Ocean Beach Stories

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Car Clipper

On Saturday, October 10, a motorcycle going east on West Point Loma Boulevard clipped a car that had pulled out of the underground parking lot of a condo complex on the north side of the ...

What Sewage Spill?

Dog Beach was crowded with beachgoers and their dogs playing in the hazy afternoon sun on Saturday, September 26. Just a couple days earlier, signs warning of sewage contamination in the water flanked the popular ...

Mega Romantic

For such a hot day, there were a disproportionate number of people dressed in black at the end of the Ocean Beach Pier on Saturday afternoon, July 11. The estimated 70 people who gathered on ...

Pitifully Doomed

San Diego mayor Jerry Sanders recently announced that the City has launched a new website at which people can make donations to support the fire-pit program. Despite a $259,500 donation, fire-pit funding has only been ...

Cops’ Lot

The Ocean Beach pier parking lot has traditionally been a coveted location for RV owners to park on the 4th of July. The lot is steps to the beach, amenities for children are close by, ...

Transformer Taken Down by Parrot

Residents in southern Ocean Beach began Wednesday, June 24, without power. At about 8:30 a.m. one of the many parrots inhabiting O.B. landed on a transformer in the alley between Santa Cruz Avenue and Del ...

No More Eyesore in O.B.

For longtime residents of O.B., their community is representative of many things, from tolerance of alternative lifestyles to richly colored cliffs at sunset. As for the elements that creep in like crabgrass in a perfectly ...

Permission to Demolish Granted

At its meeting on Wednesday, June 3, the Ocean Beach Planning Board recommended approval of the demolition of two units on a property on the 4900 block of Cape May Avenue. An architect representing the ...

BBQ Ban Next for O.B.?

At approximately 5:15 p.m. on Saturday, May 23, a dumpster fire broke out in the parking lot at the end of Brighton Avenue. Moments before, a man had been seen emptying the coals of his ...

Middle of the Class

At the foot of the wooden Imperial Beach pier on a gray Wednesday morning, environmental group Heal the Bay issued San Diego County’s annual report card for water quality at its beaches. There was some ...

The Voices Online

In January, I began teaching two philosophy classes, one in the classroom and the other online. “The thing I don’t like about online classes,” says one of my classroom students, “is that you can’t see ...

Rock, Paper, Busted

Many of the more than 100 vendors at Rock Paper Scissors, a consignment store on Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach, have been clamoring for their money after the business stiffed them when it closed in ...

Who Killed Richard Swink?

Last Thursday morning, April 30, the body of Richard Howard Liams Swink was found lying on the sidewalk outside of the Ocean Beach library on Sunset Cliffs Boulevard. Injuries to his abdomen and chest seemed ...

Cliff Hanger

At approximately 12:30 p.m. on April 21, a middle-aged woman fell down a cliff above the beach at the end of Santa Cruz Avenue. An ambulance was called, and within minutes police cars, fire engines, ...

Let’s Toast to Banning Booze

During District 2 councilmember Kevin Faulconer’s state of the district speech on April 27, he listed his accomplishments during the past three years. One of his proudest accomplishments so far has been banning alcohol from ...

No Flight Risk

Wednesday morning, April 8, as I was strolling down Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach, I noticed that one of O.B.'s most controversial stores had been vandalized. Wings Beachwear, located in the Strand Theatre building at ...

Surf Nazi Hate Crime

On March 17, at the Ocean Beach Jetty, I had just caught a wave that nobody else was close to catching. After my ride, I paddled back to the lineup and another surfer told me, ...

Future Decision Unknown?

A few months ago, public protests persuaded the San Diego City Council not to close the Ocean Beach library due to budget shortfalls. Prior to this successful outcry, library users were told they would have ...

Beach Cleanup

On Saturday, January 24th, 2009 from 9 to 11 a.m., volunteers gathered in Ocean Beach eager to participate in the San Diego Coastkeeper’s beach cleanup program, sponsored by the Ford Motor Company Fund. Twice monthly, ...

