23 minute read
COMMUNITY • North County LGBTQ Resource Center
Community
THE OSIDER MARCH / APRIL 2022
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NORTH COUNTY LGBTQ CENTER
WORDS: ALONDRA FIGUEROA
Just some of the NC Resource Center's amazing staff from (L to R): Allan Acevedo, Ieea Provonost, Max Disposti, Lisa Nava, and Jeri Nicolas.
Something we truly love about Oceanside is how diverse our community really is. We have so many established groups and ethnicities that help create a rich tapestry we all call home. This issue, we revisit the North County LGBTQ Center to commemorate the tenth anniversary of it’s opening. The team of amazing staff do so much for the Oceanside community that we wanted to highlight and share some of the new exciting things they’re doing!
What began as the dream of a small grass roots group to create a supportive safe space for a burgeoning LGBTQ community has blossomed into a thriving hub for many patrons that flock from all over San Diego County. I was thrilled to sit down with the man, the myth, the legend, and the center’s Executive Director Max Disposti, who gave me the lowdown on all the awesome things happening right now.
When asked about the changes in the center since it’s opening, Max was quick to say, “Opening the resource center forced us to do better and much more because the needs in the community were much greater than what we originally expected!” He shared that one thing that has changed is that they finally put LGBTQ visibility on the map in North County. They were a small volunteer staff, and have now grown into an organization with ten staff members that keeps growing and providing more services. “We became specialized in delivering LGBTQ services to North San Diego County,” said Max proudly.
At the last center, it was more about providing a safe space for support groups and creating visibility. Now, they’ve grown into advocates for those in the gay community seeking health and behavioral health care. They’ve forged relationships with school communities to support students suffering from bullying. They became the only local providers for LGBTQ awareness training. That includes law enforcement in Oceanside, as well as Escondido, Carlsbad, and private companies that are looking to provide much needed awareness training for their employees and stakeholders.
The center also wanted to focus on the homelessness problem that often affects the gay community at an early age, as they may be rejected by their families due to their sexual orientation or gender issues. It’s estimated that 40-percent of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ. In response to this need, they created Unicorn Homes—a program that focuses on supporting youth and families that have had problems at home, and may have run away, or are dealing with insecure housing. The program works on reunification for these families—if it’s possible and safe to do so. They can offer short term support in the coming out process or youth can be placed in a safe home where they can be given the space and love they need to be themselves. Families often receive education on several levels and learn how to support their child within their family system. During this pandemic, they’ve helped almost 50 families with these tough issues. The coming out process can be really hard on both parents and kids, and it’s fantastic that the center is leading the way in keeping families together!
Over the past ten years, the center’s staff has gained expertise, as they’ve served over 700 trans youth. They’ve learned how to create trauma informed services at the center, but also to become the voice of these trans youth in the system. For instance, LGBTQ youth are highly targeted for human trafficking and they wanted to find out why and how. The center has also become the only LGBTQ center in California that has been focusing their work on human trafficking prevention for this specific population.
Center staff has trained the likes of the FBI
and San Diego District Attorney’s office to share how the lack of information for gay youth creates a void. LGBTQ youth often don’t get their questions answered in regards to their sexual identity. They may look to other people for answers, which in turn can lead them into the wrong hands where they can be taken advantage of or mistreated. The center has become a strong voice and provider of resources for trafficking survivors. They have worked hard to create relationships within the community, so they can not only advise and inform, but also create new systems in place so things can be better for LGBTQ youth in San Diego County. Their work is truly life changing!
A huge need that the center has helped address is mental health support. They currently have five therapists that specialize in trans and gay issues, and are providing free therapy to over 60 clients. We’re so lucky to have these services available in our city! Another important community need that the center has tried to support is food insecurity. Every Friday their new program, Foodies and Goodies, distributes food to a variety of folks who are struggling to make ends meet. Many are seniors or homeless youth that without intervention would lack meals. The pandemic has been difficult for so many people, and this is a great resource for our community.
