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Stories by Gail Powell

DUI Checkpoint Screens Drivers Leaving Joel Osteen Event

When the devout multitudes tried to leave the Joel Osteen "Night of Hope" worship event at the Valley View Casino Center on Friday, May 13, they were greeted by a DUI checkpoint. At approximately 10 …

Chris Cornell's Songbook Acoustic

The last show of Chris Cornell's five-week-long Songbook Acoustic tour was held under starry skies and a springtime crescent moon. Opener William Elliott Whitmore acquitted himself nicely singing blues and gospel tunes with a banjo …

May 9, 2011
Bloodmobile Gets Stuck in Ocean Beach

On the afternoon of Friday, April 29, the San Diego Blood Bank's Bloodmobile got stuck in the deep dip where Montalvo Street meets West Point Loma Boulevard in Ocean Beach. The Bloodmobile had just completed …

Car Thief Leaves His Wallet Behind

When a Navy man woke up early on Thursday, April 21, at the Mariner's Cove Apartments, he noticed his car was not where he had left it the previous evening. When he went out to …

Work on Quince Street Bridge, in Maple Canyon, Continues

Repairs to the Quince Street Bridge have yet to be completed since a eucalyptus tree fell on the span March 20. According to a posting from councilman Kevin Faulconer’s office at Hillquest.com, San Diego's “Park …

Accidents Lead to Traffic Snarls in Ocean Beach/Point Loma

At around 10 a.m. on April 15, two accidents occurred around the same time near Interstate 8 in the Ocean Beach/Point Loma area. San Diego police closed off the 4600 block of Nimitz Boulevard (which …

Found at the Sunset Cliffs Beach Cleanup...

On the morning of Saturday, April 9, an estimated 231 volunteers turned out at Sunset Cliffs for a Surfrider-sponsored beach cleanup. The event brings out a brigade of YMCA Navy personnel, guys, and SDSU sorority …

Pastor Miles McPherson to Take Over for Father Joe Carroll?

According to the Father Joe's Villages website, after 30 years of serving San Diego neighbors in need, "Father Joe Carroll has announced his retirement as CEO of Father Joe's Villages and its partner agencies, effective …

Medical Marijuana Protesters Go to City Hall for Council Vote

A loose coalition of medical marijuana advocates and supporters put together a protest march in front of the Federal Courthouse on Monday, March 28. Starting at 12 noon, an estimated 100 or so activists began …

An Attempt to Slow Down Point Loma Speeders

At least one household on the 3600 block of Garrison Street in Point Loma is getting serious about speeding cars in their neighborhood. Recently, one of the same homeowners who decorates elaborately for Christmas put …

March 25, 2011
Eucalyptus Smashes Quince Street Span

The Quince Street footbridge in Banker's Hill is out of commission and closed. According to Hillquest.com, "A western portion of the 106-year-old wooden pedestrian bridge that crosses Maple Canyon connecting Banker’s Hill to Balboa Park …

The Emerald City: Seattle, Washington

Seattle is called the Emerald City, and that designation is not a misnomer. Greenery, trees, parks and flower gardens abound in this sophisticated Pacific Northwest city that seems perpetually drenched in a misty rain. Though …

March 15, 2011
San Diego DA Bonnie Dumanis to Run for Mayor

On Thursday, March 10, San Diego district attorney Bonnie Dumanis announced her intention to run for mayor next year. "I want you to be among the first to know that I’ve made an important decision …

March 13, 2011
Union Members Picket Fresh & Easy Stores

Shopping at Fresh & Easy stores on the weekends may also include interactions with picketers who are members of the United Food & Commercial Workers union. A blog posted last year on the Fresno Bee …

February 26, 2011
Can't Diss This — Linkin Park at Viejas

Valentine's Day was last Monday, but the love fest was at Viejas Arena this Sunday, February 20, for Linkin Park. The crowd erupted into noisy fits of passion for the nu-metal, rap metal, and alternative …

February 22, 2011
Neighbors Complain About Imperial Beach Skate Park

Imperial Beach's skate park, open since November 2010, is causing problems for neighborhood residents. The Imperialbeachpatch.com website recently reported that city manager "Gary Brown said several problems have emerged at the Recreation Center since the …

February 13, 2011
SDSU’s Bike and Board Lane a Success

Last summer, when the newly installed on-campus bike path along Campanile Walkway opened at SDSU, college president Stephen Weber stated, "Not all education takes place in the classroom." He was complimenting SDSU’s Enviro-Business Society and …

February 10, 2011
Ocean Beach VFW to Move Down the Street?

