20 minute read
COASTAL EXPOSURES
Coastal Exposures
THE OSIDER JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021
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Early morning lineup at the pier. Photo by Steve Barnard
Coastal Exposures
THE OSIDER JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021
Cold Moon rising this past December. Photo by Zach Cordner
Oceanside's Finest
GUMARO ESCARCEGA
WORDS: ELIZABETH SCHWARTZE PHOTO: ZACH CORDNER
The engineering of downtown Oceanside is more than buildings, it’s also the collaboration of locals, business, and organizations—it’s the engineering of an overall destination. Since 2013, MainStreet Oceanside Program Manager Gumaro Escarcega has worked tirelessly engineering the physical and ethereal components of downtown to maintain its identity, and support local businesses. Gumaro was raised in Greenfield, California, a small agricultural town in Monterey County. He was surrounded by a supportive network of friends and family that taught him the value of hard work, giving him a steadfast work ethic. He fell in love with Oceanside while visiting in his youth, hoping to make it his home some day. That dream became a reality when he attended San Diego State University (SDSU), and earned a degree in Public Administration with a minor in Spanish. Gumaro never left the county and found a career path centered around Oceanside.
As part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Main Street America connects downtowns throughout the nation with a four-point approach to economic revitalization. The heartbeat of thier programs are small business owners. It’s the small business owners that invest their livelihood and passion into their business. Gumaro prides himself on his relationships and collaborations to represent each and every small business owner in his downtown district. As a small business owner of Embroidery Image, he employs his personal knowledge of small business, his experience with economic revitalization, and his work ethic to elevate the heartbeat of Oceanside.
When Gumaro was recruited by MainStreet Oceanside from his Executive Director role at the Vista Village Business Association, downtown Oceanside was poised and ready to embrace an organized approach to revitalization. The small business owners and organizers needed a Program Manager—someone to collaborate all the vested interests and see Oceanside thrive. By 2000, it was clear that the city wanted to brush off its gritty image, and transform into a bustling, yet authentic,
beach city destination. As it became businessfriendly and welcomed diverse businesses, the upward trend of locally-owned small businesses proliferated, including a vibrant restaurant scene. Locals were investing in their city, and supporting each other’s dreams—slowly wiping out the blight, and replacing it with unique businesses that offer an experience online retailers cannot. Gumaro prides himself on his collaboration since day one on the job. “I had businesses knocking on my window saying we need to get this going!” said Gumaro from the start. He’s spent the better half of seven years connecting businesses with opportunities. He works closely with the City of Oceanside, Visit Oceanside, and the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce.
As with most everything in 2020, MainStreet Oceanside and Gumaro have had to pivot and support local businesses under unprecedented circumstances due to the global pandemic from COVID-19. The Oceanside Small Business Grant has helped many downtown businesses. Setting sights on a more convivial 2021, the future is bright for downtown Oceanside. “There’s a lot of great things happening in the future, and our goal is to see our businesses survive,” projected Gumaro. In 2021, MainStreet Oceanside is implementing infrastructure, including archview signage, and wayfinding signs downtown Oceanside. There’ll be additional services including regular litter removal, security patrols, and power washing.
Since 2007, Thursday’s successful Sunset Market provided Oceanside with its first regularlyscheduled, family-friendly event in downtown Oceanside. MainStreet Oceanside now runs Thursday’s Farmers Market, Art That Excites, Downtown Ambassador Program, Taste of Oceanside, Beach Services, and many more. Locally, Gumaro is on the board of KOCT, and the board of the Oceanside Cultural District. He also oversees responsibilities as a chair of the California MainStreet Alliance. Gumaro’s invested in Oceanside both personally and professionally, overseeing its mindful engineering and growth as one of Oceanside’s Finest.
GreenO
THE OSIDER JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021
RING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH ZERO WASTE!
