Thirty-Five Years Ago
There are other, larger reasons for the existence of sailing clubs, of course. For one thing, they provide a social refuge for old families steadily assaulted by Southern California’s percolating nouveau riche. If one can’t avoid these bothersome new rich at the Cuyamaca Club or the University Club, at least the San Diego Yacht Club, for example, provides some sort of filter.
— “SAILING IN SAN DIEGO,” Jerry Rush, March 13, 1975

Thirty Years Ago
Lynn H. at Security Pacific UTC. I’m glad you’re back! You’re incredibly attractive! By the way, are you single? Non-lecherous, non-geriatric male admirer.

SUSAN at San Diego Trust and Savings: Where oh where are you? Money doesn’t matter, but people count. I need you to count my money. Mike.
— CLASSIFIEDS, March 13, 1980

Twenty-Five Years Ago
At 12 dollars per month, basic cable service in the City of San Diego is a bargain. Since 1979, Cox and Southwestern cable companies have increased their monthly fees at about one-half the consumer price index and neither firm has asked for a general rate hike. But this apparent fiscal restraint isn’t due to corporate kindness or the pressures of competition in San Diego, the nation’s largest cable market.

The deterrent to hefty price increases is a city ordinance that gives the city council power to approve or deny rate hikes proposed by Cox and Southwestern. The firms must petition for fee increases and submit a complete accounting which reveals everything from advertising, promotion, and legal fees to taxes, depreciation, and net income.
— “THE INSIDE STORY,” Paul Krueger, March 14, 1985

Twenty Years Ago
Most shoppers would agree that “failure” is an appropriate description for La Jolla Village Square, which perches on a hillside in the Golden Triangle. Too many of the mall’s 60 storefronts are vacant, several of its shops clash with La Jolla’s tony image (one store specializes in motivational tapes; another advertises cosmic matchmaking), and the mall’s main promenade is often so devoid of shoppers that, in the words of one store owner, “you can rollerskate through there backwards and not hit anyone.”
— CITY LIGHTS: “SQUARE NEEDS ANOTHER ANGLE,” Paul Krueger, March 15, 1990

Fifteen Years Ago
The people who grow the flowers overlooking the freeway in Carlsbad did something last spring that diverged from San Diego floricultural tradition: they encouraged the public to come onto the growing grounds. An estimated 125,000 people responded between March and early May of 1994, and upon many of them the ranunculus flowers cast an eerie spell. According to one of the women who sold bouquets there, a steady stream of mentally disturbed individuals were drawn to the site. “They would just sit and look and when they left, they seemed a lot calmer.”
— “GOD’S DIRT,” Jeannette De Wyze, March 9, 1995

Ten Years Ago
It’s the stuff of urban legend, like sharks swimming through city sewers: the dead catfish delivered to the Reader offices on India Street the day after the paper featured “Are the Padres Married to the Mob?” The story linked Padres team owners Larry Lucchino and John Moores to ex-felon Jay Emmett.

Q. In what were the fish wrapped?

Heavy brown butcher paper. The package weighed approximately three pounds. A card on which the words “Thank You” were embossed was attached to the butcher paper. This card was unsigned. Blood was leaking through the paper.
— CITY LIGHTS: “FISHY DELIVERY,” Matt Potter, March 9, 2000

Five Years Ago
Lost has fallen into the same trap as Gilligan’s Island. If the cast is rescued, the show is over. If the show continues, the writers have to make three square miles of sand and coconut trees interesting. I’ll watch this show again when they construct a car and radio out of materials found on the beach.
— REMOTE CONTROL KING, Ollie, March 10, 2005