Roughly 300 of the “WHO’S WHO” of OB attended the May 15th Friday night reception of OB Exposed.
What made this year’s event specialwas: Our local Wonderland documentarian Noah Trafolla presented the awards, a special tribute to Maddie Dibble, photographer Steve Rowell’s exhibit of his work starting in the 1960’s, and incredible food. The quality of the photos this year was extraordinary. The digital cameras have made a real difference in quality and are inspiring more people to take photos. Our OB Pier, cliffs and surf were the subject that seemed to grab the judges and the attendees (Peoples’ Choice Award) this year. Many amazing shots were taken. The parrots were also very popular subjects. After looking at this show you would think we were living in the tropics! There were also some great human interest shots. A shocked girl watching her car being towed away and two 3-year-olds protesting to keep the OB Library open, were popular with the crowd.Winning Photos can be seen at the OB Library in June
SPECIAL THANKS : OBHS President Pat James, at OB Exposed!, generously received a donation check of $2,500 in Maddie Dibble’s name from her children Judy and David Dibble
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT MADE ‘09 OB EXPOSED! A SUCCESS:
Masonic Center, Noah Taffola, The Beacon, OB Peoples, Olive Tree, CJ’s Catering Concepts, SD Catering, Pepe’s European Cake Gallery Our Judges: Tom Shugrue, J im Haugh and Ed Frey and all participants and volunteers WINNERS: Best in Show, “Surfer” Joe Ewing, Best Color, “Cliffhanger” Bryce Johnson,Best B&W, “Cliffs & Pier, NW Swell, High Tide”, Roderick Michener, Best Special Effects, “OB Ier” Kathleen Blavatt, Best Vintage, “Girls Gone Wild” John Ayres, Peoples’ Choice, “OB Pier” Emily Sales

Congress of History of San Diego & Imperial Counties
Award Winners Include: the Award of Merit to the Ocean Beach Historical Society and the Media Award to Noah Tafolla, Documentarian of the Wonderland Series
These awards given at the annual History Conference are for major contributions to the preservation and development of the history of the region.
Pat James, President of OBHS, presented Noah Tafolla his Media Award at the OBHS_Wisteria Annual Tea Party.

Two Classy Dames from the old Days, was the title of the presentation at the first Ocean Beach Historical Society meeting  in February 1994. Featured was our founder Ruth Varney Held and her friend Helen Lowry Gute.
The OBHS’s meetings started at the
Ocean Beach Women’s Club and weeks at
various coffee houses around OB. We later settled into the Point Loma Methodist United Church, where we continue to have our OBHS meetings.
Ruth Held, who was raised in Ocean Beach, authored Beach Town, a very informative book on the history of Ocean Beach.
Her work and inspiration has helped keep the history of Ocean Beach alive and helped bring about the active group that OBHS has become.
Please join us on April 16th to hear more about this Ocean Beach legend as we celebrate her work and life.

(1) SOHO’s Annual Historic Home Tour, Sunday, March 22, 2009, 10 am – 4 pm. Celebrate SOHO’s 40 years of saving San Diego’s heritage by attending the revival tour of its first ever public architecture tour- Victorious Victorians! The Revival Tour. For more info. and to register, visit http://sohosandiego.org/main/sws1.htm#mar, or call (619) 297-9327. (2) The North Park Historical Society and North Park Main Street guided tour of North Park’s historic commercial core on Sat., March 21 at 8:30 a.m. Gather in the Birch North Park Theatre Lobby at 2891 University Avenue. The tour fee is $10 per person, which includes a beautifully illustrated guidebook. To register contact Elizabeth Studebaker at liz@northparkmainstreet.com or 619-294-2501. More info.: http://www.northparkhistory.org. (3) Fri., March 20, 5 to 7 p.m., A reception and display of the beautiful covers from Kensington’s historic homes at the offices of Rex Downing at 4134 Adams Ave., Suite 105 in Kensington. Ronald May of Legacy 106 will also present The Mills Act & What it Means to Homeowners Seeking Property Tax Relief. Please RSVP by Wed., March 18 to (619) 280-7399. (4) Mission Hills Heritage Fifth Annual Historic Home Tour on Sat., April 18, 10 am to 4 pm. This year’s tour spotlights South Mission Hills. For details, see: http://www.missionhillsheritage.org/events.htm

Annual Wisteria Tea Party
March 21, 2009 at Noon, at 4761 Niagara Ave. , O.B.
Min. Suggested Member $5 Donation,
If it is raining, we will meet at the PL Methodist Church (PLUM) for the party
Come celebrate the begining of Spring at the annual Wisteria Tea Party under the lovely canopy of Wisteria blossoms at Ocean Beach Historical Society’s Vice Chair Ned Titlow’s yard, next to his 1904 home historical home, at 4761 Niagara Ave. in Ocean Beach.
Included in the event will be a variety of teas, fresh homemade lemonade and scrumptious delectables. There will also be an opportunity drawing and music by OB’s John Tafolla.
Please come join us for a beautiful afternoon of OB culture and fun, under the oldest canopy of Wisteria in Ocean Beach.

