Best of Oceanside Quarterly Journal Winter 2021

Best of

WINTER 2021

OCEANSIDE Q U A R T E R LY

J O U R N A L

BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY NEWS

12

OPD Explorer Program Generates Future Talent for Oceanside Learn More on Page 4

25

Optimistic Outlooks for 2021

4

Oceanside Chamber Celebrates 125 Years of Serving the Community

42 22

The Chamber Came Through

VANC Named Chamber Member of the Quarter

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Our Business Community Came Through

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QUARTERLY JOURNAL W IN T E R 2 0 2 1

Oceanside Quarterly Journal is published by the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce in 4 editions: Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall.

This newsletter is available at the Chamber office, local businesses, libraries, Sunset Market, and in digital format on the Chamber’s website.

CONTACT US

928 N. Coast Highway Oceanside, CA 92054 (760) 722-1534 info@oceansidechamber.com www.OceansideChamber.com Produced and published by the staff of the Oceanside Chamber Copyright Oceanside Chamber of Commerce All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2021 Design: Scott Ashton and Tiffany Smith

INSIDE THIS EDITION

Oceanside Chamber Celebrates 125 Years of Serving the Community 12 OPD Explorer Program Generates Future Talent for Oceanside 17 Bread of Life: New Partnership with the San Diego Rescue Mission 20 2020 Election Recap: Chamber Endorsed Candidates Win 21 Not All Stroke Centers Are Created Equal 22 Lives Transformed through Solutions for Change 23 A Long History of Service: Jack Feller 25 Optimistic Outlooks for 2021 28 Member and Community News 31 Why I Love Oceanside 40 Economic Development Update 42 The Chamber Came Through 4

By Scott Ashton, CEO Oceanside Chamber of Commerce In this edition of the Best of Oceanside Quarterly Magazine, you will find a feature called The Chamber Came Through, highlighting a variety of ways in which our businesses felt supported by the Chamber during the unprecedented times we have recently faced as a community.

However, none of our work would have been possible without the ongoing support of our businesses. It was the business community that came through for us when we most needed their support! The extent to which the business community supported us in the past year was beyond anything we could have asked for under such circumstances. We will never forget the businesses that stood by us by joining the Chamber, renewing their membership or supporting our work in other ways. They allowed us to continue to serve and provide a strong voice for our businesses when they truly needed someone to speak for them.

I also want to acknowledge the incredible partnership we have had with other Chambers and business organizations in North County. It was great to see everyone come together in a spirit of collaboration to serve our respective business communities much more effectively together than any of us could have done on our own. Some of these partnerships are highlighted in the summary version of the Chamber’s Annual Report on page 34.

Finally, I want to recognize the hard work of our local elected leaders including Supervisor Jim Desmond and former Oceanside Mayor (now District 4 Councilmember) Peter Weiss. They helped set a positive tone of cooperation within San Diego County and the City of Oceanside. During a time in which our Governor did tremendous harm to our small businesses, our local leaders and City staff stood up and have done everything they could to mitigate the damage and help our businesses survive.

The Oceanside Chamber of Commerce would like to thank the following Chamber Partners for their generous financial contributions to the Chamber’s program of work.

EMERALD PARTNER

PLATINUM PARTNERS

SILVER PARTNERS

BRONZE PARTNERS

GK Asset Management, LLC

For more information about how your company can participate in the Partner Program, please contact Scott Ashton at 760-722-1534

Committed to helping you save energy and money.

SDG&E® is proud to be your energy partner. In addition to delivering renewable, safe and reliable energy, we also support many savings programs for our residential and business customers.

To learn more visit sdge.com. © 2020 San Diego Gas & Electric Company. Trademarks are the property of their respective owners. All rights reserved. © 2020 San Diego Gas & Electric Company. Trademarks are the property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.

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Executive Committee:

Haley Wonsley Intesa Communications Group Chair Bob Waite AFLAC – Bob Waite Chair Elect Debra Allen Eternal Hills Memorial Park, Mortuary & Crematory, FD-234 Immediate Past Chair Marva Bledsoe Non-Profit Management Consulting Secretary/Treasurer Nazeli Dertsakian Genentech Vice Chair Joshua W. Van Orden Oceanside Therapy Group Vice Chair Kevin Witowich BBVA Compass Investments – Kevin Witowich Vice Chair ars 1 2 5 Ye

Board of Directors:

Bill Birnie Frontwave Credit Union Board Member Daniel Butler Waste Management of North County Board Member Robbie Calderon-Hass Hass Team Realty Board Member Rushell Gordon Bliss Tea and Treats Board Member Kristen Huyck MiraCosta College Board Member Christine Lee California State University San Marcos Board Member Maria Mingalone Oceanside Museum of Art Board Member

Ernie Prieto Oceanside Sea Center Board Member Katie Scanlan San Diego Gas & Electric Board Member Jessica Shrader Tri-City Medical Center Board Member Juan Velasco Slight Edge Hair Salon Board Member Rick Wright MainStreet Oceanside Board Member

Advisors:

Col. Daniel Whitley United States Marine Corps Jonathan Borrego City of Oceanside Leslee Gaul Visit Oceanside Conference & Visitor Bureau

Oceanside Chamber of Commerce 928 N. Coast Highway, Oceanside, CA 92054 (760) 722-1534 • www.OceansideChamber.com

www.oceansidechamber.com | Winter 2021

Staff:

Scott Ashton Chief Executive Officer Tracy Chin Finance and HR Administrator Kristi Hawthorne Director of Events Hana Gilbert Communications and Customer Service Coordinator Luis Barbosa Business Advocate and Advertising Solutions Pro

@OsideCaChamber

@OsideCaChamber

@OsideCaChamber

@OsideCaChamber

@OceansideChamber

@OceansideChamber

Oceanside Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Journal | 3

Oceanside Chamber Celebrates

125 Years

of Serving the Community

The Oceanside Chamber of Commerce celebrates its 125th anniversary this year.

Established in 1896, it is the oldest business in Oceanside. Over its long history, its role as a business and community advocate continues to be an important one.

Historic photos courtesy of the Oceanside Historical Society

The Oceanside Chamber was organized at a meeting held of atCommerce the South Quarterly Pacific Hotel in 1896 4 | Chamber Journal

Winter 2021 | www.oceansidechamber.com

Leading business owners met at the South Pacific Hotel on May 8, 1896 to discuss the formation of a business organization to promote the city, establishing the Oceanside Chamber. Since its inception, the Chamber has helped to shape the development of our City.

Tent City was managed by the Oceanside Chamber to help encourage tourism

While the Chamber’s purpose has evolved and changed over the years, its partnership with the City, businesses both large and small, and the community at large, has become increasingly more important.

The Chamber has taken the lead on a wide variety of issues that have helped to enhance and improve the City in which we live.

• Acquiring life-saving equipment on the beach in the 1920s • Building a municipal dining room under the pier in 1927 • Tree planting, beautification of the City, litter abatement • Promotion films, brochures, slogans • Helping to rebuilding the pier • Parades, fireworks and beauty contests • Establishing and sponsoring the annual Pier Swim in 1929 • Selling of war bonds during WWII • Securing a new train depot in 1946 • Street lights, traffic lights, train crossings • Downtown Parking • Celebrating the Nation’s Bi-Centennial

As Oceanside grew and prospered, housing became more in demand. The Chamber went into action and sought to help remedy the housing shortage by raising money to build two affordable homes in the downtown area. In a short time $10,000 was raised and construction began on a 5 room home on South Hill Street (South Coast Highway). The Chamber encouraged others to do the same to answer the housing crisis. The result was a building boom in the 1920s because of the Chamber’s leadership.

To help promote tourism and provide those visitors with adequate facilities, the Oceanside Chamber managed Tent City in 1920. Tourists would often “summer” at the beach, rather than visit for just a day or weekend. Later that year the Chamber purchased a site for a public auto park in response the constant demand.

Guy Wisdom was Chamber president the following year in 1923. During his tenure the Chamber adopted the slogan, “Oceanside, Where Life is Worth Living” which was popular for many years.

In the 1920s the Oceanside Chamber took up the issue of beach safety, after the City attorney stated that it was not the duty of the City to maintain life-saving equipment. The Chamber stepped up to ensure that beach goers were safe from rip tides and other dangers by purchasing a rowboat for water rescues and other life-saving equipment, as well as to help hire a beach lifeguard in the summer months.

The first Pier Swim was organized by the Oceanside Chamber

www.oceansidechamber.com | Winter 2021

Oceanside Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Journal | 5

Location of the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce in the 1950s.

E. A. Walsh took the office of Chamber President in 1925 and that year the Chamber moved into new quarters in the I.O.O.F. building on Second Street (Mission Avenue).

The City was focused on building a new pier and the Oceanside Chamber spearheaded efforts to gather 400 signatures for a petition to vote on the issuing of bonds for $100,000 for a new pier and improvements on the beach.

