Oceanside, the name says it all.  Just the name inspires and conjures thoughts of ocean views, sandy beaches and a life of leisure. As early as September of 1883, just a few months after a townsite was laid out, Andrew Jackson Myers, the city’s founder began marketing the town as a seaside resort. He arranged excursions from San Bernardino and the San Diego Union reported that the train bringing visitors from inland to our coast consisted of thirteen cars and about 760 passengers.  

The following year in 1884 the San Bernardino Index reported that Oceanside would soon become “a favorite resort of sea-side pleasure seekers of this county.” A large wooden stairway was built from the bluff providing access to the beach and another newspaper reported that, “People have commenced to arrive at Oceanside for summer bathing.  G.W. Graves and family and others are now there enjoying themselves in surf-bathing and fishing.”  

By Kristi Hawthorne
For decades, the City of Oceanside endeavored to have a recreational harbor.   In 1949 a development and study of a proposed harbor was made by Leeds, Hill and Jewett for the City of Oceanside.  However, the military at Camp Pendleton were opposed to all harbor proposals and plans primarily because needed land and access was needed from the military base.  

In 1958 General Ridgley stated he would “interpose no objection to the concept” of the Oceanside Harbor constructed on Camp Pendleton Property.  That year the Corps of Army Engineers requested a feasibility study of the proposed harbor.  A delegation of Oceanside officials visited Washington D.C. in December of 1958 to discuss details with U.S. Marine Corps, the Bureau of Yards & Docks and the Secretary of the Navy.

The Oceanside Chamber was lucky to attend the Ribbon Cutting ceremony at Mallard Reverse Mortgage this February.

Mallard Reverse Mortgage designs a plan for adults over the age of 62 without income or credit qualifications. Their goal is to pass on legitimate, straightforward advice on this Federally insured reverse mortgage to them that can then allow these seniors to refinance or even purchase single-family homes, mobile homes and condos.

What makes Mallard Reverse Mortgage great is that there are no monthly payments; the client owns the property and the proceeds are tax free! Owner Martin Barraza pushes the motto that Mallard is sure to “work for the customers…not the banks!”

In order to find out more information about Mallard Reverse Mortgage including directions and more visit here:

By: Vanessa Boon

By Scott Ashton
You only have to spend a few minutes with Joshua and Rebekah Van Orden to understand why they started their business, Oceanside Therapy Group. It's impossible to not recognize the passion they have for family and children. Since December of 2009, Oceanside Therapy Group has provided a much needed "one stop shop" for Pediatric Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy, mostly for children of military families.  

Prior to opening their own business, Rebekah was working as a speech language pathologist in Chula Vista and Joshua had just completed his licensing to become a financial advisor with Edward Jones.  Around this time they had their first child, a daughter, and Rebekah took 6 months off from work to be with her. When the six months were over, Rebekah found that leaving her daughter to go back to work was not an option for her. 

By Lauren Alvey
Dave and Cheryl Preston, owners and founders of The T-Shirt Factory, are Oceanside locals and self-proclaimed forward-thinkers. It should be no surprise then that together they built this highly successful local screen-printing business now celebrating its 30th anniversary.

The T-Shirt Factory was originally founded as Mariposa Graphics in 1984 under the sole proprietorship of Chuck Snyder, a local surfer. Dave and his band were customers of Mariposa Graphics, having t-shirts printed for gigs, etc. The Preston’s took over the ownership in 2009. At this time it was basically an 'underground' screen printing service known only to those loyal customers who had been getting t-shirts screen-printed there for years. Dave and Cheryl recognized that they had a lot of work to do to put the T-shirt Factory on the map and to expand their printing services to Oceanside's local businesses, residents and tourists.

By Kierstin Hill
The impact San Diego Spine and Rehab has made on the North County community cannot be measured.  Over the last five years they have helped countless individuals recover from any ailment or injury and help them to live pain free.  They see upwards of 150 patients in their Oceanside office each day for specialized physical therapy treatment.  SDSR also attends 25-30 community events per month where they offer free chair massages and teach individuals about how their services can help people live pain free.  Let’s face it, almost everyone has a bad something – back, neck, hip, shoulder, anything. 

SDSR is passionate about their mission to educate people about the benefits of integrated medicine; they combine chiropractic, physical therapy, massage, along with other specialized treatments to help their patients feel better, get better, but most importantly, stay better.  San Diego Spine and Rehab is completely dedicated to helping patients succeed.  Not only does the staff give patients a customized treatment plan to help heal any ailments, but they also educate the patients on exercises that can be done at home so the healing process can happen more rapidly. 

By Lauren Alvey
In speaking with Holli Vanderslice, founder and owner of Slice of Heaven Catering, you immediately pick up on her vitality. Her passion for her work is so strong it’s impossible not to get caught up. Slice of Heaven Catering is all about the clientele – making their event a success and everyone feel loved. Holli says “This isn’t about the money. For me there is no better sign of success than hearing ‘You made my event awesome!’ from a client.”
 
