Red Cross gives tips as swine flu cases grow The San Diego/Imperial Counties chapter of the American Red Cross is currently monitoring the swine flu outbreak, both at a local and national level, according to officials. The American Red Cross is in close contact with federal and state health officials, including the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Department of Health and Human Services.  The Red Cross urges all to take precautionary measures and “Be Red Cross Ready” with the following tips: • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze; throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. • Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective. • Try to avoid close contact with sick people. • If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way. For more information, call (800) CDC-INFO or visit www.cdc.gov. The site provides the latest information, which can also be obtained by calling 1-CDC-INFO. OB Exposed! in 15th year of capturing Peninsula The Ocean Beach Historical Society (OBHS) is looking for a few good photos — from you. The OBHS is launching its 15th annual OB Exposed! photography contest and exhibit in its bid to grow the historical society’s archives chronicling the Peninsula area’s visual history. The popular event will be highlighted by the exhibit on Friday, May 15 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The deadline for entry is Wednesday, May 8. Submissions should be turned in at James Gang Graphics, 1931 Bacon St. in Ocean Beach. Each entry will cost $1, according to Pat James, OBHS president. The May 15 exhibit takes place at the Masonic Center, 1711 Sunset Cliffs Blvd. in Ocean Beach. The photo contest is open to all age levels, style and experience, and submissions may be either color or black and white, James said. The only caveat is that the entries must have been taken in Ocean Beach or Point Loma. Categories include: • best in show; • best color; • best vintage (historic photos); • best special effects; • best child’s under 16; and • people’s choice (voted on by show attendees). There will be another category for professional photographers whose work will be displayed but will not be part of the judging, said James. Submissions must be matted or mounted on card stock or other art paper and not have frames. This year’s awards presenter will be Ocean Beach resident Noah Taffola, who received a media award for his “Wonderland” series that airs on KPBS-TV. The Ocean Beach Historical Society’s archives are currently housed at the Point Loma United Methodist Church, 1984 Sunset Cliffs Blvd. — the same location the OBHS has its monthly meetings. For more information, call (619) 225-1753, or visit www.obhistory.-wordpress.com. PLNU launches new water conservation plan Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU), which has already embarked on several environmentally friendly projects and programs across campus, has now gone even more green, said university officials.?In mid-April PLNU’s Student Government Association (SGA) officially agreed to discontinued its use of trays in the university’s cafeteria. This change is expected to reap benefits by helping the campus conserve energy and water usage, said officials.?Tracy Le, SGA director of communications, said the university uses an average of 1.5 gallons of water to wash one rack of trays, with each rack holding about 10 trays.?Since about 2,500 guests on average visit the PLNU cafeteria daily, university officials said that equates to about 250 racks per day. Without trays, PLNU will be saving around 375 gallons of water per day and 2,625 gallons of water every week. With the cafeteria now going completely trayless, PLNU officials said they will be conserving around 10,500 gallons of water each month. Sammy’s pizza fires up teacher ‘thank you’ Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza chain will celebrate the dedication of local educators Tuesday, May 5 during Teacher Appreciation Day. All Sammy’s in San Diego on that day will offer a “thank you” to all San Diego teachers with a free tapa menu item with purchase. Educators need only flash their current teacher identification at lunch or dinner to savor any of the 18 tapas, including: • mini duck tacos with feta cheese, Roma tomatoes, cabbage and creamy tomato-cilantro sauce; • baba ghanoush with herb flatbread; or • parmesan-crusted artichokes filled with goat cheese and served with creamy herb dressing. Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza has restaurants at Liberty Station in Point Loma, in La Jolla and downtown, among others. For a list of all stores and locations, visit www.sammyspizza.com. Pt. Loma/OB residents join Cum Laude Society At a convocation April 14, two Point Loma/Ocean Beach students from Bishop’s School were recognized as receiving membership into the Cum Laude Society. The event, which took place at St. James by-the-Sea Church in La Jolla, shone the spotlight on Sam Brier and Victoria Tecca. Brier and Tecca were recognized by Bishop’s Headmaster Michael Teitelman as being among 28 members of the class of 2009 to be inducted into the society. Brier is the son of Barbara Regan and Roy Warfield; Tecca is the daughter of Dr. Donald and Betsy Tecca. The Cum Laude Society was founded in 1906 for the purpose of recognizing superior scholarship in independent school students. The founding model was very much like Phi Beta Kappa at the collegiate level, which recognizes and encourages true academic scholarship. Today, Cum Laude has grown to 350 chapters mostly in the United States; over 300 chapters are in the independent school arena. The Bishop’s chapter was founded in 1956. Karl Strauss Beach to Brewery fest on tap Karl Strauss Brewing Company will hold its sixth annual Beach to Brewery festival on May 9 from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Pacific Beach Brewery, 5985 Santa Fe Street. Guests can sample 20 different beers for 20 years, including special anniversary brews, along with a different cask that will be tapped every hour. Tours will be given of the recent brewery expansion that has enabled the company to bottle its beer in-house. Playing at the festival will be musical groups Tapes ‘N Tapes, Delta Spirit, Get Back Loretta and Stranger. The event will benefit the Surfrider Foundation as well as celebrate the brewery’s 20th anniversary. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Parking is limited, and free shuttles will run from the Pacific Beach Library and DustyRhodes Park in Ocean Beach throughout the day. Visitors are also encouraged to ride their bicycles. For more information or to purchase tickets visit www.karls-trauss.com.