Celebrating the 125th Anniversary of Ocean Beach at the OB Holiday Parade was the perfect way to end 2012. OBHS’ Pat James & Jan Gawronski were judges.
The Ocean Beach Historical Society Won 3 Awards in 2012!
Assembly Certificate of Recognition
Ocean Beach Town Council Cultural Contribution Award

Ocean Beach Mainstreet Association Award (Susan James and Mary Alley received the Mainstreet Award for working on the OB 125 Year Anniversary Celebration and the Beacon’s OB Anniversary addition)
Thank you to the groups awarding our organization, and thank you to all those that worked hard to make the Ocean Beach Historical Society so wonderful.

The 33rd ANNUAL OCEAN BEACH HOLIDAY PARADE on Dec. 1, 2012, was spectacular.
The 2012 theme was 125 YEARS OF OB FUN. The OBHS honored ever decade starting from 1887. We had a number of children and adults walk with us in the parade in fantastic time-period costumes. Thanks to everyone that helped make this such a fun and memorable event!
􀁸

  On Oct. 18th Steve Rowell’s program was a visual treat with great insight into both our local 2 and 4 legged residents. He showed us his fabulous local bird photos and stories… visiting with a few new and old birds, as well as, an update on our local Osprey population.  Also, shown was some of the people, animals, plants, and scenery of the Ocean Beach area.
Steve Rowell is a well known Ocean Beach photographer know for his historical and bird/animal photos. His work is part of the permanent collection ay People’s Food.
The program is at the P.L. United Methodist Church, 1984 Sunset Cliffs Blvd., O.B. and is Free.

9/20/12— After an interview with Carrico that appeared on the front page of the UT the OBHS had a packed house attending The OBHS program: The Country Boy, Madame X, and the Japanese Spy—Author  Richard  L. Carrico about  a ring of Japanese agents and spies enlisted the help of U.S. Navy personnel to conduct espionage for the Japanese government that spanned for 1934 to 1936.  The centers of the spy activities were Washington D. C.; San Diego, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.  The events and persons involved in the espionage included Japanese students at Stanford and UCLA, Japanese bankers including Yoko Ono’s father, a noted medical doctor, a Navy officer and an ex-Navy enlisted man.  Those who ultimately broke and prosecuted the spy network included a incredible cryptographer Madame X, two alert Navy Captains, attorneys in Los Angeles, and the Office of Naval Intelligence.  The investigations spanned from Tijuana to San Pedro, Palo Alto to Washington D. C.  Mr. Carrico’s presentation will focus on the main characters and events from the historical novel that he is currently working on and will include quotes from court testimony, contemporary photographs, and an overview to what became of the various players in this intriguing historical drama. Richard L. Carrico, Dept. of American Indian Studies, SDSU

 Aug. 16th, 2012 OBHS  presented: Angels at 7 o’ clock San Diego’s Pioneer Female Aviators By California State Parks Historian Alexander D. Bevil ,  San Diego has played an important role in American aviation history. Indeed, some of the earliest attempts at controlled flight have occurring here. While most historians recognize the pioneering work of Montgomery, Curtis, Ryan, and Lindberg, most ignored the role women played in San Diego’s aviation history. Alex’s focus was on the untold story of San Diego’s female aviators within the broader context of the history of women’s aviation. Faced with gender bias, ridicule, and sometimes even outright sabotage, these “First Ladies of Flight,” whether they realized it or not, were pioneer feminists. All possessed a single-mined determination to fly, often paying the ultimate price for their efforts. Ironically, Alex’s presentation was held less than two miles from the forgotten crash site of one of these brave women, whose crashed aircraft was described coldly as “a pile of lumber.”

 July 19, 2012 the OBHS presented: REMEMBERING Loverne Brown— O. B. Poet, Activist, Beloved Friend, OB Poets (pictured below) and Friends from the past gathered together to celebrate what would have been LoVerne Brown’s 100 Year Birthday. The event included LoVerne’s favorite foods: rootbeer floats, cashews, cake, cupcakes and lots of wonderful poetry and humor! LoVern led a somewhat nomadic life prior to coming to Ocean Beach in 1950. During her half-century in O. B., LoVerne was active in the community in many ways. She was co-founder of the Ocean Beach Community School in 1976 (as well as the school’s poetry teacher); a longtime member and officer of the O. B. Friends of the Library and the O. B. – Point Loma chapter of the National League of American Penwomen; founder of the Ocean Beach Poetry Circle, which for years published the annual anthology “Zip Code 92107”; and a founding member of the Ocean Beach Historical Society. She was known for her generous spirit, her inclusive nature, and her unconditional love for her fellow human beings. She was active on the political scene and supported numerous social justice causes, especially those that benefited the homeless and victims of abuse. This O.B. women had incredible life and inspired many friends and poets who will always remember her and her work.

• June 21th, 2012 was an amazing night for surf history as the The Ocean Beach Historical Society and the California Surf Museum presented OB’s Notable Women Surfers
  P.L. United Methodist Church, , 1984 Sunset Cliffs Blvd., O.B.
  The Ocean Beach Historical Society and the California Surf Museum teamed up to present an entertaining overview of some of OB’s notable women surfers. Jane Schmauss, Historian at the surf museum, and local artist/surfer/historian Cher Pendarvis celebrated the growth of women’s surfing in the area, beginning with Faye Baird Fraser, considered to be San Diego’s first boardwoman, on to the Vahine Kai Surf Club, and other stand-out individuals. Boards, bathing suits. A group photo of these champion and top local surfing women rounded out the evening’s presentation. (Below)

The May 2012, 18th Annual OB EXPOSED! Photographic Impressions of Ocean Beach & Point Loma featuring Wonderland Documentarian Noah Tafolla was a Blast! 101 photo ENTRIES!
OB EXPOSED! 2012 WINNERS: Best in Show:  Ray Hitchcock – Moonrise over OB Pier, People’s Choice:  Kristoffer Newson – TheLeap Vintage:  Mark Hudson – Cub Scouts Day at the Beach, Special Effects:  Cleveland Storrs – Abbott Market, Black & White:  Clifford Beck – Memories of Rough Seas, Color:  Ralph Guest – Reflections on the Cliffs, 

Hundreds attended the show and feasted on great food from donated by local businesses and friends. Thanks to Donors: Point Loma Masonic Lodge, C.J.’s Catering & Speciality Baking, Chef Lauren Ritchey, European Cake Gallery, Newbreak Coffee at the Beach, OB Business Center, OB People’s Co-op, OB QuikStop, Olive Tree Market Place, Pepe’s, Shades and Whale Tail Tortilla Chips. Thanks to Judges Joe Ewing and Steve Rowell. Extra Thanks to the OB Business Center who were was wonderful in helping collect photos… even the OB time (late entries).

Program Manager of the
San Diego River Park Foundation— A Tour of The Historic San Diego River by Richard Dhu
Thurs.,  April. 19th, at 7 PM
at the P.L. United Methodist Church, , 1984 Sunset Cliffs Blvd., O.B.
Richard Dhu, Program Manager at the San Diego River Park Foundation is a 20 year O.B. resident and homeowner (Brighton and Abbott) and San Diego Native.
The San Diego River Park Foundation is dedicated to the restoration of the San Diego River, which completes its 52-mile journey to the Pacific at Dog Beach in O.B.; and creation of the San Diego River Park System and river trail from Julian to O.B.
The San Diego River Park Foundation promotes community involvement and stewardship of the river and watershed. Our specific projects in O.B. are management of the Native Plant Garden/Reserve at Collier Park and the coastal dune and wetland habitat at Dog Beach.