New Home, New Year Brand New Construction See pg 3 of Sotheby’s Insert for details LANZ 619.564.6355 Cal BRE#01883404 San Diego Community Newspaper Group Thursday January 8, 2015 www.SDNEWS.com Volume 27, Number 13 THE BIG PICTURE Civic engagement, volunteerism head OB Town Council's agendas for 2015 BY DAVE SCHWAB | THE BEACON Ocean Beach Town Coun- cil president Gretchen Kin- 2014 was a good year for Peninsula res- ney Newsom said home- idents, whose leaders are looking ahead to lessness and infrastructure an even better 2015. Meanwhile, The Bea- needs are two main areas con reached out to Peninsulans to talk of concern to her group. about their wish lists this year and about what they anticipate happening as the new year unfolds. cation of Ocean Beach and the welfare of Gretchen Kinney Newsom, president of our residents. This will include working Ocean Beach Town Council, said there’s a with community groups and elected lead- plethora of things to look forward to and to ers to apply best practices toward solving strive to achieve, adding that she expects homelessness, address our community the council to be up to the task. infrastructure needs, promote our local “The OB Town Council,” she said, “will economy and enhance public safety.” be deepening and broadening civic engage- The town council president said she’s ment and volunteer opportunities that pro- mote the general betterment and beautifi- SEE COUNCIL, Page 13 WETSUIT? WHAT WETSUIT? Students and parents from the Silver Gate, Dana and Correia middle school surf teams proved they're just as hardy (or crazy) as everybody else as they rang in the New Year with their version of the polar bear plunge, which suddenly passes for something of a cultural tradition in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. Plunges took place at several California beaches and are a major event at locations as far east as New Hampshire. Below, local participants New laws, new mayor, new ideas bundle up against below-average temperatures that marked the New Year's weekend. PHOTOS BY JIM GRANT marked 2014 for Peninsula residents BY DAVE SCHWAB | THE BEACON ment protesting SeaWorld’s treatment of orcas as depicted in the documentary It’s time to look back to see the paths the “Blackfish.” The announcement renewed “Pointers” chose in getting to the new year. pressure on the marine park to change its Here's a month-by-month review of events business model and reconsider keeping as reported in The Peninsula Beacon in killer whales in captivity. SeaWorld defend- 2014: ed its practices in a Guest View. Birders of every feather flocked together at the San JANUARY Diego Bird Festival Feb. 27 to March 2 at A host of new laws – everything from Marina Village on Mission Bay. Peninsula vehicles being required to stay at least three planners balked at plans by the Navy to feet clear of bicyclists to paid family leave of realign a section of its jet-fuel pipeline to absence – took effect. The Point Loma Opti- Miramar along Rosecrans Street. mist Club launched a community-out- reach drive. Phil’s BBQ in Point Loma MARCH closed six weeks for a $1 million renova- On March 15, Cabrillo National Monu- tion. Peninsula planners narrowly opted ment, San Diego’s only national park, cel- not to appeal the controversial Peeling hill- ebrated its centennial with dinner and side subdivision project. dancing after a walk in the lighthouse at Loma Portal neighbors Elaine Fotinos sunset. The Point Loma High School girls Burrell and Karla Lapic spearheaded volleyball team seized their first CIF cham- Kings of the deep are now granting audiences research and development of a new book, pionship in 23 years. Claudia Jack of OB “Reading Between the Lampposts: The Lit- was honored as Irish Woman of the Year. BY DAVE SCHWAB | THE BEACON watching captain Scott McCandliss Those who prefer to view whales up erary Giants of Loma Portal,” about Shelley Zimmerman became the first gives a well-versed narration on the close and personal can do so by kayak, author-named streets in their area. The female police chief for all of San Diego. City January brings rain and cooler tem- leviathans, having previously worked renting them from institutions like Midway Post Office complex went back on Council passed new rules allowing mobile peratures as well as the seasonal grey on boats at Scammons Lagoon in Baja Everyday California, at 2246 Avenida the auction block. Midway planners con- food trucks but required them to be at least whale migration along the San Diego California, where whales spawn. De La Playa in La Jolla Shores. tinued with the update of their communi- 300 feet from residences. With the “Black- coast, which can be captured by locals Greys migrate annually between Why view whales from a kayak ty plan, the blueprint for commercial and