225 Years

One of the most beautiful of the California Missions is found in Oceanside. The Mission San Luis Rey Mission celebrates its 225th anniversary since its dedication in 1798, 52 years before California became a state.

By 1798, seventeen Franciscan missions had already been sited and established from San Diego to San Francisco. Spanish Missionaries who were tasked with establishing these sites were were looking for suitable locations that met certain criteria such as a water supply, building materials, and good soil for crops and livestock. The route the Franciscan’s traversed would be known as “El Camino Real,” translated “the Royal Road. It extended over 600 miles, connecting 21 missions and is considered one of the earliest roads or highways in California.

Another important criterion for the Franciscans was the proximity of other missions – preferably no more than a day’s journey between them. A trip from San Diego to the Mission San Juan Capistrano required two days, necessitating a third between the two.

In 1795 a surveying party left the Mission San Diego and made their way to Pala and Father Fermin Lasuen reported the following: “Between San Diego and San Juan the place called Pala is very good. It has all the distinctive features a foundation requires. It is fourteen leagues from San Diego, eighteen from Capistrano.” Despite this, however, he concluded that it was “absolutely unsuitable.”

Subsequently another exploration of the area was ordered and on October 6, 1797, the present site of Mission San Luis Rey was selected and approved. The location has a commanding view and was called by the Native people “Icayme,” which means “fairview.” Formal dedication of the Mission, named Mission San

Luis Rey de Francia, for King Louis (IX) of France, took place on June 13, 1798, with Father Lasuen singing the high mass, blessing the land and water. The Franciscans referred to the native Ataaxam people as “San Luisenos”, later shortened to Luiseno.

These people were vital in the building of the Mission under the direction of Father Antonio Peyri. Some of the first structures to be built were a set of corrals for the multitude of livestock, considered valuable assets to the Mission, which included horses, mules, cattle, and sheep. Just days after the founding of the new Mission, the work of making the adobe began. With the benefit of a labor force from Native peoples, Father Lasuen reported just one month later, “More than six thousand adobes of superior quality have been made, and at no great distance three hundred building frames, six center beams, and three roof beams have been cut. Everything is progressing better than we hoped for.” Two weeks later the foundation of five rooms had been laid.

Construction of the permanent structure that stands today was not completed until 1815, with foundations being laid in 1811. Work continued for four years when it was then formally dedicated on October 4, 1815. The original structure measured “600 feet east to west, 450 feet north to south, and covered nearly six and two-third’s acres.” Walls of the church were built “six and one-half feet thick.”

Father Zephyrin Engelhardt, considered “the Father of mission history”, described San Luis Rey as “the most beautiful of all the California Missions, a living monument to the noblest band of men that ever graced the pages of history,” adding “the missions of the California chain are each and every one a separate jewel, with the San Luis Rey the most perfect.”

It would soon become 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. One of the features and lasting landmarks is the Mission’s pepper tree which Engelhardt wrote about in his book, “It is said that a sailor from Peru, in 1830, brought a sprig of pepper tree and planted it in the Mission garden. This was the first of its kind in California.”

Another feature is the lavanderia, situated south of the church on the mission grounds. Entrance is made through a small archway down a long series of adobe steps. Water diverted from the San Luis Rey River was brought in using a tiled irrigation system. Beautiful gargoyles carved by Luiseno people spouted water into channels or pools, used for laundry and bathing.

At one time the Mission San Luis Rey owned 22,010 head of cattle, 23,532 sheep, and over 8,000 head of horse stock, more than any other California Mission. However, in 1833 Governor of Alta California Jose Maria de Echeandia issued a Decree of Secularization, which resulted in mission lands being sold or gifted to colonists, members of the military and politicians who established large ranchos. The San Luis Rey Mission, like many others, was plundered and left to decay and ruin. The altar had been stolen, even the front doors were taken off their hinges. Pio Pico, who became the administrator of San Luis Rey in 1835, wrote: “I was determined to put an end to the mission system at all hazards in order that the land could be acquired by private individuals.” Pico would take over the ranches of Santa Margarita, Las Flores and Temecula for his own use, and to give to his brother and friends.

On March 18, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln signed a proclamation giving the Mission San Luis Rey back to the Catholic Church. However, the proclamation only returned the Mission buildings and 64 acres.

In 1847 Jean Baptiste Charbonneau, the son of Sacajawea served as Alcalde (magistrate or mayor) of the Mission San Luis Rey in 1847. He was appointed this position from Col. John D. Stevenson, making him the authority over the region.

