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Federal shutdown shutters Cabrillo STAFF AND CONTRIBUTION The inability of Congress to reach a midnight deal Oct. 1 over the nation’s budget appropriations has claimed a major local casualty — the beloved Cabrillo National Monument in Point Loma. Because of the shutdown of the federal government caused by the lapse in appropriations, the National Park Service (NPS) has closed all 401 national parks, including Cabrillo National Monument, according to NPS officials. All visitor facilities at Cabrillo, including the visitor center, lighthouse, Military History Exhibit, tidepools, bay-
www.SDNEWS.com Volume 27, Number 19
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013
San Diego Community Newspaper Group
Party time — Bavarian style!
side trail, bookstore and all of the park grounds are closed. The park will remain closed until the government reopens when Congress can finally reach an accord. At Cabrillo National Monument, 22 employees are on furlough because of the shutdown and another eight employees at the park are similarly affected, according to a statement. A few excepted employees remain on duty, providing security and emergency services. Further comment and insight could not be obtained because of the furSEE CABRILLO, Page 5
Revelers frolic at a previous Ocean Beach Oktoberfest. This year’s two-day gig is slated for Oct. 11-12.
Photo by Paul Hansen I The Beacon
OB will get its Oktoberfest groove on in 2-day blowout BY DAVE SCHWAB | THE BEACON
The partial government shutdown triggered by congressional posturing has forced the closure of Cabrillo National Monument and could cause cancellation of the park’s planned Photo by Mike McCarthy I The Beacon three-day Centennial Celebration Weekend on Oct. 12-14.
Town Council takes stand against OB’s ‘Marshmallow Wars’ tradition BY TONY DE GARATE | THE BEACON The Ocean Beach Town Council has called for a ban on the Fourth of July “Marshmallow Wars,” a tradition that was regarded as harmless fun when it began 30 years ago but has increasingly drawn ire in recent years as an out-ofcontrol, messy affair that has brought negative notoriety to the beach community. “There is no way we can think of to control it. It’s a runaway train,” said Town Council chairman Dave Martin during the board’s Sept. 25 meeting. Detractors of the tradition have become increasingly vocal since July’s marshmallow fight, which left the sand
and streets around the pier looking like a cotton field and caked sidewalks with enough goo to cause pedestrians to get stuck and break their shoes. At a July Town Hall meeting sponsored by the Town Council, people complained of property damage, bystanders being targeting and a free-for-all mentality that attracted outside revelers to descend upon Ocean Beach and make a mess without cleaning up after themselves. A Facebook page has also cropped up calling for a ban to the event, which typically begins after the Fourth of July fireworks display but has never been officially sponsored nor organized. SEE OBTC, Page 5
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Among the popular contests during the Ocean Beach Oktoberfest each year is the hilarious sausage toss (left, photo by Jim Grant) and the endurance test of the stein-holding contest (photo by Paul Hansen).
The Ocean Beach version of Okto- to the first weekend in October, drawing berfest replicates on a smaller scale the more than 6 million participants. world’s largest fair, a 16-day festival The local incarnation was started by held annually since 1810 in Munich in SEE FESTIVAL, Page 8 Bavaria, Germany from late September
When ‘surfival’ matters, this OB guy has just the kit BY DAVE SCHWAB | THE BEACON Surfers want to thrive, not merely survive, and now with the all-purpose SurfivalKit they can do exactly that. “This kit is all the little tools and accessories a surfer might need to have a good session,” said the kit’s creator, Clarke Graves. “It is an essential bringalong for any surfer that contains all the things you might need for your lunchtime session, weekend getaway or Baja trek. It is also an amazing gift for those surf widows and friends of surfers who are look-
ing for that something any surfer would like.” A graphics designer and lifelong surfer who grew up in Ocean Beach, the 36-year-old Graves designed the kit to accommodate surfers of all ages and skill levels. But he said it’s particularly helpful for beginners. “There are a lot of new surfers and the sport can be very overwhelming to them,” said Graves. He said his SurfivalKit helps newbies get organized, as well
Entrepreneur Clarke Graves of Ocean Beach shows off his creative new product he calls a SurfivalKit — a package he said is an essential bring-along for all surfers, particularly beginners. Courtesy photo
SEE SURFIVAL, Page 4
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A Brat-Trot Beach Run, sausage toss, beer garden, beauty pageant, musical “band slam,” stein-holding contest and traditional German oompah bands are just a few of the delights awaiting festivalgoers at Ocean Beach’s annual twoday Oktoberfest on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 11-12. The Bavarian-themed festival runs from 4 to 10 p.m. on Oct. 11 and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Oct. 12. It’s all in fun to promote OB, benefit worthy causes like youth sports and to let the entire community celebrate everything about the German culture that is Oktoberfest.
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