Each new year not only prompts us to create resolutions and goals for the future, but also leads us to reflect on what has been achieved in years past. Although 2020 brought a lot of uncertainty about what the future brings, one thing you can always count on is the Green Oceanside team’s commitment to protecting the environment and ensuring our City is consistently moving closer to zero waste.
Over the last decade, the City of Oceanside has been leading the region in environmental action with the adoption of the initial Zero Waste Resolution in 2010, which created a goal to achieve a 75-90% diversion rate by the end of 2020. To reach this goal, the City created the Zero Waste Strategic Management Plan (Zero Waste Plan) to guide the development of numerous policies, programs, initiatives, and community events, which encompassed some of the following successes:
Citywide recycling services for businesses, residents, and City facilities. Residents received blue carts for all types of recyclable materials, instead of sorting everything into individual crates on service day.
Addition of public recycling along the harbor, coastal corridor, City parks, and in the downtown district.
Implementation of the Zero Waste Schools Program in partnership with Oceanside Unified School District, which expanded recycling at all school locations.
Adoption of a citywide Environmental Preferable Purchasing and Practices Policy.
Creation of take-back programs for household hazardous waste, including propane cylinder and used oil exchange events, pharmaceutical and sharps drop-off locations, and curbside e-waste recycling services from the convenience of your home.
Expansion of reusable programs and services such as bi-annual Donation Weeks in support of local veterans. Creation of the Green Oceanside Business Network to celebrate and inspire green business practices and initiatives.
Development and construction of the City’s Green Oceanside Kitchen facility, which expanded food recovery capacity for North County, and provided additional job training and culinary arts training opportunities.
To jumpstart 2021 and the next decade of Green Oceanside programming, the City has updated its Zero Waste Plan to celebrate the work already accomplished and move Oceanside closer to zero waste. You may have attended one (or both!) of the Zero Waste Plan Community Workshops throughout the fall of 2020, or even participated in the online Zero Waste Plan Survey to help shape future goals and programming.
In 2021, and beyond, you can look forward to new events, programming, virtual engagement, and activities that prioritize the health of our environment, while encouraging the community to come together and take action for a cleaner, more beautiful Oceanside.
Visit GreenOceanside.org to learn more about all of the City’s Environmental Programs, Zero Waste Plan, current events, and resources that can help you protect our planet for generations to come and take action for zero waste.
Hidden Gems
THE OSIDER JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021
BLISS TEA & TREATS
WORDS: ALONDRA FIGUEROA PHOTOS: ZACH CORDNER
Beautiful delicacies and wonderful, exotic teas awaken each of your senses upon entering Bliss Tea & Treats located in downtown right on Mission Avenue. It’s a lovely little shop tucked between Asylum Skate Shop and Harney Sushi. You really have completely transformed into a scene from Alice in to see it for yourself to grasp the level of whimsical Wonderland and my heart skipped a beat! Top-tofun brought to Oceanside by owner Rushell Gordon bottom and even head-to-toe, Rushell’s attention to and her executive chef and brother Alfonso Gordon detail is spectacular and at Bliss they strive to create Jr. I promise that you’ll be pleasantly surprised! a memorable experience. They were even dressed
Like many Osiders, it was their father’s time in as The Hatter and the Rabbit—it was so fun and the military that briefly brought this dynamic duo to adorably well planned for Halloween! Oceanside as children. When their parents retired We had the chance to see them in action hosting to Oceanside, Bliss owner Rushell Gordon decided a birthday party featuring the Kid Tea Experience she wanted a change of that comes with two sandvenue from business life wiches, scones, and an in LA and moved to our “Anytime you come in contact with assortment of desserts, little city about nine years our brand Bliss, from the moment fruit tea, or lemonade. It ago. Rushell always loved you hear about us to when you was decadent! All the girls tea, but began to think walk in, we want it to be a very were treated like queens, about it as a family busi- special experience” and served a beautiful ness a few years ago tower of treats to enjoy when she was enjoying along with their teas or her nightly tea with her daughter, Iris. “Does everyone lemonade—such a memorable and unique way to drink tea at night?” asked Iris. “I don’t know, but celebrate the ones you love! They also have the Bliss maybe we should start a tea business,” said Rushell. Tea Experience that consists of three sandwiches, Iris then responded with, “And we have treats as salad, scone, assorted desserts, and pot of tea for well!” Iris also designed the company logo and the big girls and boys to enjoy as well. Which brings named the store after their dog Bliss. Bringing this me to their awe-inspiring Mocktails … absolutely vision forth really has been a whole family affair! beautiful to look at and even better to drink! The
We applaud their effort, as it’s clear upon entering Butterfly lemonade is so refreshing and topped with that every detail has been meticulously chosen for striking dark purple Butterfly Pea Flower tea that the particular theme. When we visited in October, it gives the drink a mesmerizing ombre effect. It’s a was the Mad Hatter Tea Party! The interior had been personal favorite!
