COMING SOON!
Lanz Correia (619)564-6355
Thursday June 19, 2014
San Diego Community Newspaper Group
CAL BRE#01883404
www.SDNEWS.com Volume 27, Number 16
Plans to squish gooey OB ‘marshmallow war’ tradition formulated BY DAVE SCHWAB | THE BEACON In 2013, the Ocean Beach Town Council (OBTC) responded to a public outcry by vowing to put an end to the sticky, gooey mess caused by the Fourth of July “Marshmallow War” tradition. A year later, the OBTC is following up on that pledge with a publicity campaign themed “Mallow Out.” What began in 1985 as a festive, local family feud has morphed over time into a large-scale free-for-all, leaving the beach community a gooey mess that has stained streets, sidewalks and nearby businesses — forcing an hand with marshmallows not army of volunteers to do increas- just on the sand and beach but ingly costly cleanups. SEE GOOEY, Page 6 “The event’s gotten out of
OUTP0URING FOR A BELOVED BASEBALL HERO Flowers and funeral sentiments continued to pour into Petco Park this week after the death of beloved San Diego baseball legend Tony Gwynn on June 16. Gwynn played 20 seasons (1982–2001) in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres. The left-handed hitting Gwynn won eight batting titles in his career, tied for the second-most in MLB history. He is considered one of the best and most consistent hitters in baseball history. He was a 15-time All-Star, recognized for his skills both on offense and defense with seven Silver Slugger Awards and five Gold Glove Awards. Photo by Jim Grant
PE N I NSU LA BEACON EXCLUS IVE
MLB All-Star David Wells to helm PLHS baseball BY SCOTT HOPKINS | THE BEACON
A handmade sign points patrons of the once-venerable U.S. Post Office on Midway Drive to a nearby postal-carrier annex office in the wake of the giant facility’s closure because of overall sagging revenues for the U.S. Postal Service. Photo by Dave Schwab
Phased-out Midway Post Office triggers debate over redevelopment BY DAVE SCHWAB | THE BEACON No matter how the largely abandoned Midway Post Office — once the central mail processing and distribution facility for San Diego County — ends up being redeveloped, local planners want it to mesh with their community plan that is now in the throes of being updated. “The draft community plan suggests something like an office park as first choice,” said Melanie
Nickel, chairwoman of the Midway Community Planning Group. “There is a need for offices in the area, for companies working with SPAWAR (Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command in Point Loma), and something like that would not cause a heavy traffic impact.” Also open to some kind of mixed use, or previously proposed redevelopment like a residential SEE POST OFFICE, Page 5
Point Loma High School alum and former major league baseball star David Wells has officially been appointed head coach of his alma mater's baseball team. Wells, known nationally as “Boomer,” has been a pitching coach for the Pointers after a 20-year career, in which the southpaw compiled a 239-157 record in the major leagues, including the 15th perfect game in major league history on May 17, 1998. “We are very excited to name David as our head coach,” said PLHS athletic director John Murphy. “He is well-liked by our players and they certainly respect his knowledge of the game.” Murphy gave the Peninsula Beacon exclusive access to the announcement, made June 17, that will likely be reported on in baseball circles nationwide. Wells has become increasingly involved in Pointer baseball since school officials named the team’s home field at Dana Mid-
dle School as David Wells Field in a 2010 ceremony that saw the three-time All-Star choke up as he reminisced about his childhood days growing up in the Ocean Beach DAVID WELLS and Point Loma areas. Among Wells’ plans are bringing in major league players, including some wellknown stars, to work with his teenage protégés. Wells will have challenges, however, as the fourth coach in the last five years to attempt taking the program from good to greatness. Murphy also praised outgoing head coach Joe Radovich, who guided the Point-
er team to a 7-5 Western League secondplace finish before being stunned by a CIF seeding committee that failed to include the PLHS team in area playoffs. “Joe stepped in and assembled a coaching staff and worked hard to rebuild the teams,” Murphy said. “His philosophy of hard work and dedication to the players has made him one of the most respected coaches in San Diego, and combined with his loyalty to the community, he has served as a role model for our coaches, kids and parents," he said. Murphy emphasized Radovich turned the program around during his year at the helm. “Joe has decided to turn the reins over to David Wells and continue focusing on football, where he has been a valuable assistant for the past seven years,” Murphy said. Wells will follow on the heels of Jon Posternack (ending in 2011), Jesse Nuñez (2012-13) and Radovich as the Pointer field boss.