CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF MISSION BEACH! Mission Beach civic groups, politicians, merchants and residents are preparing to launch the first in a series of months-long gala events to celebrate the long, rich history of this sunny beach paradise. A community walk and monument dedication is set for Saturday, March 22 to mark the centennial of Mission Beach, with a host of local movers and shakers preparing to join hands with friends and neighbors to celebrate the occasion. Story on Page 8 SAN DIEGO COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER GROUP
THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2014
BEACHANDBAYPRESS.COM
Portions of PB streets to be car-free for March 30 cycling promotion
By DAVE SCHWAB
Portions of Pacific Beach streets will be car-free on Sunday, March 30 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to showcase the significance, benefits and joys of non-motorized transportation and to support and promote local merchants. It is the second such CicloSDias event — a free celebration open to anyone biking, walking, strolling or skating — to be held in San Diego. This will be the first to happen in Pacific Beach. The first-ever car-free day was held in August 2013 in North Park and South Park in mid-city San Diego. Its purpose is to connect local communities and encourage mobility, according to organizers.
SEE CYCLING >> PG. 13
DOESN’T GET MUCH BETTER THAN THIS IN PB Staff photographer Don Balch was on the hunt for photo possibilities recently when he came across these gems. Above, as Balch began to shoot his own picture of this gorgeous sunset, he noticed the silhouette of another man shooting the same setting sun and combined the two features into a single stunning photo. At left, Balch caught this candid shot of two ocean explorers taking a leap of faith and trying to keep their shoes dry along the tidepools at the Pacific Beach Point.
Bill could endanger SeaWorld’s orca shows The heat is being turned up on SeaWorld San Diego to change its business model — the centerpiece of which is its killer-whale shows and trainers. State Assemblyman Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica) has introduced legislation that would ban SeaWorld from using orcas in tandem with trainers in those popular shows at the marine-mammal park. The assemblyman said the recent documentary “Blackfish,” which aired multiple times on CNN recently, points to animal abuse of orcas at marine parks — the inspiration behind his bill. “There is no justification for the continued captive display of orcas for entertainment purposes,’” Bloom said. “These beautiful creatures are much too large and far too intelligent to be confined in small, concrete tanks for their entire lives.”
SeaWorld quickly responded to Bloom’s bill. “The premise behind this proposed legislation is severely flawed on multiple levels, and its validity is highly questionable under the United States and California Constitutions,” said SeaWorld San Diego spokesman Dave Koontz. “We trust that our leaders who are responsible for voting on this proposal will recognize the clear bias of those behind the bill.” SeaWorld claims Bloom’s backers on the bill are “well-known extreme animal-rights activists, many of whom regularly campaign against SeaWorld and other accredited marine-mammal parks and institutions.” The marine-mammal park insists
SEE ORCAS >> PG. 5
PEDAL POWER Cycling advocates and Discover PB will sponsor CicloSDias on March 30 to showcase the significance, benefits and joys of non-motorized transportation and to promote local merchants. The event will involve the closure of a portion of Pacific Beach streets to enhance the car-free event like the one above last year held in North Park and South Park. Courtesy photo
By DAVE SCHWAB
Discover PB continues to enhance community interests By KEITH ANTIGIOVANNI
A THING OF THE PAST? If proposed state legislation is passed by lawmakers, SeaWorld San Diego could be forced to halt one of its most popular features — the performance of killer whales for audiences. SeaWorld courtesy photo
Discover Pacific Beach (DPB) has made new strides in its mission to improve the community by adding 50 new street banners along sections of Garnet Avenue, Mission Boulevard, Mission Bay Drive and around Crown Point to highlight the various activities the area has to offer. DPB is also letting its member businesses know they have access to the public right-of-way program for such usages as “A” frame signs, displays or sidewalk-café seating. Details from the DPB meeting
SEE DISCOVER PB >> PG. 7
DISCOVERING PB Residents and visitors are noticing new banners around Pacific Beach highlighting various activities the area has to offer. Courtesy photo