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Visitor’s Guide! THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2009
San Diego Community Newspaper Group
858.270.3103 x117 or 112
www.SDNEWS.com Volume 24, Number 17
Experts breathe sigh of relief as threat of swine flu diminishes The data that is now crystallizing is suggesting that is not the case,” Sette Despite officials closing three San said. “It is not that different than the Diego city schools, fearing students seasonal flu.” Although Sette studies infectious infected with swine flu may spread the virus, experts say the H1N1 flu is diseases and is not a sociologist, the no more dangerous than the aver- scientist said a number of factors could have spurred public fears age strain. San Diego County health officials regarding the swine flu, including a reported 29 confirmed cases of the lack of public knowledge regarding the seasonal flu strain May 6, and the word while the Centers pandemic. for Disease Con“There’s a certrol and Preventain confusion of tion (CDC) reportpandemic versus ed 642 U.S. cases epidemic,” Sette in 41 states said. “Pandemic including 67 in doesn’t mean California – and severe — it two confirmed m e a n s deaths. The widespread disWorldwide ease. Epidemic Health Organizameans an outtion (WHO) ALESSANDRO SETTE reported 1,516 INSTITUTE FOR ALLERGY & IMMUNOLOGY break. When an epidemic is all cases in 22 counover the world it tries worldwide is a pandemic, but and 30 deaths, as it doesn’t mean it has a high mortalof press time. Experts such as La Jolla Institute ity.” A pandemic can spread benign for Allergy & Immunology’s (LJIAI) Alessandro Sette, Ph.D., said the infections, according to Sette. “I think the lack of information virus is not as virulent as they first thought, offering insight into several early on, on how much society is possibilities for the public’s reactions affected by the seasonal flu, made people more prone to panicking,” toward the H1N1 virus. “The early data that was coming Sette said. “In general, when someout in the first few days would suggest a fairly severe mortality rate. SEE FLU, Page 2 BY ALYSSA RAMOS | THE BEACON
The young and the irritable An agitated seal pup checks out an unidentified surfer in Ocean Beach south of Newport Avenue on Tuesday. The pup, which likely was trying to catch a little rest from the large surf that has been pounding local beaches this week, reportedly was none too happy with passersby disturbing his rest time. Lifeguards eventually coned off a small COURTESY PHOTO BY JOE EWING area around the seal to help separate him from contact with humans.
SD River to get cleansing from volunteers BY MARTIN JONES WESTLIN | THE BEACON lows at 9 a.m.; subsequent activ- throughout local history, at least
The sixth annual San Diego River Days — “two weeks of discovery and giving back to the San Diego River”— are scheduled May 9 to 17, with the whole thing kicking off at the Dog Beach paw print at the end of Voltaire Street in Ocean Beach on May 9 at 8 a.m. The Dog Beach cleanup fol-
ities include a bike ride, a hike in a proposed wilderness area, a river garden open house and a look at the river’s future education center site. You can find out more about the Days’ 30 events by accessing sandiegoriver.org and clicking on the appropriate link. What you can’t do is hope to discover the river’s significance
not firsthand. After all, we’re talking a length of 52 miles, stretching from Santa Ysabel in east San Diego County to the El Capitan Reservoir to Lakeside, Santee and Mission Valley to Ocean Beach. The waterway’s less-than-pristine condition in some areas stems from decades SEE RIVER, Page 7
I think the lack of information early on, on how much society is affected by the seasonal flu, made people more prone to panicking.
Area’s hungry, homeless see stepped-up relief BY SEBASTIAN RUIZ | THE BEACON
She takes down names and hands out groceries to the men, women and families who’ve found themselves living out of their cars or otherwise in need of a small bag of food. Leigh Ann Bearce, who coordinates a handful of volunteers at the Loaves and Fishes food bank inside Holy Trinity Church, 2083 Sunset Cliffs Blvd., packs plastic grocery bags full of goodies like Slim Jims, peanut butter, bread and tuna for people struggling through tough times. Loaves and Fishes even offers soap and shampoo.
With the help of different groups of volunteers, Bearce has been with the Loaves and Fishes program since November 2006 handing out food every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The program has existed for 30 years in churches throughout Ocean Beach. But over the last year, the type of people coming through her door has changed as the national and local economy has taken a dive. “I see more families now,” she said. “I can’t give you an exact number but it’s increased.” On this day, just after being interviewed, Bearce opened the doors of the Loaves and Fishes to yet
another family in need. A mother corralled her two children behind her as she carried the youngest in her arms. The toddler wore only a diaper made from a small, striped beach towel fastened around his waist with a shoelace. The man with them clutched a manila folder full of papers to his chest as he tailed them. The folder may well have contained the family’s most important documents. He didn’t seem like he wanted to talk. Counting the number of homeless families and individuals in San Diego is the job of the San Diego Volunteers Josh Wolfinger, left, and Douglas Veronda collect and bag food for SEE HOMELESS, Page 5
the Loves and Fishes food bank program in Ocean Beach before distributing it PHOTO BY SEBASTIAN RUIZ | THE BEACON to the area’s homeless and hungry population.
Look for the new OB Local Business Directory delivered with The Peninsula Beacon next Thursday, May 14th or delivered to your door in selected areas of Ocean Beach on Saturday, May 16th. Featuring: • A Complete Directory of Ocean Beach Businesses • Valuable Merchant Coupons • Ocean Beach Map & Calendar of Events
For more info or if you do not receive your Directory by May 18th, contact OBMA at (619) 224-4906 OceanBeachSanDiego.com