The 1860 U.S. Census recorded 316 people within the district of the San Luis Rey Township. Those residents had been using materials from the Mission to build their own homes, including roof tiles and wooden beams. Left exposed to the rain and elements, the Mission walls soon eroded, columns collapsed. On March 18, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln signed a proclamation giving the Mission San Luis Rey back to the Catholic Church. However, the proclamation only returned the Mission buildings and 64 acres.

The Mission San Luis Rey was still a beautiful sight to behold even with its roof collapsed and large portions of its arched columns gone. One visitor to the Mission noted that “the interior of the church is in striking contrast to the exterior. It is bright with beautiful frescos that have stood the test of time remarkably well.” It attracted curious visitors from all over the area and in 1879 the San Diego Union reported the while Mission was “in ruins” that mass was still “said occasionally here by Rev. Fr. Mut of San Juan Capistrano.”

The San Luis Rey Star newspaper reported in 1881 that “There is some talk in our valley of a grand ball to be given soon in order to raise funds for making repairs on the Old Mission buildings at this place. This is a good move and should be encouraged by all. Let us try and preserve this remnant of past history.”

In 1888 the South Oceanside Diamond echoed these sentiments while the Mission continued to deteriorate. “Some steps should be taken to preserve the old mission at San Luis Rey. Before long all the old missions will disappear. We will know but little about them save upon canvas or fragmentary records. These crumbling monuments of the earlier settlement and civilization of California deserve preservation.”

Finally, word came in 1892 that the Mission San Luis Rey would be restored. Father Joseph Jeremiah O’Keefe arrived in early 1893 to oversee the restoration of the historic mission. O’Keefe was a native of Ireland, coming to San Francisco as a boy. He was ordained as a priest in 1868 and stationed at Mission Santa Barbara for nearly twenty-five years before coming to San Luis Rey. Fluent in both English and Spanish, he spoke both with an Irish brogue. With a small budget of $5,000 O’Keefe set to restore the King of Missions to its former glory. Repairs were extensive and rebuilding was an arduous task. Roofs had to be repaired, walls reinforced. On May 12, 1893, the Mission church was rededicated with more than 300 people in attendance but work had just begun. The original quadrangle was only rebuilt to about one-fourth the size of the original, completed in 1905. On July 25, 1913, a new statute was blessed and hoisted into its niche over the main entrance to the church.

Work continued for decades and continues to this day to maintain this historic building. In 2012 the roof was removed from the chapel for earthquake retrofitting. Each roof tile had to be taken off and set carefully aside for replacement when the work was done. It did not go unnoticed by historians that many of those tiles had been placed there in 1892 when the first restoration began.

The Mission San Luis Rey was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1970 and is one of the most visited sites in Oceanside.

multi-generational businesses

HARBOR FISH & CHIPS

On July 3, 1969, Sally McWha started Harbor Fish & Chips in the Harbor Village fish market she owned with her husband Doug. Doug and Sally had three children, Diana, Sue and Carl. All three had a part in the family business. Terry Cross, an Oceanside local, married his high school sweetheart Sue McWha during his senior year at Oceanside High School. He became an integral part of the Harbor Fish & Chips family, even supplying the growing business with fish caught commercially out of the Oceanside Harbor. In 1982, Terry and Sue purchased Harbor Fish & Chips from the family. With two young girls, Mona and Sheri, they continued the family tradition. Sue, unfortunately, passed away from cancer in 1986, giving Terry sole ownership until his passing in March 2023.

Today the restaurant is still owned and operated by Terry and Sue’s two daughters Mona and Sheri. The sisters still use Grandma Sally’s original recipes for cocktail and tartar sauce and, of course, her famous coleslaw dressing. They are excited to keep the 50year family tradition going as the longest standing restaurant in the Oceanside Harbor.

Learn more about Harbor Fish and Chips by visiting www.harborfishandchips.net.

RIP Terry Cross 1952-2023

Born, Lived, Died, Oside. A True Oceanside Local.

“Once a Pirate Always a Pirate”

NANA AND POP POP’S SWEET SHOP

Owned and operated by the Drake family, Nana and Pop Pop’s Sweet Shop opened in 1999. In 2021, David and Sharon Drake retired leaving the shop to their daughter, Christina, and her husband, Randy. Christina and Randy then hired their daughter, Kayln, and teenage son, Austin. With 14 years experience behind the counter, Kayln currently acts as the restaurant’s manager while Austin is a newbie to the family business. Together, the family is beyond excited to please their customers.

