Co-working spaces are a burgeoning idea and when the owners of the Ocean Beach Business Center realized they had additional space available when a previous tenant vacated the premises, they decided to introduce the concept. 
 
If you haven’t heard by now, the concept far different than traditional office space in that though people are working, it’s also an opportunity to leave the isolation of a home workspace or the activity of a coffee shop. It’s often a community of occupants who are likely entrepreneurs, freelancers, or start-up teams that need a space to work as a group. 
 
After the shared space was finished, they started hearing from people that it was a great idea and that it was a much-needed concept, owner Chris Peregoy said. 
 
Peregoy and his wife Jo own the business center. He had a vision of growing their business bigger and understood that to mean they needed to expand and take over the entire space. Before this move, they had been subleasing some of their property to the Lazy Hummingbird Café. When the café moved out, the couple had briefly toyed with a similar idea to open a café, but in the end, they stuck with their existing knowledge for running the business center. 
 
Now many people consider them to be a one-stop-shop, Peregoy said. Customers were using their private mailbox service and now they can also do their work without the frustration of interruptions that they might find if they work from home. 
 
Although they have competition in this space, Peregoy is not worried because they provide a different atmosphere and he believes that people like familiarity rather than entering a strange space. 
 
The co-working space launched earlier this month, and although there is wide interest, it has not converted yet into people using the shared space. 
 
To rent the space month, they charge $275 and they also offer full and half-day rentals, all of which come with complimentary wifi and unlimited access to some of their services. Users can scan, photocopy, fax, and print in black and white, which are all included in the price of using the space. They also offer unlimited coffee, tea, water, and snacks.  
 
They also added a podcast room for rent. Located in the back of the building and soundproofed, clients can record their podcasts with equipment made available. Microphones, recording software, and chairs are all available for use. 
 
Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected its launch. Social distancing restrictions came into effect a week after they opened. Opening their new business felt scary, but Peregoy believes ensuring cleanliness to clients will help them progress. 
 
They want the space to be something more and they envision it as both a daytime and nighttime operation. They plan to convert the space in evenings into a family-oriented space and make it available for community activities like family craft nights or painting nights.

The field of global economy and diplomacy converge in an innovative launch of a new program that will train students around the world in the field of economic diplomacy. The global economy is changing and with it comes a new demand for studying
 
The University of California San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy is collaborating with three of the most esteemed universities in Korea, France, and Canada to offer a certificate program that prepares students for working in the field of global economics. The Paris School of International Affairs; HEC Montreal; and the Graduate School of International Studies in Seoul, Korea will offer classes as well as opportunities for collaboration on case studies and create faculty exchanges. After the certificate is complete, students will have an opportunity to compete for a prestigious summer internship. 
 
The program commences in fall of 2019, starting with an economic diplomacy course. This education will prepare students for a 2020 summer internship with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which the foremost economic think tank on global trade. It is located in Paris. 
 
Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla said the university was proud to be a part of the global collaboration that trains the next generation of students as well as executives who will help shape world economic policy. The collaboration is a good example of how the university provides opportunities for students to participate in the vanguard on issues that have an international impact. 
 
The world of economic diplomacy revolves around creating policy and results within realms such as foreign investment, trade, lending, creating free trade agreements, upholding sanctions, as well as international cooperation. These are technical skills that are critical and require a deep understanding of successful negotiations and decision making. 
 
The students participating across the globe in the program are likely to be some of the next generations of policymakers and the School of Global Policy and Strategy is ready to represent the country and help standardize the field of study. 
 
People have studied within this field for years and institutions like the World Bank and the World Trade Organization are decades old, but there is now a school of thought that they that questions the benefit of their economic policies and demands that they also should be inclusive and they require fundamental institutional changes.
 
 Renee Bowen, associate professor of economics at the School of Global Policy and Strategy believes these institutions should not become defunct or discarded but they should be restructured to reflect the changes happening in the world. Bowen will become the head of the Center for Commerce and Diplomacy, a new research center at GPS that will analyze the connection between commerce and diplomacy. 
 
Bowen hopes the international program will prepare upcoming students to possess an in-depth knowledge of how business necessities and diplomatic objectives can coincide. This is a critical skill as more companies are global, in that they are headquartered in one location yet have links in other countries. Countries and people are linked by economics and the idea of competition has changed, Bowen said. Rather companies, countries, and people need to consider partnerships and mutually beneficial economic interests.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has also meant a potential housing crisis that impacts tenants, landlords, and property management groups. To enact tenant protections, a San Diego tenant's rights group is now advising members to halt their rent payments until the health crisis is over. 
 