All that is left of the old Veterans of Foreign War post #1392 Canteen in Ocean Beach is a slew of memories and a room painted blue and red with white stars on the trim. …

February 2, 2011
Hodad's Hosts Cage the Elephant

Alt-rock five-piece Cage the Elephant from Bowling Green, Kentucky, played a "secret" acoustic show for FM94/9 at Hodad's in Ocean Beach. Toning down their garage-rock volume to acoustic versions worked well for the cramped confines …

January 30, 2011
Bust at the Cove

Undercover DEA agents slipped into the Mariner's Cove apartments on West Point Loma Boulevard on Tuesday, January 25, and arrested an alleged drug dealer. An unmarked silver van with seven DEA agents wearing bulletproof vests …

January 26, 2011
Carnival Splendor’s Departure Delayed in San Diego

The San Diego Port District website announced that the Carnival Splendor cruise ship was "scheduled to leave the Port’s Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal on Wednesday afternoon, January 19. However, additional time was needed to complete …

January 20, 2011
New Point Loma High Classrooms Almost Completed

Point Loma High School will soon have 15,000 square feet of new classroom space in the form of a two-story building on the southwest corner of campus. The facility sits on a hill above where …

January 12, 2011
Victoria, British Columbia

Next time you visit Seattle, it’s a quick hop over to the lovely garden city of Victoria in British Columbia. Make sure to bring your passport, and climb aboard the Victoria Clipper on the Seattle …

January 11, 2011
Hodad’s Too to Open Next Month...Really?

Hodad's, the Ocean Beach burger joint that is famous for its long lines of people waiting to dine among the surf memorabilia and license plates, is having trouble translating that O.B. vibe downtown. The slow …

Project to Remedy Flooding in Mission Beach

Along the northern bank of the San Diego River bike path near Mission Beach, a large area has been fenced off near the City of San Diego Park & Rec refuse dump area. On this …

Hocus at the Shakedown Bar

Hocus is a three-piece rock band from Imperial Beach. With influences from far-ranging ’80s and ’90s rock with a measure of hardcore punk thrown in, Hocus performed an energetic set at the Shakedown Bar in …

December 22, 2010
Robbery Suspects Chased from Ocean Beach to Point Loma

Early Thursday morning, December 16th, a home-invasion robbery took place in the 4900 block of Santa Cruz Avenue in Ocean Beach. According to the San Diego Police Department, several armed men entered the Ocean Beach …

December 16, 2010
San Diego Visitors Center Shuttered

"After 40 years, we are closed." A sign attached to the front door of the Mission Bay Visitors Information Center spelled out the unhappy news, as confused tourists milled about. According to a post on …

San Diego's Broadway Pier — a Wart?

The new Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier is causing controversy even before its public unveiling, scheduled for the weekend of December 18-19. The Port of San Diego will be hosting a celebratory open house on …

Loose Dog at the Airport

A loose dog terrorized air traffic at Lindbergh Field on Saturday, December 11th. Airport authorities alerted Air Traffic Control personnel that a stray canine was running amuck along the single runway around 5pm. The dog …

Magnet School Students Fly to China

Barnard Elementary School-located at 2930 Barnard Street in the Midway District recently returned from a trip to China. The Mandarin Chinese K-6 magnet school forged an official sister school alliance with the 65-year old Chongqing …

Bug Levels 100 Students at Point Loma Nazarene

One hundred or so students at Point Loma Nazarene University have recently come down with the norovirus &mdash otherwise known as the "cruise ship disease." Several students reported cases of gastrointestinal upset over the first …

André Rieu's Romantic Note

Valley View Casino Arena was awash in the pastel finery of the waltz when André Rieu and the Johann Strauss Orchestra brought their colorful musical variety show to town. Regaling the elder-leaning crowd with classical …