During the Depression the Oceanside Chamber was instrumental in providing work projects for the unemployed. Laborers were paid $2 a day on a six-day-a-week schedule and preference was given to men with families. Work included clearing and improving streets, alleys and sidewalks.

With the influx of military personnel, it was the Chamber who sought to establish a USO in downtown Oceanside on behalf of the service members stationed at Camp Pendleton. The Chamber also sponsored a victory garden in response to the war effort.

While many service members were living in barracks on base, the need for housing for military and civilian

families was urgent. John Steiger of the Chamber Housing Committee urged homeowners to rent rooms to military and civilian personnel based at Camp Pendleton to help relieve the housing shortage, while the Chamber sought help from the Federal Housing Administration and requested that no less than 300 homes be built to help offset the need. With the Chamber’s persistence, a Federal Housing project was built in 1945 on Mission Avenue, with 648 units for military families.

Palm trees were planted by the Chamber as part of a beautification program 6 | Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Journal

Winter 2021 | www.oceansidechamber.com

The Chamber moved into its new home at 510 Fourth Street (Civic Center Drive) in 1953, a building it still owns today. The catch-phrase that year was “Oceanside, where the mercury never goes crazy.”

In 1954 the Tri-City Hospital Association was formed with Chamber President Eugene Geil as one of the founding members. As chairman of the Association, he led the Oceanside Chamber to partner with the Vista and Carlsbad Chambers to form the Tri City Hospital District. This collaboration brought to fruition Tri-City Hospital which opened in 1961 and continues to serve the community as Tri-City Medical Center.

Under the leadership of the Oceanside Chamber, in 1959 County offices were built at Mission and Barnes Street, which included a Municipal Court, Agriculture Department office, Department of Public Welfare, and Department of Public Health. Adding these County offices enabled Oceanside residents to receive services locally rather than having to travel down to San Diego.

In 1960 the Chamber sponsored the first Harbor Days – even before the Harbor existed at the Del Mar Boat Basin. The Mayflower II, a commercial blimp, owned

by Goodyear Tire, floated over Oceanside on the evening before the Harbor Days illuminated a 10-foot high message publicizing the event, it was announced today. During that year, the Oceanside Chamber held a Harbor Bond Day seeking one thousand Oceanside residents to contribute $1 each for purchase of the first $1,000 bond in the $4 ½ million bond issue to finance harbor construction.

Mary Steiger, first woman president of the Oceanside Chamber in 1977.

Mary Steiger became the chamber’s first woman president in 1977 and started publication of the first monthly newsletter. Mary invited the Commandant of the Marine Corps General Lou Wilson to address the Chamber at a sold-out event.

On another occasion Steiger invited Senator Alan Cranston, the majority speaker for Congress, to a Chamber breakfast to address the need for a solution to beach erosion. A video was shown of Oceanside’s ravaged beaches and this Chamber meeting resulted in Oceanside receiving the first funding from the government for dredging and sand replacement.

In 1988 Marva Bledsoe became President of the Chamber and during her tenure marked another important milestone. A vacant building was moved from its original location on Third Street (Pier View Way) to 928 North Hill (now Coast Highway) to serve as both the Chamber office as well as the Visitor’s Center.

In 1999, the Oceanside Chamber sought designation for its Visitor Center as an official California Welcome Center. The following year it was successful in gaining that status, making it the eighth California Welcome Center in the State and the first in San Diego County.

The Chamber hired a Director of Tourism to oversee the Center.

The Oceanside Chamber established “Operation Appreciation” in response to 9/11. First held on Armed Forces Day in 2002, this event was specifically created to support and thank active duty military and their families based at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.

In 2008 the Oceanside Chamber The Oceanside Chamber was an integral partner in establishing the Tri City Hospital in 1961.

www.oceansidechamber.com | Winter 2021

Oceanside Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Journal | 7

“Tan Your Hide in Oceanside” was a popular slogan promoted by the Oceanside Chamber.

was instrumental in keeping the area code 760 in place. The Public Utilities Commission was proposing to change the area code to 442 which would have created hardship and expense for area businesses. Pressure from the Chamber resulted in the Commission’s reversal of the plan with a 5-0 decision, making this a win for local businesses.

Leading Oceanside’s 125th anniversary celebration, the Chamber was actively involved in planning and coordinating Oceanside’s 125th years as a City. Bringing several organizations together, the Chamber published a history of Oceanside, placed 125th banners along Coast Highway, and sponsored a cake cutting ceremony at the Civic Center on July 3, 2013, the anniversary date of the City’s incorporation.