In the past ten years, the center has really focused on individualizing their interventions, while also diversifying their growth. Their diversification of services has helped them push forward social injustice driven practices throughout our county. Disposti shared, “Our goal is not only to help others, but to also challenge ourselves to do better and be more of a reflection of the community we serve.” This should be the gold standard of all agencies!
The NC Resource Center is growing rapidly, and is looking to invest in a larger location to meet the evolving needs of North County. We support all the great work that the center is doing daily, and you can also show your support by attending one of their fun events, such as the upcoming Pride by the Beach, which will resume in person this year on June 11th, 2022!
Images from the NC Resource Center's 2021 Gala Event. Photos by Shannon Bailey
The North County LGBTQ Resource Center is an important asset to our community and if you'd like to help them continue to grow, please feel free to visit their website ncresourcecenter.org and click on the “donate” button
North County LGBTQ Resource Center 3220 Mission Avenue Suite #2 (760) 994-1690 ncresourcecenter.org
Cory Juneau, Backside Noseblunt Slide, Valley Ditch, 2017
“It’s funny—throughout all the years I worked at TWS in the Oceanside Valley (1989-2003), I rarely got to photograph any of the ditches that have been there forever. I’m thinking that the type of skating in the 1990s wasn’t really about riding ditches. That being said, skaters from all around the globe have been annihilating the steep hip on this suburban treasure for the last few years.”
Through The Lens: Dave Swift
Master Documenter of Oceanside Skateboarding
WORDS: AARON SCHMIDT
In the world of skateboarding, photographer Dave Swift is a living legend. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Dave moved to Rancho Bernardo, California when he was just three years old. He grew up in RB and got into skateboarding—leading him to the famous Del Mar Skate Ranch, where he was a local standout with his skills on the board.
“By the time I was fourteen, I was taking the bus from Rancho Bernardo to Del Mar until it closed its doors in 1987. Well, I didn’t take the bus there until 1987—I was actually older then and had a driver’s license by that time,” explained Dave. “I worked at a Vons grocery store in Solana Beach for a long time while I was skating.” A few years later, Dave got his start as an editorial assistant at TransWorld SKATEboarding Magazine in 1989—back when TWS was located in the valley on Airport Road.
“Basically, I got hired at TWS because somebody quit. Someone had told me about the job and that I should interview. I wasn’t a photographer at the time. I was going to school at Palomar College, but I had wrote a few things for Poweredge Magazine, which was a skateboard magazine going on at the same time as TWS. So I went and interviewed with this guy Carl West to be an editorial assistant, which I had no idea how to do because I’d never used a computer,” said Dave. “To my surprise, I got hired and started working in two days. My first assignment was to transcribe three cassette tapes of an Eric Dressen interview. By the time I finished those three 90 minute tapes—I could use a computer, and a transcribing machine.”
After getting hired at TWS, Swift eventually moved to Oceanside in 1993, rented a house, and began his family life. “Back then, I used to travel a lot with O (Otis Bartholomew) a lot before I shot photos. I’d go to contests with O, and he was the photographer and I was the writer. But it was boring—either I was just skating, on the sidelines, or I was in the office. To me it was like, “What does being in a office have to do with skateboarding?” So the easiest or best way to get out of there was to pick up a camera. I’d always been interested in photography, but I never had the money or anyone to help me figure out how to do it. So one day, I asked Grant [Brittain] if I could borrow or use one of his old cameras there at the office. He reluctantly said “yes” and the rest is history,” smiled Dave. “I’d skip out of work around 2:30pm everyday and go to the skatepark under the guise that I was going to shoot photographs.”
Dave quickly learned the editorial trade and supremely dialed in his skate photography, eventually becoming Editor In Chief of TWS in 1994. That gig lasted for him until 2003, when he left TransWorld
Barefoot Mike, Coping Burner, South O, 2017.
