Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

Back to profile

Stories by Mercy Baron

Lifeguard statue dedication in Ocean Beach

The new bronze lifeguard statue next to the main lifeguard station at 1950 Abbott Street in O.B. was unveiled on May 23. About 200 people, an ROTC color guard from Point Loma High School, a …

Rundown on SDPD’s Homeless Outreach Team

While recently pulling into the Sports Arena Boulevard parking lot shared by Red Lobster, Phil's BBQ, and other businesses, I saw a San Diego Police Department van parking in front of me. (The SDPD also …

Food Network shoots show at OB Noodle House

The Food Network recently brought the popular show Diners, Drive-ins and Dives back into Ocean Beach to shoot segments at Hodad’s (again) and the OB Noodle House for the first time. The program segment done …

Deadly car crash in Ocean Beach

A head-on crash in Ocean Beach caused the death of a woman and sent another woman who is nine months’ pregnant to the hospital on the evening of April 21. The deceased had been traveling …

Dangerous: West Point Loma Blvd. and Ebers St. intersection

Following an accident at the intersection of West Point Loma Boulevard and Ebers Street on April 15 (in which there were no injuries), I talked to nearby residents Chris and Susie. We were out watching …

Car hits motorcyclist on Sunset Cliffs Boulevard

Driving back from my friend's house on the south side of Ocean Beach on Saturday night, March 23, I came across a police barricade involving seven police cars. They were rerouting traffic as they did …

Illegal recycler tracked down by SDPD in Ocean Beach

I was sitting on my couch on a quiet, sunny morning in Ocean Beach on February 25, when the not-too-unusual sounds of police sirens made me get up to see what the ruckus was about. …

February 27, 2013
Sinkhole opens, damages cars in Point Loma

Residents in the vicinity of the 2700 block of Nimitz Boulevard were awoken by a large boom at around 1:15 am on Sunday, February 17, as a water main exploded and caused a large sinkhole …

February 18, 2013
No third three-story home on West Point Loma Blvd.

In a blow against the gentrification of Ocean Beach, architect Elizabeth Young's plans for a 400-foot variance on a planned three-story residence were shot down by the Ocean Beach Planning Board on February 6. The …

February 8, 2013
Man jumps from halfway-house window in Encinitas Ranch

A man was put in handcuffs after jumping out of a second-story window in Encinitas Ranch on February 1. Many neighbors came out of their homes to watch as several police and sheriff’s deputies pulled …

February 5, 2013
Free barbecue in Ocean Beach

I was riding my bike along Abbott Street and Saratoga Avenue on January 13 and smelled the smoke of a barbecue coming from Saratoga Park, right next to the sand. I saw a long line …

January 16, 2013
The man behind the Lennon conspiracy van

On Christmas Eve, I stumbled upon this van (pictured) on Newport Avenue, parked on Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach. The website “www.LennonMurderTruth, com” was written loud and clear on both sides of the van; and …

December 26, 2012
No SeaWorld fireworks after Mission Bay Parade of Lights

The annual nighttime holiday boat procession known as the Mission Bay Parade of Lights, held on Saturday, December 8, was not what it was advertised to be. Some websites stated approximately 100 boats would participate, …

Ocean Beach plans for lifeguard statue

A project to enhance and upgrade O.B’.s main lifeguard station with a bronze statue is being suggested for the lawn adjacent to the tower on Abbott Street. At the December 5 Ocean Beach Planning Board …

December 7, 2012
O.B. Christmas Tree Arrives with Police Escort

The O.B. Christmas tree arrived at the foot of Newport Avenue yesterday, November 27, with a police escort. An Obecian donated the tree — a star pine — from their front yard. While O.B. has …

November 28, 2012
Assault in Ocean Beach Goes Unreported

An Ocean Beach woman left a bar on Newport Avenue in the early morning hours of November 1, only to wake up covered in blood and being rescued by her neighbors. She told me she …

November 27, 2012
Three-Day Walkers Arrive in Ocean Beach

All the whooping and hollering and horn honking started early on Saturday morning, November 17, in Ocean Beach, as approximately 3500 people came through the community as part of a three-day walk to benefit the …

November 17, 2012
Man Has Seizure at Dog Beach

A man and his dog were enjoying the day at Dog Beach November 13 when the man fell to the ground and began having a seizure, according to the Hubble family who witnessed the incident. …

November 13, 2012
Midnight Attack in Ocean Beach

On November 9, around midnight, a 26-year-old Ocean Beach woman was attacked on the 1900 block of Ebers Street. She said she noticed a man walking near her and told him not to walk so …

