Early plans for changes at Saratoga Park
Obecians weighed-in on what they’d like to see in planning for the park at the foot of Saratoga Avenue adjacent to the Ocean Beach lifeguard station.
Led by former San Diego City Councilmember Byron Wear, the April 18 workshop at OB Rec Center was attended by about 20 local residents.
Wear stressed that the park project is still in the concept phase.
“We anticipate 100 percent of this to be funded with private money from this point forward,” he said adding, “This is a long, transparent process.”
After opening remarks from Wear and a landscape architect, the audience broke into small groups to discuss what they liked, and didn’t like, about the park concept.
A couple of residents questioned both the need, and placement, of the project’s proposed beachfront site. One suggested Dusty Rhodes Park might be a better alternative.
Other residents offered ideas for how they’d like to see Saratoga green space re-utilized. Most agreed residents of all ages, including children with a tot lot and exercising adults, including lifeguards, needed to be accommodated in any concept moving forward.
“We’ll be coming back at some point with refinements,” Wear told attendees. The Antique Center for sale on Newport Avenue
In 1994, Mr. Allgaier and Mr. Gerwig got the idea to purchase the 18,000-square-foot building formerly occupied by the Cornet store at 4850-64 Newport Ave. for $500,000, and decided to open what is now called The Antique Center. Allgaier and Gerwig managed to borrow money from some friends to pay for the commercial real estate and for more than two decades, they have successfully run the business paying off their loans while becoming a staple within Ocean Beach. Today, Allgaier and Gerwig have decided to finally pass their legacy on to someone else. Their preference is to sell their business to someone who will continue operating The Antique Center, while taking a more passive level of ownership. However, if the market does not bring someone interested to purchase the business, then they would lease out the building, or they would sell the real estate entirely. They have listed the business and the real estate for sale with local commercial real estate advisors, The Franco Realty Group. “This is an excellent opportunity for someone to own an 18,000-square-foot building on a 30,000-square-foot piece of land with 150 feet of frontage along Newport Avenue,” said Tony Franco, president of The Franco Realty Group.
“The Antique Center is one of the most popular and notable buildings within the Ocean Beach community,” he said. Search for missing woman in Ocean Beach A search is continuing for a missing Linda Vista woman who disappeared March 28 after a night out with friends.
The wallet and ID of Debra Puente, 50, were discovered in her abandoned car found recently in Ocean Beach, according to Puente’s daughter, Ashleigh Tarango.
Tarango flew to San Diego from Colorado to help search for her mother. She has been talking to people and posting photos in hopes someone will recognize her and come forward with information on her whereabouts.
Puente is white, 5-feet 4-inches tall, 115 pounds with brown hair, blue eyes and a large mole on her left cheek bone, under her eye.
A group called “Cal Advocates For The Missing” is helping in the search. Anyone with information regarding her whereabouts is urged to call Luna at 619-531-2277 or the SDPD’s main number at 619-531-2000. Man stabbed in OB A victim and his female friend were renovating an upstairs apartment about 6:30 p.m. on April 24, at the intersection of Ebers and Voltaire streets. An unknown suspect parked in the parking lot and started honking his horn and whistling at the victim’s female friend. From the balcony, the victim and suspect got into a verbal argument. The victim told the suspect to leave the property when he challenged him to come down and fight. About an hour later the suspect returned, took a ladder from his truck and climbed up to the balcony. The victim was on his knees scraping paint off a window when the suspect charged the victim with a knife. The victim fearing for his life hit the suspect with the paint scrapper and fell back into the window, breaking the glass cutting the victim. The two fought on the floor and the suspect stabbed the victim in the leg and calf. The victim punched the suspect in the face causing him to become partially unconscious. The victim and female ran to the fire station across the street for help. Officers arrived, and with K-9 took the suspect into custody in the apartment. Their injuries were not life threatening. OB Farmers Market’s 25th anniversary