June 16th, 2014, Slice of Heaven celebrated its 10 year anniversary. Prior to starting a catering company, Holli had been working for seven years at a large corporation. It made good money, but wasn’t something she was passionate about. Her husband told her, “I don’t care what you do for work - just come home happy.”

By Lauren Alvey
Oceanside Abbey Carpet is celebrating their 55th anniversary this year. Current owner Chuck Ward acquired the business in 1993 and since 2003 he has quadrupled their sales! Chuck credits Oceanside Abbey Carpet's strong reputation of high quality craftsmanship already established. It was by maintaining this quality and bringing in well-respected contractors that he attributes the business' recent success. He advises that in business it is also always good to have a five-year plan mapped out. With Oceanside Abbey Carpet this is how he has been able to attain the stability they have today.

“Survival” he claims, “is the new success story"

Oceanside Abbey Carpet currently employs 17 people and the crews they work with have been with them, on average, for 14 years. Chuck holds loyalty in high regard, and it shows in the loyalty of those he continues to work with today

By: Vanessa Boon

If you were to look around it is easy to see the growth that has occurred in Oceanside within the last year. There are new bustling restaurants, breweries, events and more spread throughout the city and especially in the downtown region. In addition the culture of the city is growing and spreading and one core value at the center of this is: Art.

            Art has been a prevalent aspect of Oceanside for years, especially with the opening of the Oceanside Museum of Art in 1997 and on through its renovation in 2008. Artist’s Alley, the block-long pedestrian promenade that is located between Pier View Way and Mission Ave behind the building that faces Coast Highway, has also been great in helping to cultivate and foster the idea of art importance in Oceanside. For the past six months a new art event has been steadily growing and that is the Oceanside First Friday Art Walk.

          

The Oceanside Chamber of Commerce will host the Enlisted Recognition Dinner on Thursday, February 26 from 6:00-8:30 pm at the Veteran’s Association of North County (1617 Mission Ave, Oceanside, CA 92054).  This event is open to the public and will feature a delicious dinner catered by Slice of Heaven Catering as well as great company from local Marines and Sailors from Camp Pendleton.  Pre-registration is required and can be filled out here: http://enlistedrecognition.com/

The Enlisted Dinner has been an annual event since 2001 put together by the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee and the Chamber staff as a way for the North County business community to recognize the enlisted personnel.  There will also be a “Spouse of the Year” component to this event.  We will recognize three nominated spouses of the year and will present them with gifts donated from our local business community.  

This event is a way to show the local Marines and Sailors how much we appreciate them for their service to our country.  The Enlisted Recognition Dinner could not be held without the support of our sponsors, Pioneer Services, Navy Federal Credit Union, Pacific Marine Credit Union, USAA, USA Living and Tri-City Medical Center.  Table sponsors have been provided by SDG&E, Nitto Denko Hydranautics, Mossy Nissan Oceanside, Waste Management, Oceanside Therapy Group, Dignity Memorial and Classic Chariots.  

By Kierstin Hill
Throwback Thursday – Jack Taylor’s Oceanic Café!

Check out this great photo for this edition of the Oceanside Chamber’s “Throwback Thursday!”  The Oceanside Historical Society has agreed to let the Chamber use their photos.  If you like any of the Throwback Thursday photos you see, please contact the Historical Society to purchase prints.  They have a whole archive of historical photos for sale.

The Oceanic Cafe was located at 207 North Hill Street.  That is present day the 200 block of North Coast Highway (on the west side) and right in between Mission Ave and Pier View Way. 

This photo was taken circa 1925 and operated in early years by a man named Jack Taylor.  The Oceanic Café was home to many regularly scheduled business and rotary meetings.  In 1923 this cafe was the regular meeting place of the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce, which of course is close to home for us! 

As always, we use these photos courtesy of the Oceanside Historical Society.  

By Kierstin Hill
Oceanside has celebrated with parades for over 125 years, including Independence Day, a Christmas parade and even Freedom Parades in honor of our military.  The parade routes have changed during the decades. Early processions marched along North Cleveland Street and later started at the train depot and traveled east up Second Street (now Mission Avenue). Other routes included Third Street (Pier View Way) and for several years the parades would travel all the way downtown to the Pier Bandshell.  

This year the parade will start from Wisconsin St and Coast Highway (right next to the 101 Cafe) at 10 am.  The route will take the parade north on Coast Highway, towards the Oceanside Civic Center. 

Can't make it down to the parade to see it in person?  KOCT will be airing it live on channel 18! 
This photo was taken around the turn of the century.  Talk about tradition of parades here in Oceanside!  
Photo courtesy of the Oceanside Historical Society.  More about the history of Oceanside here.

By Cheryl Broom
On a bright and sunny morning, more than 400 community members, staff, faculty and students gathered at the MiraCosta College Concert Hall for the inauguration of Dr. Sunita “Sunny” Cooke, MiraCosta College’s 6th permanent superintendent/president.

No person shone brighter that day than Dr. Cooke herself, who was accompanied by her husband of 29 years, Paul; their son, Dillon; and her sister, Vinita.

