WINE-TASTING TO BENEFIT PLHS MUSICIANS

The Point Loma High School music boosters are teaming with a local gourmet grocer to raise funds for the school's talented student musicians. The group has planned a wine-tasting event in cooperation with Jensen's Foods that will feature over 70 wines from dozens of wineries. All wines tasted will be offered at special one-day-only prices for those wishing to place orders. The event will be held on Oct. 17 from 5-7 p.m. in the Jensen's offices located across the parking lot from Jensen's Foods in the Loma Plaza building. Tickets are currently on sale at Jensen's of they may be purchased at jensensfoods.com/winetasting.

All funds raised will go directly to the highly successful Pointer music program which includes concert band, winds ensemble, jazz band, orchestra, guitar group, choir and color guard. School district funding pays only for the teacher's salary and provides no money for instrument purchase or repair, buses for travel to competitions or other costs.

OB OKTOBERFEST

The 15th annual OB Oktoberfest featuring a beer garden, live music and fun contests Oct. 11-12 on Newport Avenue and Abbott Street. The two-day festival kicks off Friday with a 21-and-over beer garden from 4 p.m. to midnight. Guests can enjoy live music featuring Jose Sinatra and fun contests. 

The beachside festival continues Oct. 12 with food, merchandise booths and a beachside stage featuring musicians. Festivities continue at 11 a.m. when the beer garden in the pier parking lot opens with traditional bratwurst-eating, stein-holding, and Ms. Oktoberfest contests, as well as the outrageous balloon blow.

The Brew Fest will take place Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. featuring local breweries including OB Brewery, Belching Beaver, Culture Brewing Co., Hodad’s Brewing Co., Kilowatt Brewing, Mike Hess Brewing Co., Pizza Port, Two Roots Brewing Co., and Bay City Brewing Co. Each brewery will feature one style of beer. 

BEYOND BRIDGE MUSICAL CELEBRATION

The Third Annual Beyond Bridge Musical Celebration will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19 at the Loma Club in Liberty Station. Attendees will gather to listen to all-acoustic performances from nine bands, participate in a celebrity golf tournament, and raise funds to benefit the Pioneer Foundation, an Ocean Beach organization whose mission statement is to “support individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities to live a fulfilled life and integrate in society through innovative community collaboration.”

The Pioneer Foundation supports the Pioneer Day School, a non-public school with three “campuses” in Ocean Beach, where dedicated teachers create high-quality programs, including music therapy programs, that maximize the potential of kids from all over San Diego who area who are underserved in mainstream public schools.

HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL

The Sunset View Elementary Halloween Carnival will take place 3:30-7:30 p.m. on Oct. 19. Family entertainment for everyone and all are welcome. There will be laser tag, dunk tank, haunted house, DJ, games, food trucks, and more.

REPUBLICAN WOMEN LUNCHEON

Republican Women of California-Point Loma's monthly luncheon meeting will take place 10 a.m. on Oct. 16 at Point Loma Cafe, 4865 Harbor Drive. Program: District 7 City Councilmember Scott Sherman. No host lunch follows. Call Marilyn at 619-222-9532 for additional information.

LA JOLLA ART & WINE FESTIVAL 

The La Jolla Art & Wine Festival (LJAWF), a free event featuring 160 artists, 30 wineries and breweries, gourmet food, live music, a silent auction, and a family art center, hosts its 11th annual celebration on Saturday, October 12th and Sunday, October 13th along La Jolla’s Girard Avenue. This curated fine art show boasts a collection of internationally recognized talent, as well as fresh up and coming artists that are yours to be discovered! The dynamic and selective group of artists represent a variety of mediums such as painting, sculpture, jewelry design, fine glass, ceramics, woodwork, mixed media, and photography.

WHEELCHAIR REGATTA

Silver Gate Yacht Club’s 59th annual Wheelchair Regatta – with members and community volunteers joining forces to give disabled guests a “day on the bay” – will take place Sunday, Oct. 20, at the club on Shelter Island Drive. The event requires careful coordination of all volunteers to ensure a safe and enjoyable day for hundreds among San Diego’s disabled community. Volunteers are still needed for a number of positions. Also needed are powerboats, which can accommodate a minimum of four guests, preferably 10-12 guests.

For more information, email Lisa Clements at lkclements97@gmail.com or call the club office at 619-222-1214.

BLOOD DRIVE

Ocean Beach Community is holding a blood drive in partnership with the San Diego Blood Bank from 1:30‑7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 4840 Niagara St. Anyone 17 and older, who weighs at least 114 pounds and is in good health may be eligible to donate blood. A good meal and plenty of fluids are recommended prior to donation. All donors must show picture identification. Donors are encouraged to schedule an appointment to donate, but walk-ins are welcome. To schedule an appointment or for more information, visit sandiegobloodbank.org or call 1-800-469-7322.