 This call to action is not particular to San Diego's tenant rights groups. There have been calls across the globe via grassroots advocacy on social media. On Wednesday the tenant’s union and the San Diego Tenants United held a virtual town hall for a rent strike. 
They say the consequences of job and income loss from the stay at home orders issued by the government have provided an opportunity for the wealthy to exploit working-class people. They believe it is important for tenants to stand together and plan emergency contingencies that will keep them afloat. But they also are suggesting that tenants write a letter to their landlords stating their inability to pay rent. 
 
The groups have said about 100 people are participating in the rent strike and sent a formal letter to their landlord. The document states that if they have the ability they will make a partial payment and that they are unlikely to be able to make further payments until the end of the crisis. 
 
As a rebuttal, the Southern California Rental Housing Association has also issued a statement. They say that state protections already formulated are helping tenants to make timely payments. They also say nonpayment of rental fees could hurt the entire property management supply chain. This means landlords, as well as the essential staff needed for them to operate efficiently, would be damaged by the rent strike, they said. No one wins in a rent strike and there are long term consequences, the SCRHA said. 
 
On March 25, the San Diego City Council ordered a moratorium on evictions until May 31. The emergency ordinance states that landlords cannot evict a tenant for nonpayment starting from March 12, but that would not preclude recovering rent at a later date. 
 
San Diego Housing Commission designed a website during the eviction moratorium launch to provide information to tenants who may qualify for rent relief. Those who qualify must provide proof to their landlord that they have experienced a significant loss of income or have medical bills from the COVID-19 pandemic. 
 
The moratorium gives tenants relief of six months from March 25 to repay their unpaid rent. 
City Council President Georgette Gomez said the website and rent relief was only the first step in the process and an additional measure will be to ensure that residents and small business owners know their rights and responsibilities to be protected. 
 
San Diego County, as well as Chula Vista and San Marcos, also have created ordinances to protect and assist tenants and Governor Gavin Newsom has issued an executive order to stop evictions across the entire state for renters who are impacted by COVID-19.
 
Assemblyman Todd Gloria, San Diego Democrat, has announced a plan to assist rental property owners. He believes it is equally important to help landlords because no one group is invulnerable.

BALBOA PARK — 
Lilian Vanvieldt was one of 9,000 people who came to Balboa Park for the 23rd annual Susan G. Komen San Diego Race for the Cure. 
 
The race, filled with people wearing the color pink as far as the eye could see, intends to bring awareness that breast cancer affects about 1 in 8 women each year in the U.S. 
 
Vanvieldt is one of those women and is a cancer survivor who also participated in the first year of having been diagnosed with stage 3 cancer. At her first race event, she had been receiving chemotherapy treatment. She was losing her and her nails were turning black and she frequently felt ill and surprised by the fact that she had no family history of cancer, she said.
Attending her that first race helped her find discover a community of inspiring people who were also either going through treatment or had already endured the battle. 
 
Vanvieldt said attending was meaningful to her because it was an opportunity to commune with others who understood what was happening to her and that she, in turn, could support other women. Seeing an array of people who beat cancer and realizing that death was not a certainty was critical to her mental health, she said. 
 
This year thousands of people walked and ran either a 5k or one-mile courses and wore everything from tutus, and superhero capes to umbrellas and mouse ears all in the color pink to represents the breast cancer awareness cause. There were also lots of dogs wearing pink to represent “Pups for the Cure.” 
 
 Race for the Cure is the largest event of the year for Komen San Diego. Hundreds of thousands of dollars raised are used to find free services to detect breast cancer. Mammograms, ultrasounds, biopsies as well as tests for early detection are part of the battery of tests used to arm with health knowledge. The funding also supports services for women who are currently living with breast cancer who require resources for rent or mortgage assistance, transport, childcare, meal deliveries as well as cosmetic needs such as wigs. 
 
The money raised is also used to fund research and San Diego is a hub of that work. The Komen chapter is also a legislative advocacy supporter. They fought for a bill that helped make access to fertility preservation easier for women and men are undergoing cancer treatment. 
The race this year raised more than $700,000 and efforts to raise more will continue until November 11.  
The race is a pivotal strategy for raising not only awareness but also is responsible for research and treatment advances globally, said Shaina Gross, president, and CEO of Susan G. Komen San Diego. 
 
The organization is thankful for people who have supported the cause for the last 22 years. Their support has meant improved treatment, drugs, and better quality services, said Gross. It is an example giving back among people who understand and empathize, she said. 
 
Hillary Condon is one among many examples of people who have had increased access to care from Komen in San Diego. At 36 years old, she found a lump and had already lost her employment and health insurance. But with the aid of Komen, she was still able to secure a biopsy, referral, and treatment. She is now cancer-free. 
 
aBoth Condon and Vanvieldt say vigilance and being proactive about health is an important factor for fighting cancer.