The shop’s mission is to bring smiles to kids of every age. They offer almost 40 ice cream flavors, old-fashioned candy, taffy, and seasonally handmade carmel apples and fudge (September - April). New treats added this year include chocolate-dipped menu items, a made-from-scratch Choco Taco, and chocolate dipped ice cream sandwiches. A Sailboat Sundae, which is a doublescoop, waffle boat sundae with decorative sails and a wooden ore, and a Sand Bucket Sundae, which is a single-scoop waffle cone sundae in a sand bucket topped with Graham Cracker sand and gummy worms dug out with a shovel spoon, will be hitting the menu summer 2023!

Additionally, Nana and Pop Pop’s Sweet Shop is working on the installation of vending machines in local businesses. Proceeds from these vending machines will go directly to UC Irvine’s Medical, Melanoma Cancer Research and Trials. After David and Sharon’s eldest daughter passed in 2018 from Melanoma, the shop made it their mission to support organizations searching for a cure.

Nana and Pop Pop’s Sweet Shop is located in the Oceanside Harbor. Find out more at www. osidesweets.com.

Pj Graphics

Helen and Tom Hartley have owned PJ Graphics since 1975. They have 2 children, Debbi and Lance, who got their education through the Oceanside School District. Debbi and her family live in Seattle area, while Lance stayed local and went to Long Beach State majoring in business. He joined the family business and has taken a lead role in expanding the company services. He was instrumental in adding screen printing and our t-shirts and sweatshirt designs, many of which can be seen by students around the North County showing their school pride. During COVID, he came up with the idea to create graduation banners and yard signs. Orders came in from all around the country and are still being produced today. Lance also provides clients with custom car wrap designs, print, and installation. Tom and Helen are still working, but enjoy Lance taking over ownership of the company. It will be interesting to see what new services/products are in PJ Graphics future.

PJ Graphics is a veteran family-owned business. Their mission is simple: to provide high-quality services for their valued clients. The team at PJ Graphics goes above and beyond to cater to each project’s specific needs. They strive to build lasting relationships with their clients to fulfill their needs now and in the future.

For more information or general inquiries, please visit www.pjgraphics.com.

The Privateer Coal Fire Pizza

The Privateer Coal Fire Pizza is a local family-owned restaurant using the freshest ingredients, a 100% coal fire oven, cold craft beers and the largest selection of wines in North County. At the Privateer, you’ll find every menu item is handled with ultimate care and pride. Their gourmet appetizers, salads, soups, specialty dishes, pizza pies and desserts are made from scratch with organic greens, spices, veggies and herbs grown in Oceanside’s local neighborhood Cyclops Farms - by local farmer Luke Girling, Palmquist Elementary, South “O” Elementary and Lincoln Middle School. Chef Samantha updates their bi-annual menus for Spring and Fall based on the freshest seasonal ingredients. The Privateer is the one and only gourmet pizza restaurant in Southern California with the largest coal-fired oven using 100% coal fire, no gas for crisp Neapolitan-style pizzas, coal fire wings, baked pastas and more.

After the restaurant built itself back up post-Covid, owner Charlie Anderson and his wife planned to retire and move to Mexico. They made a simple offer to their son, Sage Anderson, the restaurant’s daily General Manager. Sage decided to make the Privateer a legacy business taking on the role of General Manager/ Owner. Now, three years later, the business is doing better than ever under Captain Sage’s management. Charlie and his wife couldn’t be more proud of him and the entire Privateer family who truly supported them during their life changing transition. Sage has also taken on Charlie’s board position at Visit Oceanside and continues to represent Oceanside’s local restaurant industry.

The Privateer Coal Fire Pizza is located at 1706 S. Coast Hwy. Oceanside, CA 92054. Check out their full menu at www.theprivateercoalfirepizza.com.

Local Twins Graduate Together at MiraCosta College Ceremony Nearly 50 Years After Dropping Out of High School

MiraCosta College today announced its latest Adult High School graduating class includes a set of twin sisters, Carol Baker and Carolyn Baker-Lowery, who walked across the stage together on Thursday, May 25, 2023. Carol and Carolyn decided to return to school years ago and have studied side-by-side so that they could receive their diplomas together, nearly 50 years since they left high school as teenagers.