fish” backlash, a state bill that would have and visitors alike taking boats or even feeding and breeding grounds. They rather than a boat? residential development. banned using orcas with trainers in com- kayaks. can grow to 49 feet in length and “It’s more environmentally con- mercial shows was unsuccessfully intro- Since 1935, sportfishing specialists weigh 36 tons, living 55 to 70 years. scious, not disturbing whales with FEBRUARY duced. Midway entrepreneurs began meet- H&M Landing, at 2803 Emerson St. in They feed mainly on crustaceans from noise pollution from (boat) engines, Point Loman and former District 2 City ing to re-establish a new business Point Loma, have been escorting pas- the sea floor. and you can get closer,” said Everyday Councilman Kevin Faulconer defeated improvement district. Midway planners sengers to their destinations, whether Each October, small groups of greys tour guide Steve Anderson, who noted Council colleague David Alvarez to become also shared frustration with police over ille- that be fishing in the La Jolla kelp beds in the eastern Pacific start a two- to two guides typically host groups of ten San Diego’s new mayor. Local planners gal vehicle encampments. or glimpsing migrating whales off- three-month, 5,000- to 6,800-mile persons each on kayak tours, paddling gave thumbs up on Feb. 5 to a new shore. trip south, believed to be the longest out for half an hour to cover the three $13,000 project at OB Elementary School, APRIL “We’ve been doing three-hour annual migration of any mammal miles needed to get out into the ocean creating a raised, concrete crosswalk with Veteran San Diego lifeguard and ex- whale watching tours since 1956 in traveling along the west coast of Cana- pathways greys take migrating south. curb cuts. The OB Historical Society salut- Marine Ed Harris was tapped to finish our 80-foot boats with seating inside da, the United States and Mexico. Kayak whalewatching tours go out ed The Green Store for its community mayor-elect Kevin Faulconer’s District 2 and out and a full galley departing Traveling nonstop, the grey whale three times daily from 9 to 10:30 a.m., activism as the store celebrated its 25th term. Ocean Beach Community Develop- twice daily at 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.,” averages about 75 miles per day. By 10:30 a.m. to noon and 12:30 p.m. to anniversary. ment Corporation held a public meeting to said Katrina Coleman, H&M late December to early January, greys 2:30 p.m., said Anderson, adding the Point Loma High School’s Cinema Arts spokeswoman. begin to arrive in the calving lagoons cost is $40 per person. H&M's Cole- Program did a public-service announce- SEE REVIEW, Page 5 Whale watching started early this of Baja. By mid-February to mid- man said whale watching excursions year. “We’ve been sighting quite a few March, the bulk of the population has are $20 per person Mondays and CLARIFICATION grey whales coming down, as well as arrived in the lagoons, filling them Tuesdays and $45 a head the rest of On Dec. 22, The Peninsula Beacon published an article on Pacific Beach resident and landlord John common dolphins and sea lions,” with nursing, calving and mating grey the week, with fare discounts for Nobel, named in several actions by the City Attorney's Office as it cracks down on illegal marijuana dis- Coleman said, noting H&M whaling- whales. seniors, the military and children. pensaries. Nobel is not to be confused with John Noble, of Ocean Beach's Coastal Sage Gardening. THURSDAY · JANUARY 8, 2015 2 THE PENINSULA BEACON NEWS Immigrant licenses, bag ban among 900 new state laws California lawmakers passed more Mandatory sick leave (AB 1522) -- than 900 laws signed by Gov. Jerry Health and public safety Starting July 1, anyone who works for Brown during the 2014 legislative ses- Yes means yes (SB 967) – To receive 30 days is eligible to accrue sick pay sion that ended Aug. 31. state funding, colleges and universities under this law, known as the "Healthy Here’s a look at a few of the more must consider sexual behavior on cam- Workplaces, Healthy Families Act." impactful measures, and the subjects pus consensual only if both parties About 6.5 million workers are estimated they affect, that have gone into effect (or actively agree to it and are not incapac- to be affected by the law. will) in 2015: itated, throwing out the old refrain “no means no” and replacing it with "yes Firearms and lifestyles Transportation and natural resources means yes." Massage parlor oversight (AB 1147) – Immigrant driver licenses (AB 60) -- California becomes the first state in Local governments get greater oversight The DMV must issue driver licenses to the nation to use this rubric for sexual of massage parlors, which have been undocumented immigrants who meet consent.