NSSA in Ocean Beach

The NSSA (National Scholastic Surfing Association) held the first part of its South West Conference today in Ocean Beach with men's and junior's competitions beginning at dawn and ending at dusk. Skies were sunny and ...

Dog Beach Closed Due to Sewage Spill

A sewage spill in to the San Diego River on Monday, December 27, prompted the closure of Dog Beach in Ocean Beach. The affected areas of the beach were still closed four days later. The ...

Hurricane P

About four months ago I was having Mexican food at a vegan place at Sunset Cliffs — I have friends who are vegetarians, and this is one of the places that we all enjoy — ...

Booze Moves to the Alley

In an alleyway in Ocean Beach, near the intersection of Newport and Bacon, Keith Morgan sits in a white plastic chair padded with two pieces of cardboard. He’s slept in that chair since May, when ...

Not So Fast, Faulconer

At the July 23rd Ocean Beach Town Council meeting, James Lawson from city councilmember Kevin Faulconer’s office asked the town council for their opinion. “We just wanted to hear your feedback about how the Fourth ...

We Told You to Bring a Petition

Ocean Beach resident Rob Lewis is tired. He says that two to three nights out of the week -- instead of catching some Z's -- he’s phoning the police about the noise and smoke coming ...

The Morning After Mess

The Fourth of July is about celebration. It's about honoring our country, our freedoms, while tossing a few back with family and friends — not on the beach of course — and watching the spectacular ...

Booze Ban Driving Homeless Inland?

Two opposing views regarding the ban on brew at San Diego's beaches inadvertently surfaced during the June 25th meeting of the Ocean Beach town council. When Officer David Surwilo, community liaison for the police department's ...

Cape May Apartments Before O.B. Planning Board

A representative for the owner of the Cape May Apartment Building at 5104 Cape May Avenue in Ocean Beach passed out old photocopied documents to the members of the Ocean Beach Planning Board during their ...

Parking Problems Plague Planning Board

Sitting quietly in the front row, applicant Beth Joseph of Ocean Beach was at her second planning board meeting in five months and it won’t be her last. Joseph’s plans to build an upstairs office ...

Playing Chicken

‘I.B.” “O.B.” “I.B.!” “O.B.!!” “OK. How’s about Oceanside?” “I tell you, man,” says Hank. “Nothing beats O.B.” We’re ambling west down Newport, arguing, as per usual. Size, of course. Like, who has the longest pier. ...

Roping Dogs

Dogs’ Beach in Ocean Beach, 1974. The city council got tough on dogs that year. In two weeks’ time, 232 citations were issued to owners, “the toughest crackdown on stray dogs in county history,” according ...

Before Tamed Fire

“In case I haven’t mentioned it lately,” says Debbie the bus driver through her microphone, “I love my passengers. Yee-haw!” Hey, it’s okay. This is the 35, the O.B. bus. People are allowed to be ...

Interview with Gary Hoag, Owner of Ace Tattoo

Ocean Beach Neighborhood Video

Gary Hoag discusses life as an Ocean Beach business owner and resident. Interviewed at Ace Tattoo on Newport Avenue.

World Surfing Championship, 1966

Corky Carroll at the 1966 World Surfing Championship contest in O.B. (Australia's Nat Young won.) In recognition of the contest, the mayor proclaimed it "World Surfing Week," and the city council forked over $1495 for ...

Ocean Beach pier

Name: Cliff Crenshaw Lives: Santee Surfing: Ocean Beach pier The winter surf season is here. More boots and hoods appear on the beach and bob in the rolling waters. Only dedicated beginners and lifelong enthusiasts ...

Ocean Beach Jetty

Name:Kevin Darcy Lives: Pacific Beach Surfing: Ocean Beach jetty On his Chris Gallagher 6'0", Kevin Darcy likes the waves at Ocean Beach jetty. He says the spot "is especially fun if you're a regular footer, ...

