NO REST FOR THE CHAMPIONS: Mission Bay High’s football players keep up with conditioning. Page 12
RULES FOR THE ROAD: The city has new restrictions for pedicab operators in Pacific Beach and Mission Beach coastal zones. Page 3
Thursday, April 1, 2010
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MBHS receives Prop S dollars BY ANTHONY GENTILE | BEACH & BAY PRESS While most schools around the San Diego Unified School District are waiting for their share of Proposition S dollars, Mission Bay High School (MBHS) is getting some of its monetary infusion right away. MBHS recently received $248,000 from the Prop S discretionary fund — which the school can spend however it chooses. “Basically, the school gets a pot of money to decide how they want to spend it,” said MBHS Principal Fred Hilgers. The school is planning to put the money toward three projects that already have initial approval: a new indoor/outdoor soccer facility, the conversion of a woodshop building into a multipurpose room and improvements to the outdoor lighting on campus. “What I like about these (ideas) is that they came from either the community or from the teachers,” Hilgers said. “These are things that the community and staff are saying, ‘Hey let’s do this for Mission Bay.’” Hilgers said the soccer facility would add to the school’s limited physical education resources and could be used in P.E. classes and in the after-school ASSETS program. An added bonus is that MBHS could rent the facility to groups such as the YMCA, local soccer clubs and even the San Diego Sockers, who have expressed interest. “The thing that sets it apart from the other projects is the ability to lease it out after hours,” Hilgers said. “Then we would be able to generate revenue.” The second project would take the existing woodshop on campus and transform it into a P.E. multipurpose room by removing equipment, renovating the room and installing wood floors. Hilgers said this facilSEE MBHS, Page 4
A variety of tattoo colors stands ready for application. DON BALCH | Beach & Bay Press
Taking the blues out of tattoos New shop makes a lasting impression BY HILLARY SCHULER-JONES | BEACH & BAY PRESS Pacific Beach is home to numerous tattoo shops, but a new store with a unique atmosphere is putting its mark on the local industry. On Point Tattoo, located at 1020 Grand Ave., has done away with the dark ambience and intimidating décor that is sometimes associated with tattoo parlors, in favor of a more welcoming environment. Shane Ambort, owner of On Point Tattoo, applies a design near a client’s elbow using a tattoo DON BALCH | Beach & Bay Press liner machine.
SEE TATTOO, Page 15
Floatopia: Fun and the fallout parked on the sand. During the event, they carried out 20 detentions and handed out 23 misdemeanor citations. The fourth annual Floatopia event on March 20 “Whenever you have a concentrated number in a drew an estimated 5,000 beachgoers looking to skirt very small area, you have to appropriately manage that the beach alcohol ban by drinking while floating in group of people, especially when the issue is around the water on rafts and inner tubes just offshore at Sail alcohol,” Ball said. “There were certainly public safety Bay. With great fun came great fallout, however, with concerns with the event.” residents and local officials picking up the pieces and searching for ways to contain and control future floatLifeguards ing parties. Lifeguard Lt. Andy Lerum said a total of 18 lifeguards Here is a look at the Floatopia fallout: were brought in — 12 seasonal and six staff — to watch over Floatopia. An additional 10 lifeguards were on Police standby for the duration of the event. Despite the large crowds on March 20, San Diego “We normally have zero lifeguards on that day in that Police Department (SDPD) Northern Division Capt. Chris location,” Lerum said. Ball said the event was manageable from a police perspecIn the water, a total of six vessels — three from the city, tive. Ball said the SDPD had a combination of on-duty two from the Coast Guard and one U.S. Customs boat — and off-duty officers, and that an additional 10 officers monitored the event. Although the event passed without and a sergeant were brought in. a serious incident, there were 16 rescues and five con“The reason we’re there is to promote public safety firmed cases of medical aid for those too drunk to stand and to be there as an enforcement arm should that be up — two of whom ended up going to the hospital. necessary,” Ball said. The SDPD also brought in a mobile observation unit SEE FLOTOPIA, Page 16 BY ANTHONY GENTILE | BEACH & BAY PRESS
A swarm of revelers drift and wade just beyond the shore at Sail Bay during Floatopia on March 20. Photo by MARK LENOCE