San Diego is fortunate to have numerous weekly open air markets within its borders, but nothing compares with the Ocean Beach Farmers Market, held each Wednesday along Newport Avenue at Bacon Street. Located just steps from the beach, delicious smells from the various food vendors, colorful crafts and joyful music blend to create a unique experience that’s a kaleidoscope for the senses. The market was started in 1992 by the Ocean Beach Main Street Association. “It was to help bring people into the area, help local merchants and bring the community together at the same time,” said the association’s executive director Denny Knox. “It took a little while for it to establish itself, but it’s now a self-sustaining event. We have up to 2,500 visitors each week, with substantially more if it’s a warm, sunny day.” On May 17, the OB Farmer’s Market will celebrate its 25th anniversary with the giveaway of a free recyclable vegetables bag, as well as a proclamation from Councilmember Lori Zapf. OB Kiwanis Kite Festival The 69th annual Ocean Beach Kiwanis Kite Festival, Off-Street Fair, and Carnival will take place 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 13, at Dusty Rhodes Park, Sunset Cliffs Boulevard. There will be free parking and shuttle from Robb Field. There will be kite building and decorating, prizes, professional kite fliers, kite demonstrations, and games, crafters, community organizations, gourmet food, carnival activities and live music from Beer Feat. Youngsters are taught how to make and fly kites. All materials are supplied. There are prizes for the best decorated kites. Any handmade kite can be submitted, not just kites made at the festival. This free family event is the oldest children’s kite festival in the U.S. National Infant Immunization Week Fourteen. This is the number of vaccines children should get over their first 18 months to avoid getting sick. April 22-29 is National Infant Immunization Week, and the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency is reminding parents to make sure their children are up to date with immunizations.
Parents should ask their doctor or clinic to check their child’s immunization record and make sure their baby is up to date. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends infants get shots at birth, 2, 4, 6, 12, 15, and 18 months of age to protect them against many diseases including measles, meningitis and whooping cough.
Surveys indicate that vaccination coverage among San Diego County kindergarteners is near an all-time high. During the current school year, 1,059 of more than 46,000 local kindergartners were missing some or all recommended vaccines. However, about 45,000 babies are born every year and they should be immunized on time to stay healthy. Fiesta Old Town Cinco de Mayo Grab your amigos and head over to historic Old Town to spice up your weekend with the 34th annual Fiesta Old Town Cinco de Mayo taking place Friday, May 5 through Sunday, May 7. This weekend celebration attracts more than 100,000 people over the course of three days with its bustling mercado, non-stop music and live entertainment, lucha libre wrestling, and a huge display of lowriders and other incredible autos.
Feed your appetite by feasting at the dining establishments throughout Old Town, or at one of the many food vendors offering up cervezas, agua fescas, burritos, tacos, and more. Enjoy margarita and tequila specials throughout Old Town to get you in the mood to shake your maracas and fiesta the day and night away. Proceeds benefit the Historic Old Town Community Foundation. For information, visit www.CincoDeMayoOldTown.com. 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. Miracle Babies 5K The ninth annual Miracle Babies 5K will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 7 at NTC Park at Liberty Station (2455 Cushing Road), with registration beginning at 7 a.m. The event includes a timed 5K run at 8 a.m. followed by a family friendly 5K walk at 9 a.m. Attendees are invited to show their spirit by dressing up as their favorite hero.
Participants will receive a collectable race medal and are encourage and invited to attend in the postrace celebration including a Kid Zone, Family Resource Fair, merchandise vendors, food trucks and exotic cars. Registration fee for walkers is $25 for adults and free for children under 12. Runners’ fee is $30 for adults and $10 for children under 12. Register at www.miraclebabies5k.com. Talmadge Art Show
The Talmadge Art Show artists have created works of contemporary craft and clothing just for this show 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 7 at Liberty Station Conference Center, 2600 Laning Road. Come early to shop at the show and meet the artists. For more information, visit talmadgeartshow.com.