“Regular weekly sessions for the locals have been going on at BF Mike’s for a lot of years, and it seems the neighbors don’t mind at all. This backyard made-to-skate is not for the timid as it takes some mighty quick reflexes to get off the coping and down the tight transitions. I slammed in it once, and that was enough for me.”
Above: Rob Dyrdek, Switch Tailslide 270 Out, O’Reilly Auto Parts Curb, 1993
“Maybe a lot of you didn’t know that the MC of Ridiculousness was once a highly touted professional skateboarder. Truth be told, there was a time when Rob was on the forefront of street skating’s most highly progressive eras, and was an early advocate of switch skateboarding. I don’t think he ever lived in Oceanside, but was often found riding the many spots around the city in the mid 1990s.”
Right: Tony Hawk, Flaming Tailslide, Northwest Oceanside, 2002
“In the early 2000s, Tony Hawk had a ramp on Chris Borst’s property just off the 76 Freeway. The ramp was featured in nearly every skate video at the time, and this photo found its way onto the cover of a book called Tony Hawk, Between Boardslides and Burnout.”
Danny Way, Lipslide, Oceanside High School, 1996
“Legendary skateboarder Danny Way was not the first person to lipslide the thirteen-stair rail (RIP) at OHS, but he might’ve been the first to do it in a line.”
Geoff Rowley, 360 Kickflip, Oceanside High School, 1994
“In the mid 1990s, skaters traveled from all over the world to skate the many legendary spots all around Southern California. OHS had become one of those locations, and within days of arriving on US soil, Geoff Rowley from Liverpool, England had landed something no one had come close to trying on a stair set this big. On this day, he landed his first one “A Bit Sketch” and decided to do another in hopes it’d be much cleaner. Both of these were landed within six tries, and he quickly earned his first of many TransWorld SKATEboarding cover shots.”
Kris Markovich, Ollie to 50-50, Downtown Oside Big Bumps, 1995
“These bumps were a regularly sessioned spot in 1995 (especially after 5pm when all the businesses were closed in the area). For Kris to park his “mostly brand-new” Mazda pick up truck next to the bump and use it as a grind rail was pretty ballsy. At least he got a little free advertising for his small clothing brand T-Bags when this photograph found its way on the pages of TransWorld SKATEboarding Magazine.”
and launched The Skateboard Mag with fellow TWS Photo Editor Grant Brittain. Their first issue premiered in April 2004, and TSM would then go on to publish over 100 issues. After a great thirteen year run, the magazine finally closed its doors forever in 2017.
Throughout the past 30 years, Dave’s documented some pretty heavy hitters shredding in Oceanside—professional skateboarders like Danny Way, Geoff Rowley, Tony Hawk, Tom Penny, Eric Koston, Kris Markovich, Alphonzo Rawls, and Heath Kirchart—just to name a few. In the 90s when street skating was just rolling out, Oceanside had an endless supply of skate spots, as it was the biggest city on the coast. Just crazy old buildings and curb cuts that if you lived here, you knew about them.
“There was just so much going on here—just raw street stuff like ledges, gaps, handrails, and bump-to-handrails—stuff that no longer exists anymore,” said Dave. “It was an epicenter because the magazine (TWS) was here, and Oside just had all these cutty spots. It was a totally different city back then. It was raw—so to speak.”
These days, Dave still lives in Oceanside and is semi-retired, but not really. He continues to work in the skate industry with brands like Cariuma Shoes, ProTec Helmets, Tony Hawk Inc., and does a lot of photography—just without all the everyday hustle and bustle. He skates Prince Park three or four times a week, and some of his favorite places to lurk at are Frazier Farms, Ty’s Burger House, Wrench & Rodent, and Northern Pine Brewing.
When asked if he missed the magazine life, Dave had this to say: “I do. I mean—it was a good time. It was good to have the voice in skateboarding we had for so long. The magazine came right out of here in Oceanside, and we were influential around the world. Which is crazy, because not a lot of businesses here can say that. People all over the world know about Oceanside through TransWorld SKATEboarding. It was great to be part of that for a decade and a half.”