All That's Left

Israel and Lebanon were at war. England and Argentina were at war. In Hollywood, the Red Hot Chili Peppers were formed. Navy beat Army 24-7, the Chargers beat the Dolphins 41-38 to make it to ...

Avalanche in O.B.

Name: Chuck Yearman Lives: O.B. Surfs: Avalanche in O.B. Chuck Yearman loves being able to surf close to home, but convenience isn't the only reason he loves surfing O.B. After having surfed all around San ...

Fantasy Trash Talk

Before football season started, Dan invited me to his fantasy football draft party. I'm in a fantasy league and was curious to see how others ran theirs. I checked out their website -- "Williams World ...

Flatulent Stuffed Animals in Ocean Beach

I've been an Ocean Beach girl for eight years. All this time, I've lived the way most people in O.B. do. I've lifted my mood by watching dogs break into fights on dog beach, I've ...

Dog Beach in Ocean Beach

Name: Roger Witthoeft Home: Santee Vehicle: 1967 Volkswagen Bug Surfing: Dog Beach in Ocean Beach Roger Witthoeft's Bug trundles and rattles into the parking lot on mismatched wheels and bare tires. Its paint, multitoned and ...

Ocean Beach Pier

Name: Mike Turner Home: Chula Vista Vehicle: 1995 Ford F-150 Surfing: Ocean Beach Pier Mike Turner surfs a 9'4" Bear and is committed to environmental causes. He inherited a gas-guzzling V8 Jeep that didn't have ...

Man Brings Lover Roses Then Shoots Her

Shocked shoppers see a woman fall to her death from a parking structure at Parkway Plaza in El Cajon. Was she pushed? In Chollas View, a mother loses the second of her two sons to ...

The pier, Ocean Beach

Name: Jason Corp Vehicle: 2002 Toyota Tundra Lives: Linda Vista Surfing: The pier, Ocean Beach Jason Corp paddled out past the O.B. pier. Earlier, he thought he might pack up for the day to head ...

Santa Monica surf spot in Ocean Beach

Name: Kens Sullivan Jr. and Sr. Vehicle: 1992 Jeep Cherokee Lives: Point Loma Surfing: Santa Monica surf spot in Ocean Beach Ken Sullivan Sr. calls his Jeep Cherokee 4x4 the "soul car" because he can ...

Avalanche Jetty, Ocean Beach

Name: Julian Vereda Home: San Diego Vehicle: 1991 Jeep Wrangler Surfing: Avalanche Jetty, Ocean Beach While serving aboard the USS Cleveland (LPD-7), Julian Vereda saw the greatest site ever offered to any surfer: Cortes Bank ...

Dog Beach, Ocean Beach

Name: Tom Downer Home: Normal Heights Vehicle: 1971 Volkswagen Bus Surfing: Dog Beach, Ocean Beach Tom Downer's wife calls his '71 Volkswagen Bus his "beach garage." Tom says, "It's still the only vehicle I can ...

Avalanche Jetty, Ocean Beach

Name: Seth Roloff Lives: Alpine Surfing: Avalanche Jetty, Ocean Beach Vehicle: 1984 Mercedes 300SD Turbo Diesel Seth Roloff's 1984 Mercedes 300SD died in its spot on this hazy Saturday morning. "I was excited to see ...

Ocean Beach Pier

Name: Junko Brunelle Home: Ocean Beach Vehicle: 2000 Ford Focus wagon Surfing: Ocean Beach Pier Junko Brunelle doesn't like Fords at all. "They break too easily," she says. But she bought her Focus wagon for ...

Ocean Beach

Name: Mike Chious Home: Downtown Vehicle: Custom Dune Buggy Surfing: Ocean Beach From the desert to the beaches, wherever Mike Chious drives his custom dune buggy, a crowd of guys gathers. "My friends are trying ...

Life in the Crash Lane

I crashed a benefit concert for a woman who crashed her car. I intended to pay the $5 cover at Portugalia in OB, but I forgot my wallet at the racquetball courts. The kid at ...