Owner Rushell Gordon and executive chef Alfonso Gordon Jr.
Their delightful menu was brought to life by executive chef, Alfonso. It’s filled with artisan sandwiches that boast ingredients like prosciutto, fig, and feta if you’re feeling fancy, or fan favorites like the perfect grilled cheese to please everyone in your party.
Rushell really sees Bliss as an international brand and a space that many parts of the community can benefit from. They offer an array of lively events and strongly support the Arts in the community. This past December, they partnered with the Southern California Shakespeare festival guild to present an adaptation of Shakespeare’s comedy Twelfth Night. They also offered an interactive Sip & Paint night where you could enjoy a fabulous Mocktail, while painting your own snowman!
Bliss Tea & Treats is a breath of fresh air that ushers in more than a new place to eat. It’s something so different and all the elements culminate to give the client a unique experience that they’ll remember. Be sure to swing by and see what they have in store for Oceanside next!
Bliss Tea & Treats 301 Mission Avenue #101 (442) 500-4796 blissteatreats.com @bliss_teatreats
Here for You. Here for Good. SCRIPPS MEDICAL CENTER IN OCEANSIDE
Scripps Medical Center, Jefferson, brings Scripps trusted care to you and your family at our newest North County location. From our award-winning primary and specialty care to our urgent care and walk-in express clinic, we want to make it convenient and easy for you to get the care you need, when you need it. We’re here for good.
Scripps Medical Center, Jefferson
2205 Vista Way Oceanside, CA 92054 Services include:
• Primary care, including internal and family medicine, pediatrics, and obstetrics and gynecology with
Scripps Coastal Medical Center • Specialty care, including orthopedics, cardiology, perinatology, neurology, ophthalmology and more, with
Scripps Clinic • Urgent Care • Scripps HealthExpress walk-in care • Scripps MD Anderson Cancer Center • Ambulatory Surgery Center (opening spring 2021) • Pharmacy • Laboratory and imaging services
Click. Call. Come See Us. With in-person and virtual appointments you can even schedule online, Scripps makes it easy to get all your care in one convenient location. Your health and safety are always our top priorities, and we have precautions in place to help prevent COVID-19.
To learn more and watch a virtual tour, visit Scripps.org/JeffersonOpen.
Active O
THE OSIDER JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021
BA R E FOOT MOV E R S
WORDS: JAMEY STONE PHOTOS: ZACH CORDNER
It was just over a year ago when I first noticed
this new face at Buccaneer Beach Park. While throwing the ball with my dog Bowie, I saw this longhaired super fit man always working out. What stood out about this guy was the odd way he carried himself. Day after day, I’d see him doing these strange exercises—balancing on fences, doing yoga-like stretches, but in a fluid motion. He was shifting weight from different points of balance, and at the same time using his natural surroundings to aid in his routine.
