OB Rag

Closing in on the 4th hour of the afternoon on April 20th (4/20), I grabbed my camera and note pad and headed for the beach. I was in search of the 420 celebration, hoping to catch OBceans partying for the holiday at 4:20 pm. I also hoped I would have more luck than other reporters searching for the same.

Easing my car into the lifeguard parking lot, I scanned the beach for a cannabis style floatopia or some such event. Yet, I saw only a couple here and there on the sand, enjoying the last rays of a sun about to be gobbled up by in-coming clouds. No mass gathering of youthful civil disobedients on this beach, flaunting johnny law to light up on this holiday.

Editor: This is great news. A non-profit in La Jolla has stepped up to sponsor that community’s seven fire pits. Hopefully, a local non-profit in OB could assist our neighborhood in sponsoring our eight fire pits. The issue for OB will be heard at the OB Town Council on April 28th.

By Dave Schwab / La Jolla Light / April 20, 2010

The La Jolla Community Foundation is willing to pay for beach fire pits in La Jolla if other donors and community foundations are willing to follow suit in their communities.

Originally posted April 20, 2009

Warren Haynes, the Allman Brothers Band guitarist, routinely plays with the surviving members of the Grateful Dead, now touring as The Dead. He’s just finished a Dead show in Washington, D.C. and gets a pop quiz from the Huffington Post.

Where does 420 come from?

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* Rumor: Locals Plan to Celebrate Herb Holiday on 4/20

* French Students Stuck in San Diego Due to Iceland Volcano Find OB Their “Favorite” Place Because of “the funny people there”

* Truesdail Posthumously-Produced- CD Release Party at Portugalia April 29th

* OB Town Council Plans Community Clean-Up on April 24th

* Fund-Raising Cross-Country Rollerbladers to Reach OB on April 24th – Barring Snow and Rain

* Rally for “No More Cuts In Education” on Saturday, May 8th

Editor: I know, I know, this has nothing directly relating to OB but … We posted this to demonstrate what is going on across the country. Here, on the 15th anniversary of the worst domestic terrorist incident in American history, armed vigilantes rally and spout violent rhetoric against President Obama, the Democrats and our country.

By Dana Milbank /Washington Post / Tuesday, April 20, 2010

They came in camouflage and ammunition vests, carrying AK-47s slung over their shoulders and pistols in their hip holsters. They were in Northern Virginia, on the 15th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, to stand on federal land and to voice violent thoughts.

They did this in a strictly nonviolent fashion, naturally.

Regional Mobilization Here on May 18-19 Calls for an End to Civilian Casualties in Pakistan-Afghanistan Border Region

Peace activists from across California and even from Nevada are planning to mobilize here in San Diego to protest the world’s largest and leading manufacturer of drones May 18-19.

San Diego is home to defense contractor General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, site of the activists demonstration. General Atomics builds the Predator and Reaper drones generally costing U.S. taxpayers $4 million to $12 million each.

by George / GrokSurf’s San Diego

“How your water rates subsidize golf courses” is the headline in a recent Voice of San Diego article by Rob Davis that will probably stir up some indignation around town. The article says that “475 businesses, homeowners associations, golf courses and public agencies” get a 78% discount on reclaimed water which is subsidized by regular water users.

The article cites Michael Shames, executive director of UCAN, who suggests that discounted prices for reclaimed water users may be illegal, and that “City Councilwoman Donna Frye called it “out-of-whack” and promised to hold a public hearing on it.”

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We’ve all seen it over these last months: water rushing down gutters and streets, partially filling intersections, workers on our avenues, blocked roadways to our houses in paradise.

Why does the City have to waste so much water as it replaces our pipes – especially during this drought? This is a question many of us have asked.

Jim Noble was asking the questions last Thursday while he took these shots. Again a picture or 9 are worth thousands of words.

By Mike Lee /Union-Tribune / April 18, 2010

The goal: The owners of Architects wanted to showcase their passion for energy-efficient design when they moved offices in Ocean Beach last year. Their previous projects had included designing an eco-friendly building for the OB People’s Organic Foods Market a decade ago.

“When we had the opportunity to do our own office, we figured we better practice what we preach,” said Randy Hanna, a principal with the eight-member company.

The process: Hanna and his colleagues bought a 5,000-square-foot auto repair shop at Bacon and Santa Monica streets, intending to redo it as a green showpiece.

Coastal Commission Nixes Sanders’ Vision for Foot of Broadway – to Delight of Local Activists

By Pat Flannery / Blog of San Diego / April 15, 2010

One of the biggest mistakes Jerry Sanders made in his two mayoral terms was to fall for whatever slick sales talk Steve Cushman used to cajole him into backing this used-car salesman for a third term as Port Commissioner, despite term limits. Sanders’ strange fascination with Cushman raised eyebrows at the time. It may now have cost him his legacy – the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan (NEVP). It lies in ruins because of the cruise ships.

The Adopt-A-Fire-Pit Project Is Looking for a Few Good Local Volunteers

OB Fire Pits Before OB Town Council on April 28th

The eight remaining fire pits on OB beaches are fast becoming a burning issue. As you probably know, the City of San Diego, under the pretense of not having sufficient funds, plans on removing all 185 fire pits that ring the City’s beaches – including Mission Bay. And these include what’s left of the pits in our community.

The City’s plans of removal are said to begin at the start of the new fiscal year, July 1st, as the City does have the money for maintenance of the fire pits up through this June.

* Syringes Found Washed Ashore South of Dog Beach on April 14th
* OB Historical Society Presents “OB Coffee Culture” – April 15th
* “Save OB Fire Pits” on the OB Town Council Agenda – April 28th
* Changing of the Guard at the OB Planning Board
* Antique District Sales Event – April 17 – 18
* Clean OB Committee meeting – April 19
* Crime Prevention Committee meeting – April 20