd little corner of San Diego. Matt is a kind of sociologist of readers,

From Lomabeat

When former Point Loma Nazarene University student Amy McClanahan went to her then PLNU professor and Mid City Church of the Nazarene pastor, John Wright, seeking help with issues that she said were related to childhood sexual trauma, she was following university protocol.

Wright also followed the appropriate steps when he went to PLNU’s Wellness Center and other faculty on campus, seeking assistance for McClanahan.

Neither Wright nor McClanahan found what they were looking for.