After watching him for weeks, one day I asked him about these movements he was performing. He calmingly replied that his name was Rodrigo and that he taught natural fitness for people 40-andover who need to re-acquaint themselves with their bodies, as they grow older. He continued by explaining that everything humans have done since the beginning of time has been based on our own weight and points of contact from the ground up. Movement as simple as getting up off the ground is something we do less and less as we get older. Our muscles start to cheat on us. Maybe it’s an old nagging injury or too much time at a desk job. Whatever it is, we need to keep our bodies moving naturally every day to maintain strength, flexibility, and balance. Enter Barefoot Movers natural fitness program. A former competitive tennis player from Argentina, Rodrigo Gallego built a customized program utilizing multiple disciplines that include, yoga, cross training, and animal flow movement. Being 49 at the time and nursing many old skateboarding injuries myself (with twenty years behind a desk), and being way out of shape, I started the program figuring it’s now or never at this point, so why not give it a try?
Rodrigo really blew me away. Instead of taking my money and throwing me into a group class that’d be way over my level, he did three personal classes with me to assess my body and what needed the most attention. The level of attention he gives each client is what makes the program so special. He actually really cares and wants to share his knowledge, so we can live a healthy and active life well into our retirement years. The best part is that you can do his classes weekly online through Zoom live in the park, or you can do what my wife does and do a combination of both. If you miss a class, you can just hit Facebook where all the classes live in video form.
I can honestly say that Barefoot Movers has been the most life-changing thing I’ve ever done besides starting a family. I’m only a year in and my body is much stronger, more flexible, and my balance is getting sharper every week. Thanks, Rodrigo. I’m surfing better than ever and even getting back on the old skateboard again.
TEN Things You Didn’t Know About Oceanside in the 1910s
WORDS: KRISTI HAWTHORNE PHOTOS COURTESY OF OCEANSIDE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
As the City of Oceanside entered into 1910, the population was just under 650 people. The decade brought improved living standards to many as homes added electricity, indoor plumbing, and the telephone. The popularity of the automobile grew steadily and day trips from visitors to Oceanside from the inland areas were made easier with new roads. While prosperity seemed certain, the 1910s also brought great turmoil to Oceanside: a 100-year flood, a World War, and a pandemic.
Cars racing on the beach just north of the Pier, circa 1910.
J.E. Jones Hardware Rosicrucian Fellowship entrance
1. In 1910, the Oceanside City Council decided to have the hitching posts that lined Second Street (Mission Avenue) removed and have them relocated, so that horses would be hitched on side streets instead, making way for the automobile. In addition, the council added a subdivision to the north with the Hill Street Annex. This area brought the city limit to the San Luis Rey River Bridge.
2. Oceanside advertised its amenities in the Oceanside Blade, including the affordability of living here in 1910: “House rents are not high. A small cottage rents for from $8 to $12 per month, while larger houses bring $15 to $20. Water rental in Oceanside for the ordinary family need not exceed one dollar per month, when the water is only used for domestic purposes. Electricity for lighting costs 20 cents per thousand watts, and most of the householders use that method of lighting their homes.” 3. In 1911, Max and Augustus Heindel arrived in Oceanside and decided to establish the headquarters of the Rosicrucian Fellowship. They purchased a 40-acre tract for $100 an acre and began construction of a series of buildings within their compound. The religious order brought international visitors from around the world to Oceanside.
4. Joseph E. Jones began excavation and construction of a new building at the southeast corner of Second and Hill Streets (Mission Avenue and Coast Highway). This two-story structure included a basement, and was a decidedly modern addition to downtown Oceanside. The Oceanside Blade newspaper reported on June 7, 1913: “J. E. Jones this week began the transfer of his hardware business to his new building on the corner of Second and Hill. The final touches were put on the new building the first of the week and the last of the work marks the completion of one of the best, if not the best, business block in San Diego County outside the city of San Diego. The building, 85 x 100 feet in size, is of reinforced concrete construction throughout, walls, and floors being of this enduring material strengthened with steel ribs. There are two stories and a basement, the latter being the entire size of the building and prepared and fitted especially for its use in the display and storage of hardware and implements. The first floor is the main store and here the finish and fittings are the very finest and most substantial to be had, everything being arranged for the convenient transaction of business.”