“We have been looking forward to this moment for a long time,” shared Carolyn. “It will be one of the best days of our lives and we can’t wait to be up there and look out into the crowd to see our children and grandchildren.” From an early age, Carol and Carolyn have been inseparable. Their mother owned a Winchell’s Donut House, and when they were young, they would fold boxes to help with the business. As they grew older, they graduated to work the service counter on Friday and Saturday nights while trying to keep up with their education. Yet despite being hard workers and social children, schoolwork always came as a challenge.

Frontwave Credit Union Honored with 13 Marketing Awards

Frontwave Credit Union was recently honored with eight Diamond Awards from the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) Marketing & Business Development Council and five bronze awards from the American Advertising Federation of San Diego. Both organizations honored Frontwave for excellence in marketing, advertising, branding, and business development.

“It’s an honor to be recognized among such talented competitors and stand out for the creative and innovative work showcasing how Frontwave makes financial dreams come true for our Members,” said Todd Kern, Chief Experience Officer for Frontwave Credit Union. “I’m incredibly proud of our team for continuing to elevate and evolve our brand in a way that resonates with our Members and our community, while contributing to the continued growth of the credit union.”

Rep. Mike Levin Announces Winner of 2023 Congressional Art Competition

U.S. Representative Mike Levin (CA-49) announced that Pacific Ridge School student Ethan Heck, with his piece titled “Churn”, is the winner of the 2023 Congressional Art Competition for California’s 49th Congressional District.

Additionally, Rep. Levin announced that Oceanside High School student Jesse Lopez Garcia, with his piece titled “ Slow Motion ” won second place; La Costa Canyon High School student Sienna Lawrence, with her piece titled “The Thrift Store” won third place; and Carlsbad High School student Hailey Frescas-Flores, with her piece titled “ Star Sick” received the most votes on Rep. Levin’s Facebook page to be the fan favorite.

TrueCare Opens Older Adult Health Center in North San Diego County, Delivering Personalized Whole-Person Care

TrueCare, a nonprofit community health center serving North San Diego and South Riverside Counties, has opened the TrueCare Older Adult Health Center in West San Marcos. The new location is designed to provide a unique care experience for treating adults aged 50-plus with complex and chronic health conditions.

Thomas, who has doctoral degrees in nursing practice and nursing education science, serves as co-program director and chief of advanced practice for critical care medicine at Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista.

The CANP award recognizes several of Thomas’ recent accomplishments. She led Scripps’ efforts to implement a novel “model ICU care” approach, which includes multidisciplinary patient care teams and standardized, collaborative processes for improved efficiency and consistency. Following the introduction of this new approach, the number of days patients spend on ventilators and their overall length of stay in the ICU have both decreased.

Boys & Girls Clubs of America President & CEO, Jim Clark, Visits Boys and Girls Clubs of Oceanside

The President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Jim Clark, visited Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside on Tuesday this week for an official visit and tour of the Club.

TrueCare’s Older Adult Health Center is a progressive step towards addressing the county’s growing older adult population. Every day, more than 10,000 people turn 65 years old in the United States, and by 2035, it is projected that San Diego County will experience an increase of nearly 60% in its senior residents. For over 50 years, TrueCare has been caring for older adults through their primary care and adult medicine services across the community health center’s clinics. The Older Adult Health Center augments TrueCare’s capacity for serving more seniors – a majority who are on Medicare – with quality, compassionate, and culturally sensitive care.

Scripps Leader Receives Nurse Practitioner of Distinction Award

The California Association for Nurse Practitioners has selected Charlotte Thomas, an intensive care unit nurse practitioner with Scripps Health, as the recipient of its 2023 Nurse Practitioner of Distinction Award. Thomas received the honor at CANP’s annual educational conference on March 16 in Monterey, Calif.

CEO, Jim Clark was on a West Coast Tour, visiting all Boys & Girls Clubs along the western coast to show appreciation and support for the ongoing efforts that the clubs are doing for the youth we serve. Clark directs a 115-year-old network of 4,700 Boys & Girls Clubs that serve 4.6 million young people annually in all 50 states and on U.S. military installations worldwide.

Clark made a stop at Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside mid-day and met with Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside CEO, Jodi Diamond; Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside Board members: Gigi Gleason, Pablo Holguin, Robbie Hass, and Tori Fishinger; Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito CEO, MarinekeVandervort, and staff from Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside to tour the facility, learn about new partnerships, and congratulate the team for outstanding efforts in supporting our members in Oceanside.