Congress of History of San Diego  & Imperial Counties
http://congressofhistory.org/
History Conference March 6 & 7
‘First We Thirst: The History of Water  in the San Diego and Imperial Co. Region’
The conference will be held on Fri., March 6, and Sat., March 7, 2009 at the Golf Event Center, at Barona Casino
For conference details: e-mail Conference Co-chair Anne P. Cooper: ampie8993@yahoo.com
Or, call Helen Halmay at (619) 469-7283 e-mail Conference Co-chair Anne P. Cooper: ampie8993@yahoo.com Or, call Helen Halmay at (619) 469-7283

Lecture tour of extraordinary peninsula of Baja California Visiting Jesuit Franciscan and Dominican missions conducted by renowned historian Dr. W. Michael Mathes. These missions are part of California Mission Chain. 6 days and 5 nights, April 23-28, 2009 Rates per person: Dbl. Occ. $700 Sgl. Occ. $850 For information: Zella Ibanes PO Box 280 Tecate, CA 91980 Email: zella@ prodigy.net.mx Tel: 011 52 665- 655-6419 Or: Lily Kellenberger Email: lilykelco@yahoo.com Tel: 011 52 665 654-3460

Ron May, a historian who grew up in Point Loma, has an extensive background in our local history, Ballast Point and historical preservation. Ron has been very active in preserving the Mills Act. Ron will present his life on Point Loma beginning with his arrival in 1955 and departure in 1962. His program will include photos, funny stories and interesting historical information.After that, he will talk about his return to the Point in 1990 to the historical archaeology project out on Ballast Point. Included in his presentation is the history, with photos , of how the Spanish fort, whaling station, and Chinese fishing camp appeared out on Ballast Point.The Ocean Beach Historical Society is very excited about having Ron present to our group. Please join us on Thurs., Feb. 19th at 7 PM at the PL United Methodist Church, 1984 Sunset Cliffs Blvd. in OB.

EDWINA GODDARD,  gave a wonderful presentation with many historical photos on Jan. 15th, 2009

Some people watch history, others make history. Native San Diegan Edwina Goddard and her family have been an active part of history on our Peninsula for generations. Her family started the first book bindery business in San Diego.
Edwina holds a Geography Degree from SDSU and she’s been involved in many organizations: Cabrillo Monument Historical Association, South Western and La Playa Yacht Clubs, and is a third generation member in the Point Loma Assembly.
In her eighties, Edwina won a seat on the Point Loma Community Planning Board (PCPB), to which she brought her knowledge of local history. These topics included the Naval Training Center, the desalination plant the Navy used on the Point, the old trollies, the airport, and other issues that relate to our current planning.

The OB Historical Library celebrated its 80th Birthday in Oct. Ironically, within two weeks of the its 80th Celebration event (that included a representative of the Mayor giving the library an award), the OB Library was on Mayor Sander’s closure list!
NOBODY in Ocean Beach wanted the library to close, so in historical OB style large rallies were launched. Obecians opposed the closing at city counci meetings, and flooded the Mayor and council offices with calls and emails.
The City Council found funds to keep the 7 libraries open for part of the year and will revisit the issue starting in February.
OB residents need to remain vigilant in keeping the pressure on, so we can keep our beloved library.Our OB Library is the Heart of OUR Community
Facts on Why the OB Library should stay open:
It’s a City Historically Designated Building
and we just celebrated its 80th Anniversary.
(A historical landmark plaque is being made by the OB MainStreet Association & Ocean Beach Historical Society to go on building.)
Land next to the library was already purchased for the library’s expansion …
The new addition has been designed and in the works since 2000.
Mayor/City Council recently approved an Infrastructure Bond for new roofing for the OB Library.
Ocean Beach is an example of a “Walkable Village” with our library located between two schools.
It’s costly to maintain an empty library building, very costly to repurchase land, build a new library and re-buy books
(especially customized for the community) & library equipment.
Our library is a vital resource and helps educate members of our community