5. Barney Oldfield, the first man to drive a car at 60 miles per hour on a circular track, participated in a race from Los Angeles to Phoenix, driving through Oceanside via Hill Street (Coast Highway) and thrilling locals. Oldfield would later race and win the Indianapolis 500. Automobile racing became a popular pastime and racers took advantage of the beaches, which were wide enough to race from Oceanside to Del Mar.
The Great Flood of 1916 destroyed auto and train bridges over the San Luis Rey River.
During World War I, eleven hundred troops from the 144th Field Artillery occupied a large campsite on the beach in North Oceanside. to come up with a slogan for Oceanside. Residents wrote in some odd suggestions, including: “The Choo Choo City of Destiny;” “All Lines Lead to Oceanside and Good Fishing;” “Oceanside, the Pearl of the Beach;” and “Oceanside, The Peach on the Beach.” The Fourth of July Committee made the final choice, and the winner of the slogan contest was announced: Mrs. Hugh Bradley, with the unlikely choice of “Oceanside, ’Twixt Vale, and Tide.” She won $3.00 for her winning submission. during the month of January. In Oceanside, the swollen San Luis Rey River, filled with debris, wiped out auto and train bridges, mangled railroad tracks, and many of the roads were destroyed. Countywide over twenty people were killed, including three
residents of the San Luis Rey Valley. Oceanside’s beaches were filled with trees from as far away as Palomar, as well as the wreckage of many homes and barns in the valley, and dead livestock. The Oceanside Pier was used to bring in supplies to the community until the railroad and auto bridges over the San Luis Rey River could be rebuilt. Well, Escondido celebrated Grape Day each year, so Oceanside decided to celebrate beans—in particular, Lima Beans that were grown by many in small gardens and large farms. That meant acres and acres of beans. The unlikely event was a huge success when nearly 5,000 people from all over San Diego County came to Oceanside. The celebration opened with a tug of war between the Pala Indians and the Oceanside Bean Growers. Dinner was served at the municipal kitchen on the beach, which took four people two full days to prepare. Other events included the ladies’ nail driving contest, the mile foot race, the 50-yard dash, egg race, sack race, and bicycle race.
9. In 1917, President Woodrow Wilson declared war on Germany and joined the Allies in World War I. Trains loaded with soldiers went through Oceanside on their way to war, and citizens gathered at the depot to wish them well as they passed through town. Eleven hundred men of the 144th Field Artillery set up tents and for ten days occupied a large campsite on the beach in North Oceanside. Also in response to the war, the government established emergency airfields in and around Oceanside, including one on a large vacant lot
6. In the spring of 1913, the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce held a contest asking citizens
7. In 1916, a tremendous flood impacted San Diego County when over ten inches of rain fell
8. On September 3, 1917, Oceanside held its first Bean Day. Why Bean Day, you say? on South Ditmar Street. 10. Although World War I ended in November of 1918, the deadly influenza or “Spanish Flu” had spread around the globe, killing millions worldwide. Oceanside closed schools and churches, and put an end to public gatherings for four weeks and closed again temporarily as needed. Masks of six layers of gauze were required to be worn. While Oceanside had several cases of influenza, the more serious outbreak was in Los Angeles. The Oceanside Blade reported in 1919: “Everyone is urged to take all precautions and refrain from going to those places where the disease is known to be present, more particularly Los Angeles. At present there is no likelihood and no need of any measures other than the regular quarantine of cases, as they appear. The Health Officer suggests that the present is a good time to get vaccinated. He has a fresh supply of vaccine and will be at his office evenings by appointment to vaccinate those who may wish it.”
As the eventful decade came to end, Oceanside went into 1920 with hope for the future.
