I like all the seasons, but I must admit I enjoy the change we make here in Oceanside as August ends and September begins. We have many humid days in June, July and August and our temperature only varies about eight or nine degrees. I like cool mornings and evenings and warm days and wait patiently for our September change into dry warm days with the cool evenings and mornings. OK we do get Santa Anas from now until whenever, but day in and day out this is our Best Beach weather. I think this month we started the change later than some and it felt like the change is imminent. I felt it as I rode my Schwinn cruiser along The Strand this morning. Today the skies cleared by mid-morning and Hot has returned. Lets hope the humidity leaves us soon. 
Since the late 1920's Oceanside has been blessed with The Strand. During that period of time it has let us document how wide our beaches have been. Now in July of 2008 we can see the past reoccurring as it does often times. I put a number if images up show you back in the 60's when the surf lapped on the Northern most portion of The Strand. It has happened in the late seventies and to some degree about every ten years. 
Early on I learned that in order to get exposure for a retail business it was important to seek help in the media through PR. It doesn't take long to learn that when you attach the term PR to media you have found a no cost way of exposing your business, group or community. I attached a few photos that were in International, regional and local magazines or calendars and did not attempt to list all of them. I found it very help full to offer the media some trade offs in order to get what some think is my unfair exposure. I am a third generation Oceansider who is well versed in local history, business and politics so I have much to offer and it helps believe me. I have used my self taught skills in PR for all the projects I have taken on in our community. I am proud of my 'Shameless Self Promoter' moniker because I really promote my business, my non profit groups and my community which makes it a lot less self-centered than it sounds. Maybe one of these days I'll figure out how to put a few of my TV appearances online. It will probably take the help of a twelve year old to do it. Part of my drive is to keep the 101 Cafe going for its second eighty years. You may have noticed it is the oldest business in Oceanside and the oldest Cafe on Highway 101 on the entire West Coast. Oops there I go promoting again. Stay Cool.
When I read that Dorothy Satten had died I remember a photo in the Oceanside Historical Society's archives. It was donated years ago by Randy Mitchell and was of the Opening of the New Bridge Motor Inn on Highway 101 in Oceanside. The 1965 image included one of my classmates at Oceanside High School Barbara Mandrell . Barbara was Miss Oceanside in 1965 and as most of us know she was a Country Mega Star. From left to right in the photo are; Jerome Jones, City Councilman and eventually Mayor, Dorothy Satten, Barbara Mandrell, her husband Frank Satten and Harold Andrews, the builder.
I could not get enough when I walked this morning. Even cruising on Oceanside Blvd. on the way to work the Moon showcased what an incredible day it would be. So clear even after yesterday where the overcast cooled the sun in the afternoon. I hopped on my beach cruiser and headed down Wisconsin Street from the 101. I get an ocean view as soon as I look West and cruise down to The Strand. The first picture is of my beach at the bottom of my hill. Since this was late most of our regular surfers had already gone to work so few got to enjoy this days waves. I found only a few enjoying Swings at the Pier, picture two. It is always cool to see the Moms and their three wheelers exercising along The Strand, but it warms my heart to see Dads, picture three. I guess I am jealous of them since the only three wheelers around when my kids were small were either motorcycles of old folks bikes. And of course there were many fishermen at the beach today. Today is going to be tough to stay at work.
The beach is filling up with visitors. More each day and its the June Gloom month wait until the real heat begins. Everything tells us that this will be a great visitor season for our guest. It is the time to check out the suits along the Famous Strand where Tom Cruise rode his motorcycle up to the now highly recognized Top Gun House on Pacific Street. Don't forget sunscreen.
The 101 Cafe is 80 years old this year. It is not hard to imagine that it must have been painted maybe 15 or twenty times in its life on the 101. For the last twenty years we have either painted or touch up every year for the twenty years David and I have owned it. In the beginning we hired or traded food for painting, but in the last ten I have been mainly responsible for the bright white walls surrounding the Cafe. I have come to learn that no matter what season I paint the sun will come out and beat down on me. Today is a perfect example. This morning was the beginning of the perfect(yuk) June gloom day. After yesterday's gloom which included light showers and drizzle I never even gave a thought to today being a Hot Sunny Day. I guess you can thank me for the sun, because if I choose not to paint the gloom probably would have continued all day. I guess the San Diego Chamber of Commerce will hope I paint all week so the US Open at Torrey Pines will have the 'Perfect Chamber of Commerce Weather'. Call me if you need sun at least along the 101. Check out the perfect blue sky and surf right down the street from the Cafe
For the first time ever the US Open will be played on a public golf course, yes only in San Diego. Torrey Pines was built in 1957 and has hosted many Professional events including the Buick Invitational. It is over sixty years ago that the open was even played in California. Tens of thousands are expected to follow the players around the course along the bluffs above the Pacific Ocean. The Open is being played along the Historic US Highway 101 and next to Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve where the rare Torrey Pine tree flourishes. Speculation is that this years open is Tiger Woods to lose. It will be his first tournament since his surgery. Clearly this will be great for San Diego North. 
In 1928 the Ekegren family opened a small twenty seat cafe along the new US Highway 101 in Oceanside, California and named it the 101 Cafe. Little did they know that it would survive through a depression, World War, many other Military confrontations to become the oldest Cafe on the Historic Highway 101 on the entire West Coast. The 101 was bypassed to the present location of the present day Interstate 5 in 1953. 
It is a very good day when I get contacted by someone about the past. I was contacted by Mary Ellen Jones who taught third grade at Ditmar school in 1957. Of course it was my shy partner David who referred her to me in the first place. It was great to meet Miss Johnson as she was known by her class then. She was hoping to put together a reunion of this particular class since she only taught that year before she left for awhile. This of course is timely since Ditmar will close this year as an elementary school. The District says it will keep the site for a educational purpose more suitable for its size and location. Miss Jones is hoping to get everyone together later this month. It will be trip to see what these cute third graders look like now.
Operation Appreciation is one of the Events that the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce began many years ago to let the Military Personnel and their families how much we appreciate their service to our Country. Over ten thousand attended last years event. The posted photos are before they are expected to come to the beach. great free food, entertainment and carnival rides will make this a remarkable day for all who attend. God Bless our Military.
Before 9:00 AM this morning over twenty adventurers left Wisconsin Beach in Oceanside to start what will undoubtedly be the beginning of a huge sport along our local shores. These fearless watermen will swim and paddle their way to Moonlight Beach in Encinitas, approximately 12 miles before they finish. Covered by the local press North County Times and the San Diego Union-Tribune as well as Fox Channel 6. About fifty supporters and passer-bys enjoyed the start while soaking up the beautiful sunshine predicted to reach 90 degrees today. If this is global warming then I love it.