In 2014, the Chamber began publishing a magazine featuring the best of Oceanside, arts, culture, food and drink. The Best of Oceanside publications continue in a Quarterly Journal, Map and Community Guide.

In 2020 the Chamber focused on helping to elect business-friendly candidates to local office. The Chamber’s Business and Community Political Action Committee (BACPAC), along with Chamber Staff and

Board Members, spent much of 2019 setting up a strong framework for endorsing business-friendly candidates in 2020. The Chamber endorsed Peter Weiss and Ryan Keim for council seats in Districts 3 and 4 and both were elected.

With the onset of COVID-19 and the shutdown of many businesses, large and small, the Oceanside Chamber took an immediate lead to advocate for business, providing up to the minute information and resources. The Chamber has been tirelessly supporting businesses and those in our community impacted by the shutdown. From facilitating small business grants to providing meals via gift cards to hundreds of families in Oceanside, the Chamber seeks to assist businesses through this crisis while supporting the community at large.

The Oceanside Harbor made possible by the efforts and support of the Oceanside Chamber.

8 | Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Journal

Winter 2021 | www.oceansidechamber.com

If you’re looking for a luxurious senior living experience, look no further than Ocean Hills. Elevating Assisted Living & Memory Care to new heights with services and amenities like nowhere else.

Schedule a Tour Today!

4500 Cannon Rd., Oceanside, CA 92056 | (760) 295-8515 www.oceanhillsseniorliving.com

www.oceansidechamber.com | Spring 2020

Oceanside Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Journal | 9

VIRTUAL Networking Events

Virtual Networking Events are open to both Oceanside Chamber members and prospective members.

We are offering these events free of charge, however, we encourage attendees to enjoy local takeout during our events in order to support our small businesses. *Virtual events are subject to change. Please visit OceansideChamber.com for up-to-date information and registration.

VIRTUAL FIRST TUESDAY COFFEE Connect with likeminded businesses over coffee, tea or whatever your morning fix is on-the-go. Attendees will have the opportunity to share a 1-minute introduction and exclusive access to the participant list following the event. This event is currently powered by Zoom and is open to both members and prospective members.

Online Event via Zoom • 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM January 5, February 2, March 2

10 | Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Journal

Virtual Oceanside Young Professionals Network Meeting The Oceanside Young Professional Network (OYPN) meets the first Thursday of every month from 10:00am11:00am. The OYPN serves to allow local young professionals an avenue to introduce themselves, network with like-minded peers, engage in the community, and stay informed on local issues. Chamber members in this age group are encouraged to come to meetings and contribute to the program’s development.

Online Event via Zoom 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM January 7, February 4, March 4

Winter 2021 | www.oceansidechamber.com

Open Fall 2020 Scripps Medical Center Trusted Care Right in Your Neighborhood Scripps Medical Center brings Scripps trusted care to you and your family at our newest North County location. From primary and specialty care to our urgent care and walk-in express clinic, we want to make it convenient and easy for you to get the care you need, when you need it.

Scripps Medical Center 2205 Vista Way Oceanside, CA 92054

Services include: • Primary care, including internal and family medicine, pediatrics, and obstetrics and gynecology with Scripps Coastal Medical Center • Specialty care, including orthopedics, cardiology, perinatology, neurology, ophthalmology and more, with Scripps Clinic • Urgent Care

• Scripps HealthExpress walk-in care • Scripps MD Anderson Cancer Center • Ambulatory Surgery Center (opening spring 2021) • Pharmacy • Laboratory and imaging services

Click. Call. Come See Us. With in-person and virtual appointments you can even schedule online, Scripps makes it easy to get all your care in one convenient location. Your health and safety are always our top priorities, and we have precautions in place to help prevent COVID-19.

To learn more, call 1-800-SCRIPPS (727-4777). www.oceansidechamber.com | Winter 2021

Oceanside Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Journal | 11

future talent

Charles Dabney From Police Explorer to Police Officer Oceanside Police Officer Charles Dabney patrols the City in which he grew up. He is familiar with the streets, neighborhoods and the people. Like many of his fellow officers, he has a vested interest in the community in which he serves and is called to protect.

Officer Dabney is one of several success stories of the Oceanside Police Department’s Explorer Program, one he joined as a teenager that fostered his interest in law enforcement.

The Oceanside Police Department Explorer Program is designed for responsible young men and women to explore all aspects of law enforcement. The program provides direct interaction with working field officers, supervisors and support staff, to foster and expand their interest in the law enforcement profession as a career. The Explorer Program also helps in strengthening ties between the community and police.

Explorers are given the opportunity to participate in a week-long law enforcement academy, as well as weekend events held over the course of the year.

