The Peninsula Beacon, February 24th, 2011

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PeninsulaBeacon.com

San Diego Community Newspaper Group

www.SDNEWS.com Volume 26, Number 5

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2011

City officials are gauging public opinion and the views of local planning boards before proceeding with plans for the possible sale of advertising space on public property and the sides of city lifeguard stations like the one silhouetted above in Ocean Beach. PHOTO BY JIM GRANT | THE BEACON

Public, planners gain voice on beach-advertising idea Wayne Whitney of the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department’s Bomb/Arson Unit scours for clues inside the scorched shell of Ocean Beach businesswoman Bianca Koch’s BMW convertible after the vehicle was firebombed Feb. 11. Koch serves as the official repCOURTESY PHOTO BY BIANCA KOCH resentative to Ocean Beach homeless for the local church community.

Arson investigators probe firebombing of Ocean Beach homeless advocate’s car BY SEBASTIAN RUIZ | THE BEACON

tentacles on websites internationally — is under investigation by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department’s Metro Local churches are helping an Ocean Beach business- Arson Strike Team. The team is called if an incident woman who serves as an official representative to OB’s involves a suspicious fire or explosive devices. homeless get back on her feet after her car was allegedly No arrests have been made in connection with the case, intentionally firebombed in her residential parking space and fire officials are declining to comment on the open around 5 a.m. on Feb. 11. investigation, said Det. Mike Rabell. Bianca Koch said her BMW convertible was rapidly Koch, a freelance writer for The Peninsula Beacon who awash in flames after someone placed a small shoe box- also works with the homeless community alongside shaped wooden container laden with an accelerant in the Ocean Beach church groups, said she believes the act was back seat before igniting it. Flames leaping up to 12 feet retaliation, in part, because of her article appearing in the in the air awoke some of her neighbors, who called police Feb. 10 Beacon about homelessness in Ocean Beach. She said she is also now being asked by her landlady to leave and fire officials. The case — which captured the attention of local teleSEE ARSON, Page 6 vision newscasts, bloggers on the OB Rag and has found

BY SEBASTIAN RUIZ | THE BEACON Mayor Jerry Sanders continues to float the idea of selling advertising space on lifeguard towers and other beach properties to help generate municipal revenue during a time of fiscal crisis. City Councilmembers are now trying to gauge public opinion and awaiting feedback from various planning leaders before moving forward. While some local planners say they wouldn’t be against the idea, they stress the plan would have to be done right. “If there’s a very good plan, then [people] might go for it. But if it’s in-your-face advertising, then it might be sunk,” said Ocean Beach Planning Board Chairman Giovanni Ingolia. City rules limit the scope of advertising on public property. Only 15 percent of an ad can be used for such things as a company logo and 85 percent must be used for a public-service message. And with

eight lifeguard stations stretching between Ocean Beach, Mission Beach, Pacific Beach and La Jolla, any such proposal would have to go before the appropriate planning boards. As of yet, no company has come forward with a proposal to move the idea forward, said Tony Manolatos, a spokesman for District 2 City Councilman Kevin Faulconer. Manolatos estimated that advertising could generate up to $500,000 per year for each lifeguard station, resulting in potentially $4 million each year for city coffers. But Manolators said money isn’t the only consideration. “Kevin [Faulconer] is not going to support it if the communities aren’t behind it,” Manolatos said. District 1 City Councilwoman Sherri Lightner is also awaiting reaction from local groups, including the La Jolla Shores SEE ADS, Page 7

CROWN I NG ACH I EVE M E NT

Pointer girls win first-ever league soccer title BY SCOTT HOPKINS | THE BEACON Lightning struck three times during Friday afternoon’s stormy weather in San Diego. And the ferocious thunderclaps set off a firestorm of celebration for those seated on the wet bleachers in the Mira Mesa High School stadium, as they watched the girls of Point Loma High School (PLHS) vie for the Eastern League title in soccer. Following a stirring Senior Day presentation by the hosts, the fired-up Marauders raced to an early 1-0 lead just five minutes into the match. Little did Mira Mesa players know what was about to hit them next. The frustrated Pointers exploded for three goals in a span of just 10 minutes to win the rain-soaked match by a score of 3-1 — but more importantly, the PLHS girls’ squad clinched its first-ever

Eastern League crown. As a result, the Lady Pointers (9-1-2 in league, 12-5-5 overall) opened the CIF Division II playoffs with a home game last night, Feb. 23, against San Marcos (first place, 6-0-4 in Avocado East League, 10-5-5 overall). But it was Friday’s victory that ignited the post-season journey. On Friday, it was senior midfielder-striker Carly Holly who sparked the electricity with the game-tying goal for the Pointers. “It was getting nrve-wracking because we had been down all half and we had to win this game,” said Holly. “Everyone wanted a goal so bad.” Holly passed around credit for her team’s initial goal, however. Point Loma High girls’ soccer players celebrate their first-ever Eastern League title after a “Megan (junior midfielder-defender Megan O’Beirne) made rain-soaked 3-1 victory at Mira Mesa. Clockwise, from upper left, are Graysen Choy (17), Tala Sullivan (6), Megan O'Beirne (4), Colleen O'Brien (13), goalkeeper Lily Edwards (blue jersey)

SEE SOCCER, Page 8 and Ella Verhees (20).

PHOTO BY SCOTT HOPKINS I THE BEACON


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