AJ Zavalla, Half-Cab Crooks, Oside Hubba, 2018
“Over the years, most of the world-renowned skate spots in Oceanside have disappeared in the age of progress. This Hubba on the walkway to the Oceanside Pier has become the “Last Spot Standing” when it comes to adorning magazine covers every time a new trick is landed on its smoothas-butter edge. This shot of AJ is the one and only thing I’ve ever shot here—didn’t get a cover, either!”
Truman Hooker, Five-0, Fireside Ditch, 2014
“Most of the time people try and skate this ditch, one of the homeowners breaks out the garden hose and attempts to soak the skaters as they approach the wall. If you’re lucky like we were, you’ll find yourself skating it when the “Man With The Hose” is not at home and all is good. It’s funny because when skaters use the local ditches they usually do a pretty good job of cleaning out debris and overgrown plants that can clog the water flow during the rainy season. Just sayin’!”
Jimmy Wilkins, Backside Ollie, Fire Mountain, 2016
“There are a lot of decent backyard pools that pop up on the regular all over Oceanside. An ex pro skater was renting this house and discovered the pool had some major plaster issues, and the whole thing needed resurfacing. Once the landlord gave permission to drain the swimmer, sessions ensued for about a week before the workers showed up to re-plaster the whole thing. It was fun while it lasted (which is the usual story with backyard pools).”
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WORDS: JAMEY STONE PHOTOS: RUSSELL SPENCER
Oside Flavors
We all know just how much flavor that our beloved Oceanside contains within the community. There’re so many talented people here doing so many different things on the highest level— especially in the food scene.
In the last few years, our food game has gone completely bonkers. There’re a lot of great places to choose from, too. So, we decided that with springtime upon our doorstep, it’s the perfect time to share a few of our favorite Oside Flavors with you. Please keep in mind that this is just a small sample of what the Oceanside food scene has to offer, and it’s not slowing down anytime soon.
Enjoy the read, and we hope you can try them all in the near future.
Charred Turnup from The Plot.
Lighthouse Oyster Bar & Grill
Chef: Luis Sr. Dish: Crab & Shrimp Louie Salad Flavor Profile: Fresh, light, and packed with Dungeness crab, Mexican blue and Bay shrimp, fresh greens, avocado, boiled egg, and a zesty house made Thousand Island dressing. Special Kicker: This refreshing seafood salad is the perfect springtime meal and the view overlooking the Oceanside Harbor is the perfect setting to enjoy this treat. Cost: $22.95
Lighthouse Oyster Bar & Grill 262 Harbor Drive South (760) 433-1900 lighthouseoceanside.com @lighthouseoceanside
Breakwater Brewing Co.
Chef: Sean Napoli Dish: Breakwater Pizza Flavor Profile: Red sauce, Pepperoni, Sausage, Canadian bacon, bell peppers, red onions, Black olives, and Mozzarella cheese. Special Kicker: The beer-infused rye dawn sausage and dough with housecrafted beer give this loaded pie next level flavor—sending this signature pizza to new heights. Cost: Small $14.00, Medium $20.00, and Large $24.00
Breakwater Brewing Co. 101 North Coast Highway (760) 433-1003 breakwaterbrewing.com @breakwaterbrew
Fat Joe’s
Chef: Santiago Dish: Spicy BBQ Wings Flavor Profile: Sweet and spicy fried wings served with blue cheese dressing carrots and celery. Special Kicker: The mash up between the Buffalo and BBQ sauce create a unique and addicting flavor combination that’ll have you licking your fingers clean. Cost: 6pc $9.99, 10pc $14.99