December 5, 2010
Intervention at People’s Co-Op Meeting

During a People’s Co-Op board of directors meeting in November, minutes show that the co-op faced an "intervention — in the form of a motion made by members" to face the co-op's reliance on plastic. …

December 2, 2010
Carnival Splendor Docks in San Diego with “New Chilean Miners”

Early morning on Veteran's Day, November 11, tugs dragged the dead-in-the-water Carnival Splendor into the Embarcadero. The cruise ship had been disabled since a November 8 engine-room fire. Tugs brought the vessel and its nearly …

Officer Chris Wilson’s Memorial Draws Thousands to the Rock Church in Point Loma

An estimated 2000 people turned out on the scorching-hot morning of November 4 to pay their last respects to fallen San Diego policeman Christopher Wilson. Wilson was shot while helping to do a probation check …

November 4, 2010
Redesign of Thee Bungalow Near Complete, Bo-Beau to Debut

Bo-Beau Kitchen & Bar is the name given to the restaurant once occupied by Thee Bungalow. The rear exterior has been remodeled to resemble a French chateau patio with a large outdoor pizza oven. A …

October 23, 2010
Pastor Craig Gross and XXX Star Ron Jeremy Argue Porn

On October 9 at 6:30 p.m., “porn pastor” Craig Gross of XXXChurch in Las Vegas and porn king Ron Jeremy debated at the Rock Church in Liberty Station. Pastor Miles McPherson made several comical attempts …

Domesticated Fowl Dumped at Famosa Slough?

Famosa Slough is home to various wildlife species. As such, there has been a problem with people dumping unwanted birds and pets at the 37-acre wetland. During the years of residing near the slough, I …

October 3, 2010
Ocean Beach Man Found Alive Under Car

On Monday, August 30, at around 5:00 p.m., a Navy man attempted to back his jeep out of its parking spot in the 4700 block of Niagara Avenue alley. The serviceman was startled to notice …

September 1, 2010
Slippery, Not Smelly

As if the stingray “attacks” of a few weeks ago weren't enough, now we have the beaches of La Jolla Shores getting slimed by green algae. A roving La Jolla lifeguard told me on August …

August 14, 2010
Grand Withdrawal Seizure

On Thursday morning, August 5, at approximately 9:30 a.m., a woman’s cries were heard in the Mission Center Road parking lot of the Ralphs grocery store. "Help me! Call 911!" she yelled as concerned shoppers …

Between Mel and JC

On Sunday, August 1, James Caviezel, star of the 2004 film The Passion of the Christ, was the guest speaker at The Rock Church in Point Loma. The Oscar nominee shared his story of what …

August 4, 2010
And the Waterworks Began

At high noon on Sunday, August 1, a geyser of water sprayed from a pipe on the 4500 block of West Point Loma Boulevard — enough water so that cars in both lanes heading into …

Tranquil Pacifica, California

Another quick jaunt north is the scenic town of Pacifica, California. As a student at San Francisco State University, I once lived here eons ago, but it is still as quaintly scenic and tranquil a …

Hate Override Complete

The Westboro Baptist Church’s planned protest at Comic-Con on July 22 was overridden by a rally against hate and intolerance. (For a background story on the church’s plans, click here.) At noon in front of …

Like Raw Meat

Crowds came out to enjoy the surf and sunshine at La Jolla Shores on July 14. But by the end of the day, over 38 beachgoers had felt the barbs of stingrays that were clustered …

July 15, 2010
Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, California: A Gourmet Ghetto

A trip to the East Bay Area and Berkeley makes for a wonderful weekend getaway. Fly to Oakland and take the Richmond BART train from the airport into Berkeley. Seven easy blocks north of the …

Trouble at the Cove

In the early evening hours of Saturday, May 22, police and ambulance sirens shattered the silence at the Mariner's Cove Apartments. The entrance to the complex was surrounded by cops and a large fire truck. …

Coyote Hungry

A recent rash of cat disappearances in the area around Famosa Slough have caused much heartache for pet owners. Outdoor cats have vanished without a trace. A talk with “Chet” — a gentleman who lives …

May 18, 2010

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4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
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