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Moss Gropen
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Garrett Harris
Ken Harrison
Patrick Henderson
Tam Hoang
Eve Kelly
Dryw Keltz
Eva Knott
Thomas Larson
Ken Leighton
Matthew Lickona
Mike Madriaga
Bill Manson
Scott Marks
Bob McPhail
Walter Mencken
Joseph O'Brien
Sheila Pell
Ian Pike
Matt Potter
H.G. Reza
Dave Rice
Elizabeth Salaam
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suzledeboer
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We the people of Normal Heights
For more of the Normal Heights story and the naming of Normal Heights, go to The Reader, 6 August 2016. For more on the neon sign, go to The Reader, August 23, 2011. For new information on the neon sign, read on. Gary Weber and I met with Art Buckel, Joy (Buckel) LeBus and their friend Ron in May 2011. Art and Joy's dad opened T & B Auto Repair with Bert Vanderhayden at 3426 Adams in 1942. (Konrad King location today.) Joy married Dick LeBus in 1956, and they moved to 3422 Adams Avenue, where Dick opened a sheet metal shop in the rear of that property. He built the sign. Martin Neon (4714 Felton) did the neon, and Joe Jackson of Jackson Electric did the electrical work and hung the sign over the intersection of Adams Avenue and Felton. Pasquale Gangitano, owner of Pat's Barber Shop opened for business in October 1959, and the sign was up and lit and "beautiful." It still is and is the last remaining original neon street sign in San Diego. One last mystery: Everyone we spoke with told Gary and me that there was a "first" Normal Heights sign erected in the same location some years before the neon sign.
— March 5, 2018 1:57 p.m.
Seniors try to save old Adams Avenue cop shop
When the City did an assessment of its real estate assets several months ago, the Mock Building received a grade of 68. Maybe grading scales have changed, but isn't that comparable to a D+? Here's a question for CD3 and the Mayor: Why can't Normal Heights get something brand new? Even when we had our own branch library, it was a hand-me-down from University Heights.
— January 27, 2018 11:51 a.m.
Sidewalk stamps of Ocean Beach and Point Loma
Davincher and Mat, There are 257 sidewalk/curb stamps in Normal Heights, ranging in age from 1913 to 1949. Plus there are 45 "youngsters" that aren't (yet) old enough to meet the City's historic preservation standards. I have pictures of all 302.
— July 28, 2017 8:17 p.m.
Ugly cyclist-car encounter in Kensington
Good Grief. Maybe it's the heat and humidity.
— July 28, 2017 12:50 p.m.
Sidewalk stamps of Ocean Beach and Point Loma
Eric, here is a photo of a stamp in Normal Heights. This one at Madison and Iowa may be the first one stamped in the neighborhood. Or, at least it's the oldest stamp left in place.
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2017/j…
— July 28, 2017 12:42 p.m.
Park-starved residents locked out of school playgrounds
Wonder if keeping the gates locked is a way to prevent the homeless from setting up their camps in the parks. If so, it is not working at Ward Canyon Neighborhood Park.
— November 4, 2016 8:20 a.m.
Normal Heights' Chutes Park would've been fun
Marty, yes that would have been a "trip." Would like to have seen that archway at the east end of Adams Avenue, too.
— September 8, 2016 7:36 a.m.
City's Get It Done app not getting it done
Marty, I read everything you write. Please keep it up.
— September 3, 2016 10:01 p.m.
Why "Normal Heights"?
The promoter turned out to be a first class con man who took the money and ran-----to L. A.
— August 9, 2016 7:34 a.m.
Why "Normal Heights"?
Ken, one promoter envisioned an archway illuminated with incandescent light bulbs at the east end of Adams Avenue before the bridge and trolley were built across Ward Canyon to Kensington. That's a story for another day.
— August 8, 2016 7:40 p.m.
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Leorah Gavidor
Dave Good
Marty Graham
Moss Gropen
Andrew Hamlin
Dorian Hargrove
Garrett Harris
Ken Harrison
Patrick Henderson
Tam Hoang
Eve Kelly
Dryw Keltz
Eva Knott
Thomas Larson
Ken Leighton
Matthew Lickona
Mike Madriaga
Bill Manson
Scott Marks
Bob McPhail
Walter Mencken
Joseph O'Brien
Sheila Pell
Ian Pike
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H.G. Reza
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This Week’s
Reader
This Week’s
Reader
We the people of Normal Heights
For more of the Normal Heights story and the naming of Normal Heights, go to The Reader, 6 August 2016. For more on the neon sign, go to The Reader, August 23, 2011. For new information on the neon sign, read on. Gary Weber and I met with Art Buckel, Joy (Buckel) LeBus and their friend Ron in May 2011. Art and Joy's dad opened T & B Auto Repair with Bert Vanderhayden at 3426 Adams in 1942. (Konrad King location today.) Joy married Dick LeBus in 1956, and they moved to 3422 Adams Avenue, where Dick opened a sheet metal shop in the rear of that property. He built the sign. Martin Neon (4714 Felton) did the neon, and Joe Jackson of Jackson Electric did the electrical work and hung the sign over the intersection of Adams Avenue and Felton. Pasquale Gangitano, owner of Pat's Barber Shop opened for business in October 1959, and the sign was up and lit and "beautiful." It still is and is the last remaining original neon street sign in San Diego. One last mystery: Everyone we spoke with told Gary and me that there was a "first" Normal Heights sign erected in the same location some years before the neon sign.— March 5, 2018 1:57 p.m.
Seniors try to save old Adams Avenue cop shop
When the City did an assessment of its real estate assets several months ago, the Mock Building received a grade of 68. Maybe grading scales have changed, but isn't that comparable to a D+? Here's a question for CD3 and the Mayor: Why can't Normal Heights get something brand new? Even when we had our own branch library, it was a hand-me-down from University Heights.— January 27, 2018 11:51 a.m.
Sidewalk stamps of Ocean Beach and Point Loma
Davincher and Mat, There are 257 sidewalk/curb stamps in Normal Heights, ranging in age from 1913 to 1949. Plus there are 45 "youngsters" that aren't (yet) old enough to meet the City's historic preservation standards. I have pictures of all 302.— July 28, 2017 8:17 p.m.
Ugly cyclist-car encounter in Kensington
Good Grief. Maybe it's the heat and humidity.— July 28, 2017 12:50 p.m.
Sidewalk stamps of Ocean Beach and Point Loma
Eric, here is a photo of a stamp in Normal Heights. This one at Madison and Iowa may be the first one stamped in the neighborhood. Or, at least it's the oldest stamp left in place. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2017/j…— July 28, 2017 12:42 p.m.
Park-starved residents locked out of school playgrounds
Wonder if keeping the gates locked is a way to prevent the homeless from setting up their camps in the parks. If so, it is not working at Ward Canyon Neighborhood Park.— November 4, 2016 8:20 a.m.
Normal Heights' Chutes Park would've been fun
Marty, yes that would have been a "trip." Would like to have seen that archway at the east end of Adams Avenue, too.— September 8, 2016 7:36 a.m.
City's Get It Done app not getting it done
Marty, I read everything you write. Please keep it up.— September 3, 2016 10:01 p.m.
Why "Normal Heights"?
The promoter turned out to be a first class con man who took the money and ran-----to L. A.— August 9, 2016 7:34 a.m.
Why "Normal Heights"?
Ken, one promoter envisioned an archway illuminated with incandescent light bulbs at the east end of Adams Avenue before the bridge and trolley were built across Ward Canyon to Kensington. That's a story for another day.— August 8, 2016 7:40 p.m.