INSIDE: OCEAN BEACH 125th ANNIVERSARY EDITION! www.SDNEWS.com Volume 26, Number 21
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012
San Diego Community Newspaper Group
A WILL TO SURVIVE
OB comfort station mural draws raves — and fresh debate BY TONY DE GARATE | THE BEACON
...and compete Diane Hotz of Ocean Beach rests between waves while surfing at Dog Beach in Ocean Beach.
The ribbon-cutting was two years late and the project was overbudget by more than twofold. Nevertheless, the Brighton Street comfort station — the public restrooms north of Dog Beach — has earned solid reviews since opening July 2. In fact, the public artwork — a mural adorning the ceiling that was designed by local artist Shinpei Takeda — has earned a nomination for an Orchid Award from the San Diego Architecture Foundation, which will announce its 2012 winners next month. But at least one Ocean Beach resident who decided to check out the restrooms during a stroll thinks the community got more than it bargained for. Two community groups — The Ocean Beach Town Council and Ocean Beach Planning Board — have agreed that his concerns have merit and have scheduled separate public discussions. The resident, Jeff Russell, said he was dismayed to discover the mural, inspired by a photograph of the historic Wonderland Amusement Park, is overlain with snippets SEE MURAL, Page 6
Courtesy photo
OB woman completes 40th Rough Water Swim after cancer recovery BY DAVE SCHWAB | THE BEACON
Diane Hotz exits the water after this year’s La Jolla Rough Water Swim on Sept. 9. This was her 40th time participating in the event. Courtesy photo
stop doing the Rough Water Swim,” Hotz said, though she admitted to This year, Diane Hotz of Ocean allowing herself one concession this Beach recovered from reconstructive year. breast cancer surgery while celebrat“I just did the one-mile swim,” she ing her 50th birthday and her 20th said. “I didn’t think I was up for the year of teaching, as well as marking three-mile (Gatorman).” one other personal milestone — She intends to do both next year. completing her 40th Rough Water Hotz, along with her siblings, grew Swim at La Jolla Cove. up on Loring Street in Pacific Beach. Hotz has been doing the marathon Her brother, Don, said the family has ocean-swimming event since age 8 always had a kinship with everyin 1970. Last year would have been thing aquatic. her 40th time participating, but she “We’re a big swimming family,” he had to postpone it due to her surgery. SEE COURAGE, Page 5 “There’s no way I was going to
Students defuse rat race of school life with gigantic hamster wheel BY SCOTT HOPKINS | THE BEACON As senior pranks go, a group of Point Loma High School seniors created a memorable one. On Sept. 13, a crew of students from the class of 2013 erected a giant hamster wheel at the school’s Chatsworth Boulevard main entrance. School staff and students seemed in awe as they arrived for classes and spotted students — as well as principal Bobbie Samilson — taking turns run-
National Drink Beer Day is on tap Sept. 28 and there’s no doubt San Diego is at the forefront of the craft-beer movement. But there’s even better news. Point Loma and Ocean Beach locals don’t have to look any further than their own backyards to find a heady brew community and a team effort working hard to quench the thirst of beerlovers. The local craft-beer movement is a collaboration between multiple local restaurants that has conjoined two communities on opposite sides of the Peninsula. Leading this barley-filled friendship is Abel Kaase, owner of Sessions Public, located at 4204 Voltaire St. During his time working in real estate, Kaase witnessed the burgeoning of North Park businesses and was inspired by that community’s rapid expansion of brewpubs.
wheel set up in front of Point Loma High School last week. A group of seniors built the
SEE WHEEL, Page 5 wheel as a prank with collected donations.
Courtesy photo by Jack Fogel
SEE BEER, Page 5
FAVORITE & SERVICES! VOTE FOR YOUR
READERS BE SURE TO CHOICE AWARDS
2 0 1 2
Restaurants unify resources in celebration of craft beers BY KAI OLIVER-KURTIN | THE BEACON
ning on the 16-foot circular treadmill and its 20-foot-tall stand. Seniors Corlin Palmer, Jacob Syage and Toby Shirts designed the structure. Using $900 collected from 55 classmates, a crew spent three weeks and 300 manhours building the wheel in Palmer’s backyard from galvanized, welded conduit pipe and chicken wire. The students said they often felt like they were on a treadmill Dozens of curious students and motorists were surprised to see a 16-foot hamster
R E TA I L / S E R V I C E S
Abel Kaase, owner of Sessions Public, is helping to unite Point Loma and Ocean Beach merchants in promoting local craft Courtesy photo brews across the Peninsula.
RETAILERS
H U R RY ! D E A D L I N E TO V O T E I S TO O C TO B E R . 1 7 T H
VOTE ONLINE: WWW.PENINSULABEACON.COM