The Saint Brigid Parish is breaking new ground as the first parish to volunteer for a program to feed low-income families in Pacific Beach.

The parish is running the food distribution program for the San Diego Food Bank in collaboration with Catholic Charities. Once a month, starting on February 28, and every fourth Friday thereafter, the parish will issue free commodities.

Catholic Charities identified a total of 21 parishes throughout the San Diego region as possible distribution points and St Brigid’s Parish immediately leaped at the opportunity. Catholic Charities is seeking seven additional parishes to join the movement by the end of 2020, the CEO of Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego, Appaswamy “Vino” Pajanor, stated. 

The timing of the invitation to volunteer and the desire of the parish to be more visible in the local community of Pacific Beach was perfect. The parish had been actively seeking opportunities to serve the community. Saint Brigid Pastor Father Steve Callahan said the parish was thrilled to partner with Catholic Charities.
 
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has an initiative called the Emergency Food Assistance Program, which distributes food worth about a half-billion dollars every year to food banks through the country, Callahan said.
 
Catholic Charities is one among thousands of organizations across the country that have been selected as a food bank to distribute food directly to families to ensure they can supplement their diet with healthy foods.
 
The packages consist of canned goods as well as dry grains and proteins that include canned or frozen meat as well as other healthy food items. Households are deemed eligible bases on the family unit size and income and they receive one package per month.
 
Saint Brigid’s distributes from 9.30 am to 11.30 am.  

Though Saint Brigid’s Parish joined the task of food distribution this year, Catholic Charities has been doing so since 2018. They first launched their program in downtown San Diego and more than 80 people in need came on that first day to collect a food package. The gathering consisted of youth, the elderly, and others who needed food. Now, the charity serves almost 300 people per month in less the two hours.
 
Catholic Charities is a food distribution center, but Pajanor also sees it as an opportunity to connect with people, speaking with them to glean their needs and link them to another programming the charity and its partners have to offer. He also said food recipients will benefit from accessing food a shorter distance from their homes and they can find pick up locations online.
 
Their approach may not be perfect at the moment, but Catholic Charities is continuously learning and adapting to meet the needs of the community, Pajanor said.
 
Saint Brigid Parish as well as other organization in Pacific Beach are performing their work with optimism and conducting significant outreach to tell the community about the food distribution resource available to them said Saint Brigid Parish liaison, Lee Hulburt.
 
There are a lot of people who are floundering without food and the U.S. has a great deal of surplus that can benefit families, Hulburt said.
 
The recipients of food distribution must be residents of San Diego County and meet guidelines for federal income. People who are eligible can call 211 or the San Diego Food Bank at 858-527-1419

One doctor in Ocean Beach is ensuring the success of low-income students with vision problems by providing them with free optometrist services. 
 
Dr. Eli-Ben-Moshe believes that seeing well is vital for students to succeed in the classroom and that no student who can’t afford vision care should go without at Ocean Beach Elementary School. 
His Newport Avenue Optometry practice has been a staple of the community for 50 years and hundreds of Ocean Beach residents have benefited from his care. He is also a father and this is part of the story for his empathy as well as his proximity to the elementary school.
 
For the past 10 years, the doctor has worked with school staff on Sunset Cliffs Boulevard to provide children with the tools to improve their vision. 
 
Blurry vision can often trigger behavior problems in the classroom and at home. Children with trouble seeing can be frustrated, start failing classes, and teachers or counselors may need to intervene. Many parents don’t see or understand the problems are due to their child’s inability to see properly.
 
Ben-Moshe’s aim is to provide assistance to children who slip through the cracks. They are from families who lack health insurance with vision care or who simply cannot afford it. 
 
There are 445 children enrolled in Ocean Beach Elementary school and its state pre-school. Every year, each child has a vision screening conducted by the part-time school nurse and a health technician. This has been extremely advantageous because those students who would otherwise fall through the cracks are identified if their vision is impaired.
 
Those children in need are then escorted by a school staff member for their exam from Ben-Moshe and sometimes parents will even attend. 
 
They are given a complete eye exam so that any vision challenges are easily detected. This also includes ensuring their eye health and development are normal. Children are able to choose their own eyeglasses and they are often made right on the premises and they are able to head back to school with their new glasses. 
 
Ben-Moshe has seen firsthand the transformation his help creates in children. After one child put on his glasses and looked around he was amazed at how much better he could see, Ben-Moshe said. 
 
The doctor also said he doesn’t forget their smiles and the personal satisfaction of helping children see properly. 
 
Many parents of those same children come back to the doctor to thank him and report that their children are reading for pleasure when before they would put books down because they were experiencing headaches. 
 
