Ocean Beach Historical Society program
The Ocean Beach Historical Society will present “Read the Book Before You Fly ‘Em” by Karen Scanlon 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19 at Point Loma United Methodist Church, 1984 Sunset Cliffs Blvd.
Point Loma’s Jack Allen Davis Jr. wanted to fly airplanes. And fly ‘em he did! This high-flying speculator bought and sold World War II surplus aircraft with daring competence. Davis was a local boy who learned to fly at age 14 with Gibbs Flying Service. “Old Bill Gibbs turned me loose on an old Piper Cub,” Davis bragged. Flying drama, to be sure, but Davis also left his mark as Shelter Island began to take shape in the early 1950s. He built and operated Red Sails Inn and later, Palomar Airport. Come and hear more about this adventurous fellow, and enjoy photographs of his airplanes and zest for the San Diego waterfront.
Scanlon is a freelance writer, historian, and early childhood educator who writes extensively on the maritime history of San Diego, particularly of Point Loma Lighthouse and the explosion aboard USS Bennington. In another direction are Scanlon’s published works in children’s curriculum, and stories about people. She is a volunteer at Cabrillo National Monument and works with her twin sister, Kim, tending the Fresnel lenses in its collection. The two co-authored a book titled Lighthouses of San Diego. Karen is a contributing member of La Playa Trail Association and Maritime Museum of San Diego, and the proud recipient of The Martha Washington Medal, awarded by the Sons of the American Revolution. Halloween festival
A Halloween Family Fall Festival will take place 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 3598 Talbot St. in Westminster Park behind the church. Activities include trunk or treat, crafts, cake walk, costume contest, and at 7 p.m., a viewing of “Hocus Pocus!” OB Canine Carnival Dogs get their own “Howl-O-Ween” party in Ocean Beach at the 12th annual Ocean Beach Canine Carnival on Saturday, Oct. 21. The carnival takes place at Dusty Rhodes Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Attendance is free. There is a small charge, $7 for an individual dog, $10 for groups of dogs or floats, to register for the costume parade. 
Local pooches dressed as angels, lobsters, pirates, bananas, and anything else their owners can think of, will parade and win prizes. Registration is available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The parade starts at 1:30 p.m. and runs to 2:30 p.m. Prizes are announced around 3 p.m. Prizes range from the standard “Best in Show” to the goofy “Dog Better Dressed than Owner,” “Most OB-like.” There is also a doggie-themed craft fair, as well as games and food. The event is put on by the Kiwanis Club of Ocean Beach. For information, visit email [email protected] for information. Maritime Museum’s new ghost tales Maritime Museum of San Diego, home to one of the world’s finest collections of historic vessels, has created a new Halloween event that any aspiring ghost, goblin, pirate, and princess will enjoy. Guests will gather on the Star of India, the world’s oldest active sailing ship, for lantern-led tours to hear eerie legends of Star’s past Oct. 21 and 28 from 6 to 10 p.m. 
Evenings will be full of ghostly tales of enormous proportions including how young John Campbell fell to his death from the rigging and more creepy events. All activities will take place at the Maritime Museum of San Diego in downtown San Diego on the Embarcadero. The museum closes at 8 p.m. offering visitors an opportunity to visit all ships in the collection before evening Halloween activities. Tickets are $9-$18 and include general admission to the Museum plus lantern led tours. Advance tickets are available at www.sdmaritime.org after Labor Day. Visitors can call 619-234-9153 ext. 101 for more information.  Bike for Boobs One local breast cancer survivor plans to paint Point Loma pink for the fifth year in a row. Sandy Hanshaw, owner of The Wine Pub and The Coffee Hub, announces the return of her bike ride and celebration – Bike for Boobs. Hanshaw brought Bike for Boobs to life in San Diego in 2013 as she underwent treatment for stage-three breast cancer. On Sunday, Oct. 15 at 3 p.m., dozens of pink-adorned supporters will grab bikes and join the San Diego County Bike Coalition for a casual ride around Shelter Island. Following the ride, guests will reunite at The Pub’s enchanting outdoor patio for live music, gourmet food, auction items and, of course, wine.  Beach cleanup On Sunday, Sept. 17, La Jolla-based Everyday California held a beach cleanup, bringing local companies together for a good cause in Ocean Beach. In addition to Everyday California, employees of San Diego-based companies, such as Blenders Eyewear, Pura Vida, Social Syndicate and Crowe PR scoured Ocean Beach (from the pier to the dog beach) for two hours before gathering at OB Surf Lodge for lunch and raffles.
Donated prizes included sunglasses, kayak tours, hotel stays, and more. OB Surf Lodge created specialty cocktails, such as the Wave Storm, proceeds of which went directly to cause. Raffle ticket and food and drinks proceeds raised nearly $2,500 for the Wingman Foundation, an organization whose mission is, “To honor the sacrifices of our fallen air warriors and support the families they’ve left behind.”  First flu death of season reported in San Diego
An 86-year-old San Diego man died of complications due to influenza and is the first local, flu-related death reported this season, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency announced today. The unvaccinated man, who had existing medical conditions, tested positive for influenza A. He died on Oct. 1 after a brief hospitalization. Last season, the first flu death occurred Oct. 4, and 86 other San Diego County residents died from influenza, including two children.
So far this season, 203 lab-confirmed influenza cases have been reported, compared to 60 at this same point last year. The CDC recommends that everyone six months and older get a flu vaccine every year. The current flu vaccines offer protection against pandemic H1N1, as well as influenza A H3N2 and influenza B strains. Kindergarten tours
Loma Portal Elementary kindergarten tours for the 2018-2019 school year are set for 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 17. Sign up for a tour at  www.sandiegounified.org/lomaportal. OB photo contest The Ocean Beach Town Council has started a “Share Your OB” photo contest. To enter just tag your best photos of OB with #shareyourOB and post on Instagram or Facebook. Winner receives bragging rights and is entered in a monthly drawing for some cool swag. Each Saturday, a new winner will be announced. So get out there and #shareyourOB.