Attendance up, rescues down for holiday weekend Attendance at citywide beaches over Memorial Day weekend was up nearly 50,000 from last year, according to the city’s Lifeguard Services. Total attendance at beaches from Ocean Beach to La Jolla for the three-day weekend was 786,200, according to lifeguard figures. Despite the growth in the number of beachgoers, lifeguards made only 144 water rescues, 75 less than last year. During the weekend, lifeguards also recorded 190 medical aids and 4,811 “preventative acts.” Funds for Navy fuel plume cleanup in sight Congresswoman Susan A. Davis (D-San Diego) reported progress in securing $20 million to replace a fuel storage tank at Naval Base Point Loma (NBPL).  The tank replacement is part of the ongoing effort to clean up a fuel plume beneath the hills of Point Loma and to modernize operations at NBPL, the largest defense fuel terminal on the West Coast. “Having lived in Point Loma, I know how important it is to the neighbors and the community that the Navy clean up the fuel plume and replace the faulty tanks,” said Davis.  “This funding keeps that process on track so residents of Point Loma can have the peace of mind they deserve.” Since the discovery of the fuel plume in 2006, Davis said she has led an effort in Congress to secure federal funding to clean up the fuel plume and modernize NBPL to protect the neighborhood from future contamination.  Davis has secured $195 million in total for the project.  The funding was approved by the House Armed Services Committee as part of the annual bill authorizing defense spending.  The bill heads to the full House for consideration.  OBTC accepting grant requests The Ocean Beach Town Council (OBTC) is seeking grant requests from community groups and organizations. The grant money, made available as a result of money raised by the OBTC Tree Committee, totaled about $15,000 last year, according to officials. To qualify, groups and organizations are asked to submit a one-page letter describing what is to be done with the grant money and the amount being requested. The deadline for requests is Tuesday, June 15. Grant requests should be sent to the OBTC, P.O. Box 7225, Ocean Beach, 92107, or may be made online at [email protected]. OBTC officials said the grants are open to all, but OBTC membership is strongly encouraged. Recipients will be asked to provide a quarterly update that will be posted on the OBTC website. Successful recipients will receive a one-year membership to OBTC, renewable annually. Past recipients of the OBTC grants include Loaves and Fishes, the Ocean Beach Historical Society, Sunset Cliffs Surfing Association, OB Community Foundation, Point Loma High School Boosters, Peninsula Girls’ Softball, Ocean Beach Planning Board and Friends of Famosa Slough. PLA honors residents and business ‘foodies’ The Point Loma Association (PLA), which manages the Peninsula’s banner district and participates with the San Diego County Fair each year to recognize residents and businesses for their accomplishments, announced the honorees to be featured on the 2010 street banner portraits. The banners, which also include the Fair theme “Taste the Fun,” highlights local accomplishments in the culinary field. The winners were nominated by PLA members and announced during a May 24 reception at Silvergate Yacht Club. Photos of the winners will be hung on existing banner poles to advertise the Fair through early July. This year’s winners are: • The Arizona Café – Pam Komo • Bali Ha’i – Larry Baumann • Baron’s Marketplace – Rachel Shemirani • Beach Sweets – Laura Smith • Bravo’s Mexican Bistro & Cantina – Carlos Grijalva • Brigantine Family of Restaurants – Mike & Erica Morton • Brigantine Point Loma – Blake McElroy • Ciao Bella – Luigi Tornatore • Elegant Truffle – Jennifer Muratore • European Cake Gallery – Linda Andrade • Fairouz Café – Al Nashashibi • Fiddler’s Green – Steve Rock • Fresh & Easy – Nick Paulerio • Girl Scouts of Point Loma • Hodad’s – Mike Hardin • Karl Strauss Brewery – Chris Cramer • Marvelous Muffins – Sopheay Ton • Miguel’s Cocina – Benji Sanchez • Old Townhouse Coffee Shop – Ted Caplaneris • Old Venice Restaurant – Karl and Kathy Walters • Pete’s Grill – Pete Caplaneris • Point Break Café – Dawn Mantyla • Pomadoro – Fabio Speziali • Portugalia Restaurant – Jason Nascimento • Roseville – George Riffle • San Diego Food Bank – J. Scofield Hage • Shades Bistro – Dave Martin • Solare Ristorante – Roberta Ruffini & Maria Shepard • Stump’s Family Marketplace – Dirk Stump • Tender Greens – Pete Balistreri & Rian Brandenberg • The Cookie Bookie – Michelle & Glenn Abrams • The Ivy – Nathan Coulon • The Pearl – Greg Strangman, Spencer Johnson and Kat Maner • The Point Coffee Shop – Cindi Huang & Sharon Williams • The Red Sails Inn – Stefan Jacob • Third Corner – Marla Moore • To The Point – Kristin Keltner • The Venetian – Joe and Frank Giacolone • The Wine Pub – Sandy Hanshaw Rock Church debuts its new thrift store Rock Church pastor Miles McPherson was joined May 22 by District 2 City Councilman Kevin Faulconer, community leaders and dozens of special guests to celebrate the grand opening of the Rock Thrift Store, located at 3191-B Sports Arena Blvd. The grand opening festivities included food, music, in-store specials, giveaways, a treasure hunt and a “fashion show” featuring church volunteers who modeled outfits put together from the new store. The store is open for business daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and offers clothing, shoes, small household items, toys, and books donated by church members. It will be staffed mostly by church volunteers. “I’ve seen the effects the economic crisis has had on San Diegans, and I know the role churches and volunteerism can play to help relieve some of this burden,” McPherson said. “That’s why proceeds from the Rock Thrift Store will help fund our church’s Do Something World outreach efforts such as local food and toy drives, our San Diego community cleanups and the city service projects we organize in partnership with the Mayor’s Office,” he said. McPherson, a former San Diego Charger, is the senior pastor and founder of the Rock Church. He is also the author of “Do Something: Make Your Life Count,” and founder of the Miles Ahead, which partners with businesses, churches and organizations around the world to harness the power of volunteerism and help people transform their communities.   For more information, visit www.therocksandiego.org.