During her inaugural address, Dr. Cooke told how her family emigrated from Lucknow, India, to Dallas, Texas, in 1968 with only $40 in their pockets.

By Kristi Hawthorne
In 1955 two young Oceanside brothers, purchased 300 acres of undeveloped land in the San Luis Rey River Valley, near the old Oceanside Airport, with the vision of building an industrial park that would attract light manufacturing and industry to help the small community of Oceanside grow.

The brothers, described in a 1955 edition of the Oceanside Blade Tribune, as "young, aggressive, college-bred men who have chosen manufacturing and light industrial  development for their life work," would overcome many challenges to turn their dream into what would become Oceanside Industrial Park - birthplace of such well known businesses as Ocean Pacific Clothing, Rip Curl Wetsuits, Tracker Skateboards, Morey Boogie Boards, Custom X Body Boards, Transworld Publication's Skateboard, Surfing and Snowboard Magazines and Chachies Salsa.

By Kristi Hawthorn
Oceanside’s love affair with its pier began 125 years ago when the first piling was driven into the sand at the end of Couts Street.  You won’t find Couts Street on any map, but it’s there--the name was changed back in 1927 to Wisconsin Street. 

The remnants of that first pier are still there, occasionally making a rare appearance during minus tides and low sand levels.  In 2012 several pilings were exposed for a brief few days, which had not been seen for over 20 years.

By Kristi Hawthorne
The Oceanside Chamber of Commerce was established in 1896 and its impact for over 110 years has played an important role in the promotion, tourism and business development of our city. Reading through the roll call of past presidents is walking along a historic timeline and a virtual listing of the movers and shakers in the community and those who helped to build and shape Oceanside and promote it a variety of ways. 

The Oceanside Chamber worked in conjunction with the City Council (or City Trustees as they were called years ago).  It was involved in everything from life-saving equipment on the beach, to tree planting, to rebuilding each new pier, beautification of the city, to cemetery upkeep, putting on parades, fireworks and beauty contests, along with catchy slogans promoting the city. 

By Kristi Hawthorne 
Oceanside began its 75th year with expectation but the 1960's were not only a time of growth, but a time of change that few could anticipate. 

With the opening of a new Small Craft Harbor in 1963 residents were delighted and proud of this new recreational location which drew thousands of visitors.  Harbor Days became an annual event that at one time featured fireworks, log rolling and bath tub races.

By Kristi Hawthorne
As Oceanside turned 50 years old, it was reaching new heights in development and growth. The headline in the January 6, 1938 Oceanside Blade Tribune read “Around $85,000 In New Building Under Way Here.”  Project included construction of a new wing at the Oceanside-Carlsbad High School, several new houses and two “cottage courts” being erected, improvements to the Oceanside Beach (formerly the El San Luis Rey), and additions to the lumber yard.

Our growing city was in need of a new modern hospital and construction work on a new $16,000 hospital began in February of 1938. The contract was awarded to local builder Charles Rieke with the building to be completed by May 1st. 

By Kristi Hawthorne
Oceanside embarked on its next 25 years with determination and enthusiasm. Building is always a sign of progress for any town and the next two decades would not disappoint.

Will Scott opened Oceanside’s first theater, the Elysium on Second Street in 1913. His popular barbershop shared the same building. The first film to be shown was the “Battle of Gettysburg” while the Oceanside Band performed. The newspaper reported that the Elysium was “indicative of the new spirit that has taken hold here, and which is certain to lead to greater and better things in the way of material and artistic development.”

By Kristi Hawthorne
The City of Oceanside incorporated on July 3, 1888 but our history dates back years further and was founded by Andrew Jackson Myers, who settled in the San Luis Rey valley in the late 1870's.  Myers applied for and received a homestead grant for land which is now downtown Oceanside. In the early 1880s a railroad line was being built that would connect Los Angeles to San Diego. The trains would travel directly over Myers’ new land grant making his property very valuable. 

In 1883 Cave Johnson Couts, Jr. surveyed and helped to map out a townsite and John Chauncey Hayes sold the new town lots through his land office which was located on North Cleveland Street, near Second Street (Mission Avenue).  Hayes farmed in the San Luis Rey valley, served as Justice of the Peace and was the first mail contractor between San Diego and San Bernardino as well as postmaster at San Luis Rey.  Hayes wrote the petition for the town's first post office, which listed the name as two words: "Ocean Side".

By Kristi Hawthorne
The San Luis Rey Mission celebrated its 215th anniversary in 2013, being formally dedicated June 13, 1798. The Mission was founded by Fathers Lasuen, Santiago and Peyri, under the leadership of Fray Junipero Serra. The task of building the mission was delegated to Fr. Antonio Peyri.  

Named Mission San Luis Rey de Francia, it was known as the "King of the Missions" because of its size and the land it occupied.  The Mission building was a large structure and encompassed over six acres, surrounded by 200,000 acres.  The location has a commanding view and was called by the Indians "Icayme," which means "fairview."