They gain exposure to various criminal justice careers while experiencing positive interaction with law enforcement professionals.

Back in 2007 when he was ten years old, he participated in “Shop with a Cop”.

Charles remembers the excitement of being part of the police motorcade from Oceanside to Sea World down in San Diego, the flashing lights and sirens.

This experience is taken seriously by both OPD and the participants. Candidates must meet rigid standards in order to qualify for participation in the program which include the following: Applicants must be between the ages of 16 and 20 and if enrolled in high school, maintain at least an overall “C” grade average; If out of high school, they must have a high school diploma or a GED; Applicants must have the ability to commit to a minimum of 10 hours per month, or 30 hours per quarter of service, which includes meetings, ride-a-longs, office work, training, 12 | Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Journal

and special events.

The Explorer program has five areas of emphasis: career opportunities; life skills which develop positive social interactions and physical and mental fitness; citizenship, encourage the desire to help others through community service; character education, learning to make ethical choices and decisions; and leadership experience.

Charles Dabney was born and raised in Oceanside. He attended Garrison Elementary, Lincoln Middle School and graduated from Oceanside High School in 2016.

Back in 2007 when he was ten years old, he participated in “Shop with a Cop”. Charles remembers the excitement of being part of the police motorcade from Oceanside to Sea World down in San Diego, the flashing lights and sirens. The convoy included law enforcement departments around the county and included members of the DEA, FBI, San Diego County Sheriff Department, and came complete with helicopters. Charles was able to select gifts with a police officer that was assigned to him. It was an experience he has never forgotten.

After Chandra Faist, a high school teacher with the Academy of Justice, spoke to him about the Oceanside Police Explorer Program, Charles joined the program in 2013. His mother was at first worried about Charles’ direction toward law enforcement as a career, but she could see his commitment, interest and his investment of time. Charles said she was largely put at ease after meeting his mentors and the family atmosphere among the staff and explorers.

Dabney was in the Explorer program for three years Winter 2021 | www.oceansidechamber.com

and was the youngest to obtain the highest rank of Sergeant. Obtaining “hands-on” experience and awareness of the criminal justice system helped him to envision a career in law enforcement. Charles knew he didn’t want to just sit behind a desk; he wanted to be out in the community. He was inspired about the opportunity for a daily new adventure, meeting new people and making a difference.

After completing the Explorer’s Program in 2016, Charles became a Police Cadet, working the front desk as a Community Services Officer. He also worked with officers in the Property and Evidence facility which included helping to transport evidence to the crime lab.

Detective Ryan Malone and other OPD staff saw his work ethic, recognized his follow through on tasks; his commitment and their investment in Charles paid off. In June 2019 he entered the Police Academy, graduating in November of that year.

Today Charles patrols the downtown area, which includes the beach and pier. He feels that because he grew up here that he can relate to his peers and can communicate with his generation, who may not always have a favorable view of law enforcement. He said that he and his fellow officers see that same 95% people on a regular basis and the other 5% are “good people who do dumb stuff.” Regardless, Charles wants to give the public a different point view and share his perspective, all the while maintaining a respectful relationship.

Hiring essential positions Up to $15.50/hr. to start Location Oceanside Colocation 1402 Avenida Del Oro Oceanside, CA 92056

On the front lines FedEx Ground is hiring team members to help us support the economy, handling life-saving medications and other items that keep our communities as prepared as possible in these uncertain times.

Benefits, parental leave and flexible schedule options available.

To apply please visit groundwarehousejobs.fedex.com or text FXGflyer to 33011.

Message and data rates may apply. 1 message per request. Text STOP to 33011 cancel. Text HELP to 33011 for help.

FedEx Ground is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer (Minorities/Females/Disabled/Veterans) committed to a diverse workforce.

www.oceansidechamber.com | Winter 2021

Oceanside Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Journal | 13

membership NEW MEMBERS September 8, 2020 – December 2, 2020

Angels and Gurus 1920 S Coast Hwy Oceanside, CA 92054 (760) 448-0785 www.angelsandgurus.org Health and Wellness Angry Chickz 612 Mission Ave Oceanside, CA 92054 www.angrychickz.com Restaurants – American Azzur Group Hatboro, PA 19040 www.azzur.com Biotechnology Hoffbeck Consulting Oceanside, CA 92054 www.hoffbeck.co Consultants

