OB Rag

by Ernie McCray

Oh, I love
what the county
of San Diego
did on
a beautiful Southern California
day,
matching such beauty
by tending to the needs of children
who live south
of the border
down Mexico way,
providing them
with their first shot
of a vaccine

By Colleen O’Connor

Expecting family and friends to arrive this week in anticipation of the Thanksgiving holiday?

A sure way to guarantee they enjoy their stay, besides the beach, the bay, the dinners, and the weather, is a hidden gem in Balboa Park: The Japanese Friendship Garden.

The garden is tucked away in Balboa Park, under lush vegetation, with meandering paths across bridges, alongside waterfalls that spill into fabulous Koi ponds. This park also hosts art exhibitions, Bonsai pavilions and currently, a textile exhibit of fine fabrics, as well as magnificent matrimonial Kimonos.

By Diane Bell / San Diego Union-Tribune / Nov. 20, 2021

An Ocean Beach landmark has closed forever.

Willie’s Shoe Shine, a tiny shed in the parking lot of Mallory’s furniture store on Newport Avenue, has shut its single door.

“Shoeshine” Willie Washington officially has retired. For as many as five decades the retired Marine, now in his mid-80s, has either worked in Ocean Beach in a shoe repair store or run his own drive-by/walk-by business out of a parking lot shed.

He grew into a legend and an icon and even has been referred to as the unofficial mayor of O.B. Willie, as everyone calls him, always has a smile and a kind word and seems to know everyone, their children and their kids’ children. “He’s been a mainstay on Newport for decades,” recalls Frank Gormlie, publisher of the “OB Rag,”

By Geoff Page

What has been dubbed the Ocean Beach Pier Working Group had its “Fall Virtual Meeting,” on Wednesday November 17.

The meeting was moderated by Campbell’s representative for the Ocean Beach area, Teddy Martinez. So, this is being run by the District 2 Council office, in case that wasn’t clear enough. Considering the results of this meeting, District 2 should get all the credit.

This was a Zoom meeting for a core group of meeting participants and other interested parties but was deliberately not made open to the public. At one time, there were 27 attendees. Some of the core group come from local organizations such as Andrea Schlageter, chair of the OB Planning Board and Denny Knox from the OB Mainstreet Association.

Great design isn’t done quickly or cheaply

By Roger Showley / November 18, 2021

Regarding the U-T article about the Ocean Beach Library expansion moves ahead; some want more input” (Nov. 14):

I grew up with the Ocean Beach Library as my branch. To a child it was a place of wonder and inspiration. I find the proposed addition to be a thoughtless, design-challenged and placeless project.

The staff believe an in-house plan will save time and $400,000 in outside architectural fees. But judging by recent city projects, like the Balboa Park West Mesa restrooms, expedited design results in Onions not Orchids.

By Edwin Decker

Dear Ed, Can you tell me how long should I let a friend crash at my house? A friend of mine is going through a divorce and has been sleeping on my couch for about a month now. Do you think that’s long enough or is it my obligation to let him stay longer? I want him to leave, but I fear that asking will damage the friendship.

Sincerely, Katy from Connecticut

Dear Katy, ah yes, the age-old question: What’s the statute of limitations on crashing?

Well, it depends on multiple variables such as how close the friend is, how respectful are they of your space, what is your tolerance level and other factors.

Given that I don’t know the particulars of your situation, I have developed a formula for you – or anyone – to apply. I call it the Crashing Friend Eviction Deadline Calculator

Restaurant Review

Coffee Hub and Café
2907 Shelter Island Dr.
San Diego, CA 92106
619-738-1482
(Note: They are open 7 days a week)

By Judi Curry

Now that many restaurants are open with the restriction for Covid being eased, it is time for me to try some of the places people have told me about over the year. The Coffee Hub and Café was one that I wanted to try.

It is located in the small shopping center on the corner of Scott and Shelter Island Drive, that also houses another restaurant I reviewed some time ago – Supanee House of Thai – and across the street from Miguel’s. They are open for breakfast and lunch, and although Google has them closed on the weekdays, that is not correct. They are definitely open.

The big news from San Diego City Hall Tuesday was the New Rule: for many businesses starting January 1, parking space requirements are eliminated.

The City Council unanimously voted a change to the municipal code that eliminates parking space minimum requirements for many businesses. Commercial tenants and building owners in transit priority areas and commercial neighborhoods citywide, beginning the New Year, can decide to provide as much parking as they think their customers need, or use those spaces for outdoor dining or outdoor spaces.

Also, new entrepreneurs will no longer be prevented from starting a new business because their building doesn’t have enough parking.

Here is someone San Diegans – and OBceans — should know: the ranting White supremacist of Ocean Beach. Meet Nathaniel Maloney, an OB resident.

Maloney was identified as the white man shouting verbal threats and racial slurs at an African-American woman neighbor, who shot a video of the incident on a street in Ocean Beach. The incident reportedly occurred on Monday, November 15.The vid circulated widely on social media.

The woman was walking to her car in her driveway when Maloney ran up to her, spit on her and then assaulted her by screaming the N-word at her over and over. He even tried to call the cops on her, claiming she had assaulted him.

By Anupa Asokan / Op-Ed / San Diego Union-Tribune / Nov. 12, 2021

This summer I was determined to catch a fish called the California corbina. Corbina don’t really carry the clout that comes with reeling in fish like yellowtail or white seabass prized by Southern California anglers, but I’m drawn to corbina partly out of nostalgia since they are related to the red drum I grew up catching in the Gulf of Mexico, and mostly because they are easier to get to. I could fish for them right off the beach without a boat.

I’m a fisherwoman and my days are focused on advancing ocean conservation,