November 13, 2012
Fire in Sports Arena Warehouse/Shop Area

A fire was reported at 5 p.m. on November 11 at a two-story commercial building on the 3500 block of Hancock Street in the Point Loma/Sports Arena area. The conflagration soon drew over 60 firefighters …

November 12, 2012
Date Rape Reported in Ocean Beach

A rape reportedly occurred in the 5100 block of Muir Steet in Ocean Beach on November 2, according to crimemapping.com In an interview with San Diego police Lt. Natalie Stone, she said the victim met …

November 8, 2012
Halloween Violence on Newport Avenue

Halloween on Ocean Beach’s Newport Avenue produced a woman getting her cheek bitten and a man lying unconscious on the sidewalk. In the cheek incident, Steve Perez said he and his girlfriend were enjoying the …

November 1, 2012
Sexual Assault Suspect Caught in Ocean Beach

A sexual assault suspect was captured in Ocean Beach early on the morning of October 28, hiding out in the backyard of the victim he allegedly had just attacked. The victim was reportedly sleeping on …

October 28, 2012
Stories from Ashes Found at an Ocean Beach Car Wash

Since news broke last week of the cremated remains of Henry Renaud Lefebvre found at the OB Suds Car Wash on Voltaire Street, the story has circled the world. It was reported that the owner …

October 27, 2012
Victim Tells Story of Attempted Rape in Ocean Beach

A 25-year-old Ocean Beach woman was punched in the eye with an object, groped from behind, and was being dragged away in broad daylight on the morning of October 17 in an attempted rape incident. …

October 25, 2012
Ocean Beach Grocery Store Cited for an Overcharge

The Apple Tree Market, located at at 4949 Santa Monica Avenue in Ocean Beach, was recently given a “failed inspection” notice to post in their window — as required by county law — after being …

October 23, 2012
Stabbing and Groping in Ocean Beach

A stabbing victim was pulled from the crowd in the beer garden at the Ocean Beach Oktoberfest on Friday evening, just 30 minutes before the first “Citizens’ Patrol” was launched. The Citizens' Patrol was organized …

October 13, 2012
Women Learn Self-Defense Following Ocean Beach Crimes

Vault Combat Academy on Newport Avenue offered a free self-defense class on October 11. Women who had been to an O.B. Woman's Club meeting and a citizens’ patrol meeting earlier in the week showed up …

October 13, 2012
Ocean Beach Citizens’ Patrol to Mobilize This Week

The night of October 8 saw the formation of the first meeting of the Ocean Beach Citizens’ Patrol. Over 40 people showed up at the Tower Two Café on Abbott Street to organize themselves into …

October 9, 2012
Meeting Offers Solutions to End Ocean Beach Sex Crimes

Over 60 people met at the Ocean Beach Woman's Club on October 3 to discuss the recent sex crimes against women in the community. Ideas were presented on how to make more women aware of …

October 4, 2012
Artist’s O.B. Bathroom Ceiling Project Criticized

A man claiming to have deciphered the jumble of words on the ceiling of the newly built Brighton Street “comfort station” (bathroom) in Ocean Beach presented his case to the Ocean Beach Town Council on …

September 27, 2012
Ocean Beach Sex Crimes Prompt Frustration at Meeting

A crowd of over 60 people — many angry and emotional — made up the audience at the Ocean Beach Town Council Meeting on September 26. Most of the people were there to discuss the …

September 27, 2012
Car Hits Bicyclist at Ocean Beach Intersection

At approximately 5:30 p.m.on September 23, a bicyclist was hit by a car at an intersection in Ocean Beach. The intersection of West Point Loma Boulevard and Abbott Street has a yield sign that residents …

September 24, 2012
DUI Makes for Bad Beach Day in O.B.

A man was arrested for a DUI in Ocean Beach on the evening of September 16. Arresting SDPD officer J. Wilson said the suspect, who was around 50 years old, was driving with a suspended …

September 17, 2012
Rocky’s Surf Shop Closing in Ocean Beach

Rocky's Surf Shop — named after a dog who surfed and was featured in Endless Summer II — has always been a surfboard-shopping destination. This weekend, said current shop owner Doug Yates on September 15, …

September 15, 2012
Ocean Beach Pier Jump Goes Unpunished

According to an eyewitness named Andrew, he and his girlfriend were sitting on the sand at the end of Newport Avenue at around 11 p.m. on August 25 when a young man jumped off the …

August 28, 2012
Valley View Rocked Like a Hurricane

Kicking off the first day of summer with melodic-metal band the Scorpions was a head-banging flashback to the ’80s. Having seen them perform more than 20 times, I can say the adage “rode hard and …

June 28, 2012

Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

This Week’s Reader This Week’s Reader