Nimbletoad Carlsbad, CA 92009 (760) 814-1001 www.nimbletoad.com/locations/ oceanside/ Business Services Oceanside Athletic Club 918 Mission Ave. Oceanside, CA 92054 (760) 981-7273 www.oceansideathleticclub.com Health and Fitness Shores Hospice 2424 Vista Way, Ste. 206 Oceanside, CA 92054 (858) 951-5454 www.shoreshospice.com Hospice

858-401-7716

(424) 645-2468

Honest Medical 1935 Avenida Del Oro Ste. E Oceanside, CA 92056 (833) 933-2323 www.honestmed.com Medical Supplies and Equipment Kurve Beauty Studio 403 Wisconsin Ave Ste. C Oceanside, CA 92054 (760) 485-6029 www.kurvebeautystudio.com Beauty Salons – Beauty Services Left Coast LLC 1629 Ord Way Oceanside, CA 92056 (888) 420-5883 https://leftcoastextracts.info Health and Wellness Lived Experiences Inc PO Box 254 Oceanside, CA 92049 (619) 368-3790 www.livedexperiences.org Youth Programs Mathnasium of Oceanside North 125 Old Grove Rd., Ste. 9 Oceanside, CA 92057 (760) 472-3742 www.mathnasium.com/oceansidenorth Education Program

The Reeves Law Group 1055 W 7th St., #3333 Los Angeles, CA 90017 (213) 271-9318 www.robertreeveslaw.com Attorneys The UPS Store 7254 918 Mission Ave., Ste. 120 Oceanside, CA 92054 (760) 757-2399 https://www.upsstoreprintshop.com Shipping/Packaging/Mailing Services Vestra Labs, LLC 221 N. Horne St., #B Oceanside, CA 92054 www.Vestra-Labs.com Medical Labs

(760) 231-1493

West Coast Heating, Air Conditioning & Solar 1256 Fayette St. El Cajon, CA 92020 (619) 473-7530 www.westcoastheatcool.com/servicearea/air-conditioning-heating-solaroceanside-ca Solar Electricity

RENEWING MEMBERS

September 8, 2020 – December 2, 2020 76 to 80 Years as Member Premier Chevrolet & Kia 66 to 70 Years as Member Larry Hatter The San Diego Union-Tribune

14 | Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Journal

61 to 65 Years as Member El Camino Country Club 41 to 45 Years as Member Days Inn Oceanside Hunter Steakhouse of Oceanside O’Harra Fiduciary Services Scripps Health 36 to 40 Years as Member Frontwave Credit Union Gaspar Doctors of Physical Therapy, APC Manheim San Diego Auto Auction, Inc. MiraCosta College Oceanside Industrial Park Richard’s Mobile Tire Service 31 to 35 Years as Member Southern California Beach Club 26 to 30 Years as Member American Legion #146 California Surf Museum Canine Companions for Independence Friends of the Oceanside Public Library Oceanside Unified School District QLN Conference Center (Quantum Learning Network) & Meeting Facility TrueCare YMCA – Joe and Mary Mottino Family 21 to 25 Years as Member Better Business Bureau of San Diego Comfort Suites Marina Harbor Gift Shop Hydranautics – A Nitto Group Company Mission Marketplace Shopping Center Nana and Pop Pop’s Sweet Shop Ocean’s Eleven Casino Oceanside Museum of Art Old Town Trolley Tours of San Diego Parra Accounting & Income Tax Service Ranch House Veterinary Services Stater Bros. Markets #150 Stater Bros. Markets #151 16 to 20 Years as Member Beachwood Motel CompassMark Cream of the Crop Elegance Talent Agency & Model Management Fairwinds Ivey Ranch Jazzercise Fitness Center Navy Federal Credit Union Robert W. Davis, C.P.A. Sea Star Charters & Ocean Classroom Security Public Storage Storage West Self Storage Winter 2021 | www.oceansidechamber.com

membership Warner’s Muffler, Inc. Wyndham Oceanside Pier Resort 15 Years as Member Adrageous!

Advantage, Inc. AFLAC – Bob Waite Anna’s Housekeeping Brookdale Oceanside Bruce Mortland California State University San Marcos Coldwell Banker/Rita Harper, Realtor, SRES Coleman & Coleman Advanced Dentistry Express Employment Professionals Harney Sushi Hot 2 Pop Kettle Corn / Finest City Kettlecorn Jitters Coffee Pub Le Rendez Vous French Bakery MailingList.org Royal Rooter, Inc. United Studios of Self Defense Window Pros 6 to 10 Years as Member 8-2-8 Urgent Care Abigail’s Medical Supplies, Inc. Action Carpet and Floor Decor Advanced Plumbing Systems Anderson Catering Services Batteries Plus Bulbs Body & Brain Wellness Foundation San Diego Brain On Computers Bread of Life Rescue Mission Buffalo Wild Wings Carlson Mobile Notary Coast Dental Dare to be Fit DeLuz Family Housing Domino’s Pizza #8548 Dragon Printing, Inc. Elements Massage Frontline Tattoo GM Mortgage Hass Team Realty – Robbie Calderon-Hass Hello Betty Fish House HOCOA-Your Home Repair Network Hume & Company Joel Marcus Insurance Kaiser Permanente – Oceanside LTH & Kitchen New Venture Christian Fellowship Oceanside Cultural Arts Foundation Oceanside Florist Inc Oceanside Jewelers Premier Carpet Care