Fat Joe’s 424 South Coast Highway (760) 722-JOES fatjoesoceanside.com @fatjoesoside
Beach Break Cafe
Chef: Roberto Escamilla Dish: Fish Taco Salad Flavor Profile: Marinated and grilled Mahi Mahi, avocado, shredded cheese, cilantro, and Pico de Gallo served on a bed of mixed greens with your choice of dressing. Special Kicker: The marinated and grilled Mahi flavor mixes well with the fresh Pico de Gallo and avocado to create a light-yet-satisfying meal. Cost: $13.95
Beach Break Cafe 1802 South Coast Highway (760) 439-6355 beachbreakcafe.net @beachbreakcafe
Enzo’s BBQ Ale House
Chef: Enzo Mistretta Dish: USA Kobe Beef Short Rib Flavor Profile: Smoky bone in short rib smothered in Memphis-style BBQ sauce and served with onion rings. Special Kicker: This massive Kobe Short rib eats like caveman food, but the smoky flavor and rich sauce takes its beef flavor to the next level. Ask for extra napkins for this beast. Cost: $25.95
Enzo’s BBQ Ale House 4141 Oceanside Boulevard (760) 643-9602 enzosbbq.com @enzosbbqalehouse
Buccaneer Café
Chef: Brandon Gamble Dish: Avocado Toast Flavor Profile: Sourdough toast, house guacamole, sliced avocado, organic mixed greens, house vinaigrette, tomato, red onion, cilantro, Queso fresco, and balsamic glaze (protein additions available). Special Kicker: This is not your average toast. Loaded with fresh ingredients, this meal will keep your taste buds happy and your stomach full throughout the day.
Cost: $9.50
Buccaneer Café 1508 South Pacific Street buccaneer-café.com @buccaneercafe
Pollos Maria
Chef: Jesus Garcia Dish: Half Chicken Plate Flavor Profile: House marinated whole chicken char-grilled and served with rice, beans, choice of corn or flour tortillas, and house made salsas. Special Kicker: The special spices in the marinade are a family recipe and have been perfected for years—and it shows. Pair the chicken with the house made salsa, and it’s game on. Cost: $9.89
Pollos Maria 125 Old Grove RD #8 (760) 435-9071 pollosmaria.com @pollos_maria760
The Privateer Coal Fire Pizza
Chef: Sam Parker Dish: Ahi Amarillo Mussels Flavor Profile: PEI mussels, Spanish chorizo, fingerling potatoes, English peas, ahi Amarillo coconut sauce, and a drizzle of garlic chili oil served with oregano grilled pita bread. Special Kicker: The fusion of Indian spice and Spanish chorizo send the flavor of this mussel’s dish to new heights. Trust me when I tell you that the sauce is to die for. Cost: $18.99
The Privateer Coal Fire Pizza 1706 South Coast Highway (760) 453-2500 theprivateercoalfirepizza.com @theprivateercoalfirepizza
The Plot
Chef: Ryan Orlando Dish: Charred Turnip Flavor Profile: Charred Turnip, toasted pepitas, gremolata, parsnip puree, and Plot garden herbs Special Kicker: The charred turnip, pepitas, and parsnip puree create a great mix of flavor and textures. Treat yourself with this 100% vegan masterpiece. Cost: $13.00
Flying Pig Pub & Kitchen
Chef: Harrison Hackett Dish: Grilled Duroc Pork Chop Flavor Profile: Thick cut grilled chop, grits, and Paprikash sauce served with herb salad and Brussel leaves. Special Kicker: The thick cut grilled chop and the creamy grits come together along with the Paprikash sauce to create a belly warming meal with tons of flavor. Cost: $26.00
The Flying Pig 509 Mission Avenue (760) 453-2940 flyingpig.pub @thepigoceanside
The Plot 1733 South Coast Highway (442) 266-8200 theplotrestaurant.com @theplotrestaurant
The Switchboard Restaurant & Bar
