The 4th Annual Marketing Breakfast was held at OB Warehouse. They graciously opened their doors to a room full of active merchants ready to make plans for marketing their business in the new year. We did an interactive exercise pairing business up to create ways to grow their business beyond their four walls. We partnered with Brown Marketing Strategies again and had a great meeting.
The fundraising for the OB Security Program continued for a six-month period with fundraising beginning in January.
Our friends at the OB Woman’s Club hosted a Sundowner in late January at their clubhouse, and the food was catered by Embargo Grill. One of the raffle prizes was an OB Woman’s Club membership – great idea!
We were sorry to learn about the loss of resident and local business owner Alan “Tiny” Kajiwara. He was a treasured member of our community, and we were saddened by the loss.
Our community also suffered the loss of a community artist, David Linton, on January 30, 2015. David was a prolific artist and had done several pieces celebrating our community. Most recently he had developed a series of notecards that we sold through our store. He also did the mural inside what is currently the Starbucks building, which is enjoyed by hundreds of people every day. He will be missed.
Beardsley Mitchell Funeral Home hosted a Sundowner and had it catered and even live musicians performing.
In February, the community again suffered a huge loss with the death of Mike Hardin of Hodad's. Mike was the son of the founder of the original Hodad’s and had been successfully running the business for his parents for years. There was a large memorial service celebrating his life at Petco Park, a location where he had recently opened a satellite restaurant. The OBMA Promotions Committee decided to honor a person who exemplifies Mike Hardin’s spirit each year at their Annual Awards Dinner.
The Robb Field Skate Park celebrated its fifteen-year anniversary on February 19, 2015. The park was opened by a very dedicated group of local volunteers who continue to support the park today.
The OB Security Program had increased shifts during March and April due to increased activity and visitors in the committee.
On March 1, 2015, the OBMA lost a friend, volunteer, business owner, and board member when Yvonne Cruz passed away. She had owned the wetsuit shop next door to our office for over 30 years. Surf n’Sea Custom Wetsuits remains open and is being run by her son and daughter-in-law. There was a celebration of life held at Raglan Public House and money was raised to donate to the Ronald McDonald House in Yvonne’s honor. Several local merchants contributed to a raffle and over 100 local business people and members of the Ronald McDonald House staff showed up to celebrate.
The Ocean Villa Inn hosted a wonderful Sundowner and partnered up with several local businesses: The Little Lion Café, Mother’s Saloon, Pizza Port OB and Raglan Public House. It was unseasonably warm and everyone enjoyed an evening poolside.
The palm trees along Newport Ave. were trimmed through the MAD program.
Ken Fernandes Landscaping partnered up with Raglan Public House to host the April Sundowner and it was a great night.
The new OB Local business directory was printed in May and distributed throughout the community.
The May Sundowner was hosted by Rock & Roll San Diego and Four Seasons Food Catering at Rock & Roll San Diego's location near the Valley View Casino Center. Entertainment was provided by Rock & Roll San Diego's student bands, and our members formed an impromptu band that gave its debut performance after a quick music lesson from Rock & Roll San Diego's teachers.
New silver-toned cribs began to be installed around the palm trees on Newport Avenue to replace the older style black cribs.
The 2015 Ocean Beach Street Fair and Chili Cook-Off was the best yet! Despite a few raindrops for the first time in the history of the Street Fair, thousands of attendees enjoyed a fantastic day of entertainment, vendors, and food. Rock & Roll San Diego formed the center section of the festival and offered free mini music lessons throughout the day. As always, we had incredible sponsors, volunteers, committee members, and community partners working together to make the day a wonderful success. Videographers documented the event for the first time. The festival raised funds for the Fourth of July Fireworks off the OB Pier, which was another great success.
July's Sundowner at Culture Brewing Co with food from Mad Munch Grilled Cheezer Co was a delicious and fun evening.
The Board of Directors elections were held in July. Mike Akey (Pacific View Real Estate), Ron Marcotte (Sign Diego), and Gary Gilmore (Gilmore Familiy Jewelers) were re-elected, and Board Member Alicia Shapiro (Aliro Marketing) was newly elected to the Board.
Also in July, the OBMA received accreditation for 2015 from the National Main Street Association.
In August, the OBMA Executive Committee was re-elected for another term: President Barbara Iacometti (Details SalonSpa), 1st Vice President Julie Klein (Julie Designs), 2nd Vice President Mike Akey (Pacific View Real Estate), Secretary Mary Orem (Morland Apartments), and Treasurer Mike Stifano (Winstons).
The California Coastal Commission approved the Ocean Beach Community Plan -- a huge victory for OB.
The August Sundowner was held at Wonderland with Tami Fuller's Real Estate Team. Everyone enjoyed delicious food and drinks, a beautiful sunset, and great raffle prizes.
The September Sundowner was co-hosted by the Ocean Beach Community Foundation and the Inn at Sunset Cliffs. Food was donated by multiple local restaurants, and a silent auction, live entertainment, the beautiful setting, and lots of raffle prize made for a very fun Sundowner!
In October, the OBMA received the Community Partner of the Year award from Ocean Beach Town Council. We are proud to partner with the Town Council on so many events and projects.
The successful 11th Annual OB Oktoberfest featured two days of live music, the annual Brat Trot, and vendors on the lawn at the beach.
Also in October, the Association held its Annual Meeting & Awards Celebration, which honored outstanding achievements by our members. The beach-themed event featured giant sunglasses, refreshments and raffle prizes from dozens of our generous merchants, and a commemorative slideshow to remember the past year. Steven Yeng of OB Noodle House and Bar 1502 received the first Mike Hardin "Like a Boss" Award. Mike's son Shane Hardin presented the award in his father's memory.
In November, Shades and Big Block Realty hosted a fun Sundowner with lots of great raffle prizes.
In December, Ocean Beach enjoyed another festive and fun holiday season. Volunteers installed the street decorations in the Business Improvement District in late November, and the Ocean Beach Town Council's holiday tree went up prior to the annual parade early in December. The OBMA hosted its popular Storefront Decorating Contest, with winners receiving cash prizes as well as promotion in the Beacon and through OBMA's marketing channels. Brown Marketing Strategies hosted the holiday Sundowner with several food partners as well as live music.