Privateer Coal Fire Pizza Pro Kids | The First Tee of San Diego Rookies Restaurant & Sports Bar Semper Fi & America’s Fund Shaklee Distributor – Richard Fox Signs for San Diego – Frank Murch Solutions for Change Springhill Suites by Marriott Downtown Oceanside That Boy Good The Frame House The Pharmary RX The Tin Fish Resturant Thrivent Financial Trademark Venues, LLC Ultimate Carpet Cleaning Walmart #5637 Neighborhood Market Wounded Warrior Homes, Inc. 1 to 5 Years as Member AlphaGraphics Oceanside American Pharma Wholesale Americas Publisher, LLC Aquamarine Villas Arrowood Golf Course Boot Barn Burke & Domercq, LLP Camp Pendleton Self Storage Candace Saari, CPA Care Choice Health Systems, Inc. Children’s Paradise Inc Coastal Academy and Coastal Academy High School Coldwell Banker Previews InternationalMarta Hall Compass Balloons LLC Crownview Co-occurring Institute (CCI) Cynthia’s Artistic Expressions Design Hair, Nails & Spa Dominic’s Italian Restaurant DQ Grill & Chill Restaurant Edward Jones – Vincent Alessi Emerald Isle Golf Course FedEx Ground Felix’s BBQ with Soul Freedom Dogs Fully Promoted of Oceanside Global City Media Center Gypsy Soul Dreaming Health Insurance Plan Experts Injury Trial Lawyers, APC Institute of Healthcare Ivey Ranch Park Association Kennedy & Associates Langfordesign Laurie Sloan Kotecki Agency-Farmer’s Insurance Law Office of Vikas Bajaj, APC

www.oceansidechamber.com | Winter 2021

Life Enrichment Services Luna Live Scan + Notary Marcy Browe Photography Mathematical Boundaries Medleaf Delivery MedRev Metroflex Gym Mindful Rejuvenation Mission Auto Care My Salon Suite Oceanside Nagata Bros, LLC. NTE Printing and Graphics Oceanside Craft Farms Oceanside Friends Of The Arts Oceanside Promise Otterlei Coastal Primary Care Associates, Part of OptumCare Primerica- Stacey Smith-Bacon Purple Heart Originals, LLC Quality Lock and Security Services, Inc. Reap & Sow Ride Oside LLC Right at Home In-Home Care & Assistance Russell Cellular Santa Fe Dental Group Sew O’side Shepherd Of The Valley Lutheran Church SignArt Graphix Slight Edge Hair Salon Solis Team Real Estate – Mike and Jessica Solis South O’ Internet Services Splitz Second Shooting FT&S, LLC. Stifel – Evan Hennessy Syndicate Vapes Ted Marioncelli The Elizabeth Hospice The North County Food Bank The Real Estate Consultants Tri-City House of Dentistry Trimco Venetos Cucina Italiana Yummie Fountains

Oceanside Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Journal | 15

chamber news Chamber Welcomes New Staff Member, Luis Barbosa The Oceanside Chamber is pleased to welcome its newest staff member, Luis Barbosa to the position of Business Advocate & Advertising Solutions Pro. Luis is a native from Oceanside. He attended Pacifica Elementary and got a chuckle or two reading the comics section from the Blade Citizen while growing up. Luis graduated from El Camino High school and attended Mira Costa College before embarking into the business world.

From early on he was exposed to business operations by assisting his parents in their janitorial business while being actively involved with the local church. It is fair to say that this exposure from an early age helped shape his passion for business. Pursuing this passion, Luis has embarked on multiple business ventures and has experience firsthand the day to day challenges small businesses face. In pursuit of his goals, Luis took the leap and moved with his family to Austin, Texas leaving close family, friends, surf and carne asada burritos behind. He soon realized that there really is no place like home and looked for his one way ticket back to the beautiful city of Oceanside. Since coming back, Luis has been involved in multiple projects that involve sales, finance, divestitures and acquisitions. You can often find Luis with his family at any of the great coffee shops around town or at one of the many hiking trails San Diego has to offer.