Chef: Michael Mitchem Dish: Beef Bulgogi Lettuce Wrap Flavor Profile: Thinly sliced ribeye steak, bibb lettuce, julienned vegetables, Seoul Aioli, and rice noodles. Special Kicker: The light-yet-rich flavor of the Bulgogi beef and aioli blend to create the perfect balance of flavors that balance well with the bibb lettuce wrap and fresh veggies. Cost: $15.00
The Switchboard Restaurant & Bar 131 South Coast Highway (442) 266-2781 theswitchboardrestaurant.com @the.switchboard.restaurant
Ty’s Burger House
Chef: Daniel Contreras Dish: Ty’s 2X4 Burger Flavor Profile: Double beef patty, double American cheese, tomato, lettuce, red onion, and house sauce. Special Kicker: This beefy cheesy behemoth is guaranteed to keep your mouth happy and belly full for the whole workday and into the night. Cost: $13.00
Ty’s Burger House 515 Mission Avenue (760) 757-5890 tysburgerhouse.com @tys_burgerhouse
Anita’s Mexican Restaurant & Cantina
Chef: Frank Alvarez Dish: Arroz Con Camarones Flavor Profile: Tender shrimp in a bed of Mexican rice and vegetables cooked with butter served with a side salad and choice of tortillas. Special Kicker: The massive juicy shrimp and authentic Mexican rice combine to make music together. Add on the classic Anita’s salsa and fresh tortillas, and you’ll feel like you’re down in Baja. Cost: $18.95
Anita’s Mexican Restaurant & Cantina 1714 South Coast Highway (760) 722-6323 anitasmexicanfoodrestaurant.com @anitasoceanside101
Pacific Coast Spirits
Chef: Alexis Martinez Dish: Distillery Fries Flavor Profile: Crispy fries, chorizo, cotija cheese, smashed avocado, PCS whiskey cheese sauce, sunny side egg, Fresno aioli, and cilantro. Special Kicker: These crispy loaded fries are the perfect paring with one of their many cocktails made in-house and are great for sharing. The whiskey cheese sauce is off the hook. Cost: $15.00
Pacific Coast Spirits 404 South Coast Highway (760) 453-7150 paccoastspirits.com @pacificcoastspiritsoside
Local Tap House
Chef: Pedro Mendoza Dish: Seafood Stew Flavor Profile: Scallops, salmon, local clams, shrimp, fingerling potatoes, artichoke, bacon, cream, white wine, and garlic. Special Kicker: This dish offers tons of fresh seafood and an amazingly tasty white wine and cream broth that’s set off by the artichokes. Don’t forget to dip that naan to soak up all that deliciousness at the bottom of the bowl. Cost: $32.00
Local Tap House 308 South Coast Highway (760) 547-1469 localtaphouse.com @localtaphouse
Señor Grubby’s
Chef: Grubby’s Family Recipe Dish: Pastor Torta Flavor Profile: Tender marinated pork, sliced avocado, lettuce, tomato, onion, melted cheese blend, speared beans, and chipotle cream sauce served with CrissCut fries. Special Kicker: The savory shaved pork is sent to another level with the creamy chipotle sauce and bean smear. I recommend the world famous Chilanga sauce to take your taste buds to the spicy side of life. Cost: $14.50
Señor Grubby’s 311 North Tremont Street (760) 721-6040 eatgrubbys.com @senorgrubbys
FREE HOUR OF FUN!
Experience the brand-new Flight Deck Lounge powered by Toptracer Range in Oceanside where you can hit real golf shots into a virtual world. Book a bay for at least an hour and receive an extra hour for free!
Each bay includes a personal full-cable tv, food and beverage service, couches & heaters. Pricing begins at $24 per hour, up to 4 people! Simply present this advertisment upon check-in.
The “Free Hour” fine print: Based on availability, one time use per customer, not valid on Sundays or after 9/30/22.
LEARN MORE & BOOK NOW! ARROWOODGOLF.COM/FLIGHT-DECK
PLAN YOUR NEXT EVENT AT ARROWOOD! SPECIALIZING IN WEDDINGS, CELEBRATIONS, GOLF & TEAM BUILDING EVENTS. Contact Christen Kemp, Director of Events 760.967.8400 Ext. 214 • CKemp@ArrowoodGolf.com