SD HUMANE SOCIETY OFFERS DISCOUNTED MICROCHIPS

During October, San Diego Humane Society is offering discounted microchips on select days in anticipation of Halloween – when shelters typically see a substantial increase in lost pets. The holiday can be scary for pets. Opening doors for trick-or-treaters provides plenty of opportunities for spooked pets to flee, resulting in a higher number of stray animals entering the shelter after Halloween.

San Diego Humane Society will offer $10 microchips at vaccination clinics at the following times at San Diego Campus, 5500 Gaines St. every Thursday in October at 8-10 a.m. Vaccine clinics are limited to the first 75 animals, so arrive early. San Diego Humane Society also utilizes a facial recognition app, Finding Rover, to quickly reunite lost dogs with their owners. Be sure to register your dog's photo on Finding Rover. It’s free!

CRAFT FAIR DATES

The Ocean Beach Town Council recently announced the fair dates for the Craft Fair as Oct. 25, Nov. 16, Nov. 30, Dec. 7, Dec. 14 and Dec. 21. The Craft Fair will be held on the grass of the Veterans Plaza and will feature local craft vendors, a “Kid’s Corner” with activities and more. All proceeds support the OBTC’s Holiday Food Drive, Holiday Parade and Community Grants. For more information, visit oceanbeachsandiego.com/community-group/ob-town-council.

WOMEN'S MUSEUM SPEAKERS SERIES

The Women's Museum of California will present their Speakers Series. The second speaker in the series is author Eve Ensler (“Vagina Monologues” and “The Apology”) on Dec. 8 Museum of Photographic Arts.VIP reception will take place from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Prado, with the event starting at 7 p.m. For more information, visit womemsmuseumca.org.

TRAGEDY STRIKES HIGH TECH HIGH TEACHER

This summer, Dustin and Sofia Tannenhaus, an instructor at High Tech High in Liberty Station, were traveling abroad in Europe. The couple were celebrating precious milestones in their life: Dustin had earned a month-long sabbatical, and Sofia had just finished a successful year as a teacher at HTH.

Four weeks into their vacation, on Saturday, July 20, everything changed. Dustin dropped Sofia off at a local gym and went for a run near the water, just like any other day. When he finished his intense workout, he became ill. As it turned out, he was suffering from heat exhaustion from a heatwave that culminated in heatstroke. 

With the help of locals Sofia met at the gym that morning, they rushed Dustin to the hospital. But by the time he reached the hospital, he had fallen into a coma, which ended in cardiac arrest, five days before his 34th birthday. After returning from their tragic trip, Sofia discovered she was with child. While Sofia is excited, she never anticipated being a single mom, and raising a child on her teacher's income will be extremely challenging. A GoFundMe drive has been set up for Sofia Tannenaus, gofundme.com/f/DustinTannenhaus,  organized by Tin Lib.

LYFT LAUNCHES NEW SCOOTERS IN SAN DIEGO

Lyft has launched its first scooter model built from the ground up specifically for scooter-share in the San Diego area, which is one of the first markets for these new scooters, distinguished by their iconic pink wheels. Just like all of Lyft’s other scooter markets, the company offers its Community Pass for low-income San Diegans to ensure transportation options are equitable and accessible. Eligible residents can sign up to pay only $5 per month for unlimited, free 30-minute rides within the service area.

Lyft designed this model with a wider base, thicker, air-filled wheels for a smoother trip, a more durable build, a more powerful battery that can charge faster and last longer, and a hand brake, similar to a bike brake.

“The new Lyft scooters take the rider experience to the next level,” said Kyle Zuvella, market manager for Lyft Bikes and Scooters in San Diego. “For the first time, Lyft scooters will also feature our iconic pink wheels, making it undeniably clear that scooters are central to Lyft’s vision for a future where cities are built around people, not private cars.” 

JONAS BROTHERS TO PLAY PECHANGA ARENA

Grammy-nominated multiplatinum powerhouse trio the Jonas Brothers recently announced the details for the 40-city “Happiness Begins Tour.” Nick, Joe and Kevin Jonas will hit the road, stopping at Pechanga Arena in San Diego on Thursday, Oct. 17. They’ll bring along with them special guests Bebe Rexha and Jordan McGraw.

SAN DIEGO NO. 5 CITY FOR FOOD LOVERS

San Diego has been ranked fifth in Yelp’s list of the “Top U.S. Destination for Food Lovers.” According to Yelp, the ranking was determined by comparing cities’ new restaurants, ratings, and reviews as well as cuisine diversity and the percentage of food photos. 

Some of the dishes to note – according to Yelp – included Pork Belly Benedict at Werewolf in downtown San Diego, the Kimchi Dumpling Hot Soup at TastyPot in Kearny Mesa, and the Hot Chicken at Common Stock in Hillcrest.

San Francisco took the No. 1 spot, followed by St. Louis and Honolulu.