www.BeachandBayPress.com | Thursday, November 8, 2012
BIDDING FAREWELL TO A PB ICON Zanzibar Cafe, a welcoming and comfortable fixture in the Pacific Beach community for more than two decades, has closed its doors after its lease expired and rent increased by several thousand dollars a month. Page 5
With some races and issues still too close to call at press time, we’ll keep you apprised on the outcomes. Visit the Beach & Bay Press online for the latest at www.sdnews.com.
PACIFIC NISSAN “Highway 5 on Mission Bay Drive” www.PacificNissan.com
(858) 581-3200 • 4433 Mission Bay Drive, Pacific Beach
MBHS retires jersey of Pro-Bowler, young rising star in the NFL Ex-Buccaneer Foster returns home for illustrious honor At 6 feet 1 inch, playing at 228 pounds, Foster matched his Mission Bay High School run- father, Carl, and brother Abdul ning back Arian Foster rushed in stature on the podium durfor nearly 2,100 yards as a Buc- ing halftime of the Bucs’ game caneer running back in 2003. against Point Loma. “Mission Bay has a lot of senNow an NFL star who plays for the Houston Texans, Foster timental value to me,” Foster returned to MBHS Oct. 26 as said, adding he was “a little bit school officials retired his No. 2 surprised” when he learned of the school’s plan. jersey. Used as a linebacker when he Dressed in a black sweater and light-gray jeans, Foster did- arrived as a high school junior n’t look like a bruising pro footSEE FOSTER, Page 6 ball player. BY SCOTT HOPKINS BEACH & BAY PRESS
The 87-year-old seawall in South Mission Beach and Pacific Beach, long deteriorating, unsightly and posing safety hazards in segments like these near Belmont Park, will be replaced soon. Photos by Don Balch I Beach & Bay Press
ICONIC SEAWALL POISED FOR FACELIFT
City OKs $2.4 million for overhaul in PB, South Mission Beach BY KEITH ANTIGIOVANNI | BEACH & BAY PRESS
T
he next step in the long process of replacing the 2.3-mile-long seawall along Ocean Front Walk between Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach on Garnet Avenue to South Mission Beach took place two weeks ago when the City Council voted to authorize $2.4 million in discretionary funds to replace the 87-year-old structure. The wall itself was built in 1925 to replace an existing wooden structure built in 1914. “One of my priorities when I came to office was to make sure the wall was replaced,” said District 2 City Councilman Kevin Faulconer. “I’ve been fighting for dollars from the city to make structural The crumbling seawall, built in 1925 to replace an existing wooden structure built in changes to it ever since. I would also like to 1914, is now poised for an overhaul once the thank the members of the beach community who have been working side by side with bidding process is complete.
us. I remember when I first came to office and noticed the temporary patches with the exposed rebar.” Faulconer has been spearheading the efforts to replace the crumbling structure ever since. He said the process for the repairs will include a bidding phase, which he believes will be completed by the fall of 2013. This would then be followed by the construction phase that will start with what Faulconer refers to as “the most damaged section of the seawall.” This section is the 960-foot stretch between the public bathrooms next to Belmont Park to Ventura Place by the summer of 2014. “The current seawall is not only a public safety issue but it is also an aesthetic issue, because when people come to visit, we don’t want them to see a crumbling wall,” Faulconer said. “So we want to rebuild, and it will look fantastic.”
Amplified Ale Works is new, bold kid on the block in PB BY MARIKO LAMB | BEACH & BAY PRESS The folks at Amplified Ale Works — Pacific Beach’s latest microbrewery — introduced their inaugural brews in style on Nov. 2, coinciding with the launch of San Diego’s fourth annual Beer Week. And managing partners J.C. Hill and Alex Pierson didn’t want just anyone tapping their first cask on opening night. They wanted a prominent San Diegan to kick off the unforgettable evening.
San Diego Beer Week continues through Nov. 11 with plenty of activities in the Pacific Beach area. Page 6 Amid cheers from salivating guests, Mayor Jerry Sanders himself tapped Amplified’s first cask, officially inducting the microbrewery into the thriving realm of San Diego’s craft beer Mayor Jerry Sanders, right, prepares to tap the first cask of industry. “Six, seven or eight [breweries] have Electrocution IPA at Amplified Ale Works on Nov. 2. opened up just in the last year, and Sanders cited San Diego as a thriving city for craft breweries prior. At left are managing partner Alex Pierson and
SEE AMPLIFIED, Page 6 head brewer Cy Henley.
Photo by Mariko Lamb I Beach & Bay Press
Mission Bay High School retired the number of former student Arian Foster, second from left, in a ceremony last week during a football game against Point Loma. Others, from left, are Foster’s father, Carl; his brother, Abdul; and mother Bernadette Sizemore. Foster now stars for the NFL’s Houston Texans. Photo by Scott Hopkins I Beach & Bay Press
PBMS’s API test scores skyrocket, exceed all SDUSD middle schools STAFF AND CONTRIBUTION Pacific Beach Middle International Baccalaureate (IB) World School has recorded the highest gains among all middle schools in the San Diego Unified School District, with a 50-point jump on its Academic Performance Index (API) for the 2012-13 school year. Pacific Beach Middle’s score of 817 surpassed the statewide performance target of 800 points. School officials said the score is a tribute to the hard work of students, teachers, administrators and families. “The community as a whole should be commended for its
dedication and commitment to PB Middle and the Mission Bay Cluster Schools,” said PBMS principal Ernie Remillard. “The PB Middle staff is devoted to student success, both academically and socially. Learning happens throughout the school day, as well as after school with unique academic programs, athletic teams and clubs enhancing student learning. “Our school’s IB Middle Years Program units lead students through a relevant, hands-on, inquiry-based curriculum, which truly matches student needs and pushes learners to strive for perSEE SCORES, Page 6
PB Window Decorating Contest It’s that time of the year! Time to brighten the street of PB with Window decorations. The theme for this year is 125 years of Pacific Beach: Holidays Past & Present. Choose your favorite decade and decorate your window in the holiday fashion from that decade.
Starts on November 26th • Judging on December 12th, 2012 Register with Discover PB by November 16th 858.273.3033