Principal Marco Drapeau of Ocean Beach Elementary has seen the significant benefit that Ben-Moshe’s optometry services provide to the students at his school and he values it. 
 
He said it has made a big impact on a great many students and their families who are disadvantaged or low income. Some simply do not have access to health insurance or financial liquidity to provide vision care. The children would be at a disadvantage much longer if it were not for the help of Ben-Moshe.

If you’ve read national guidelines for how to change your diet if diagnosed with prostate cancer, eating a diet filled with vegetables was probably at or near the top of the list of things to do.  A newly released set of data from the University of California San Diego is reporting there is no additional protection from consuming more micronutrients.
 
The study revealed that even though science and common prevailing though says prostate cancer patients should eat more veggies, it does not change the nature of cancer. Vegetable won’t cure prostate cancer, said J. Kellogg Parsons, who is a Moores Cancer Center professor of urology and study lead investigator with an MD from University of California San Diego. But it doesn’t mean patients should not do it in addition to more exercise because doing these things might help make the patients better able to withstand cancer treatment as the body may be stronger from these positive behaviors.
 
The study was published on January 14, 2020, in the Journal of the American Medical Association. It is called the Men’s Eating and Living study (MEAL) and it studies 478 men from the ages of 50 to 80 years old in 91 different locations across the United States. All the patients had early-stage prostate adenocarcinoma and had enlisted in a surveillance program in which they did not receive treatment until the cancer had advanced.
 
The men were in a randomized to control group in which patients were given information about diet, prostate cancer, or a telephone counseling program that advised patients to eat more vegetables like leafy greens, carrots, and tomatoes. Both groups were monitored for a period of two years. Though patients in the group given diet information ate more vegetables than their control group, none of the data documented any significant degree of change in the cancer.
 
This is the first study testing if diet can affect prostate cancer and it was conducted based on scientific data as well as questions from patients who wanted to know if their diet could help change their diagnosis or effect their treatment for prostate cancer.
 
In fact, it is one of the most asked questions that men have who are diagnosed with prostate cancer. They want to know if they can improve their treatment if they alter their diet, said James Mohler, MD, an oncology professor from Roswell Park’s department of urology. However, now there is data that more vegetables and less red meat will probably not impact treatment plans, he said. But the study does not mean that patients can eat whatever they want. It is still vital to consume low fats, eat fruits and vegetables, and grains are beneficial to good health.
 
Scientists are still studying how nutrition can impact diseases and many studies have already documented that changing your diet to reduce diabetes and cardiovascular disease is beneficial.
Despite the MEAL study disproving that vegetable does not have any impact on prostate cancer, it did reveal that behavior changes can help patients make better food choices.

There are hidden treasures in the basement of the San Diego Office of the City Clerk. On the surface, you may be thinking the Clerk’s Office is simple one of technical support to the city council, but as the custodian of official city documents, the office maintains, restores and preserves an impressive set of historical records dating back to 1817.
 
The Month of October celebrates those documents with Annual Archive Month. This is year three of such an event and the theme is “Hidden Treasures.” In fact, the stash of interesting documents and records are in the basement of the City Administration Building located at 202 C. Street.

According to City Clerk’s website, the archive was created in 1988 so that documents were preserved and could be retrieved whenever they were needed. It is a vital source of information about the history and development of the city.

As online visitor, you can view documents that city staff and volunteers have been meticulously converting to digital. They have been assembling them to access on the City Clerk’s Digital Archive website. There are city directories that date back to 1926 and historical documents, including meeting minutes, ordinances and resolutions that date back to 1817.

Though they have amassed a wealth of material for digital viewing, they are still working on it. Recently a volunteer discovered historical photographs and plans for North Park.

Preliminary plan dating back to 1912 were found that would widen University Avenue east of Park Boulevard. There is also a letter from 1912 to the city engineer along with correspondence how the estimate cost of the project. It totaled $25,000 and in today’s money that would be about $600,000.

The North Park Theatre on University Avenue is also another interesting archive moment. There are photographs that date back to 1945, time stamped based on the movies that were showcased on the marquee at the time.

Another imagine from the mid 1940s shows the original J.C. Penney’s store that was built in 1943. That building is now a Target Express store.

There are many others just like these that provide perspective on life then and provides context for the present.

From 1907 to 1949 electric street car operated on University Aved and looking at one picture of it, you are able to see a buildings that used to house a great many businesses. But now they’ve left and in their place are establishments such as Fatboys Cornestone and Deli and Grand Whisky Bar. The building was constructed in 1926 in the style of the Spanish Colonial Revival and it housed the office for the Dixie Lumber Company as well as doctors, dentists and other professionals.

If you are a fan of history and wish to view the archives, you can make an appointment or ask other questions at the Office of the City Clerk or call them on 619-236-6143.