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Winter 2021 | www.oceansidechamber.com

Bread of Life A New Partner with the San Diego Rescue Mission

By Kristi Hawthorne The Bread of Life has served the Community for over 20 years by fulfilling their simple mission: Meeting the needs of those who are hurting, hungry and poor with the love and grace of Jesus Christ.

Since 2019, Bread of Life has been a beacon of hope to the hopeless and has served the Oceanside area by helping the underserved, those who are down-andout and who are facing a variety of hardships.

How is this accomplished? Not only by providing needed meals, groceries and clothing, but providing life-changing resources along with life skill classes.

This year calls for an extra serving of hope. As unemployment rises, so do needs. People are faced with more financial instability and food insecurities than ever before.

Tim Yzaguirre joined Bread of Life in 2018. He found the organization’s mission and message so worthwhile he gave up his career in the world of banking to serve full time. He would like to do away with the term “homeless” altogether and instead use God’s vocabulary: “Neighbors without homes.” His point is that if we see these folks as neighbors, rather than a nuisance, it will change our perspective. Tim acknowledges that the growing homelessness population is often seen as a hopeless issue. People without hope is the real issue.

“There are really good programs and organizations doing great things but they focus on meeting the need rather than addressing the need,” said Tim. “Homelessness is a symptom of a deeper cause and not just a housing issue.”

Bread of Life began as a simple grass roots effort by volunteers who put love into action providing, clothing, hygiene products and sack lunches to the homeless which they distributed at local parks. From those

www.oceansidechamber.com | Winter 2021

humble beginnings, it has grown into a well-organized program that operates with over 60 volunteers. Their goal remains simple: To help people, offering compassion and a way to get them off the streets (or out of their cars) permanently, all the while giving with humility and hope.

Most recently, Bread of Life has teamed up with the San Diego Rescue Mission, becoming the North County branch of that organization. With this valuable collaboration they can better serve our most vulnerable population, those who many would consider are the least, last and lost.

The San Diego Mission provides 300 long term beds, 60 emergency beds and a licensed childcare facility. The Mission provides a safe environment for people desiring a better life and seeks to address the immediate needs of those experiencing homelessness. Currently there are no beds in Oceanside, but the Bread of Life volunteers are equipped to identify those persons who qualify and get them transferred to San Diego.

Tim and Donnie Dee, President and CEO of the San Diego Rescue Mission, met at a breakfast meeting.

As the two shared their passion for people, they felt led to come together in unity, as both organizations share the same goal. By doing so Bread of Life uses its resources more efficiently, in turn helping others in a more efficient and effective way. Their vision would be a countywide program to have shelter/missions in East County, North County and South County.

Oceanside Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Journal | 17

shop local Chamber and City Provide Direct Support to Small Businesses Through its partnership with the City of Oceanside, the Chamber played a large role in the distribution of CARES Act funding to our small business community through two programs ...

Small Business Grants – The Chamber administered the “city-wide” portion of the Small Business Grant Program, while partnering with MainStreet Oceanside who handled grant distribution in the downtown district. Chamber staff oversaw program promotion and outreach and the review of grant applications and distribution of the grant awards. In total, 77 businesses received over $155,000 in grant funding.

Shop Local – Shop Local Oceanside is an ongoing effort to revitalize Oceanside’s economy and support our small businesses. The Chamber purchased $8500 in gift cards from local businesses and distributed the gift cards to residents who participated in Shop Local social media contests. For several weeks in November and December, the Chamber announced daily contest winners with prize packs including gift cards to various Oceanside businesses. Packages ranged in value from $150 – $225. “Our hope is to create a stronger connection between Oceanside residents and the small businesses in our community. With a decline in tourism due to COVID-19, our businesses need local support now more than any time in recent history”, said Chamber CEO, Scott Ashton.

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Winter 2021 | www.oceansidechamber.com

Chamber-Supported Candidates Win Oceanside City Council Races

Ryan Keim for District 3 In August, the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce announced its endorsements for the 2020 City of Oceanside elections. The Chamber Board of Directors voted to support Ryan Keim for District 3 and Peter Weiss for District 4. Both candidates won their respective district races within crowded candidate fields.

While the Chamber has been a very vocal business advocate on a variety of business-related issues over the years, this was the Chamber’s first time endorsing candidates in recent history.

While the Chamber has been a very vocal business advocate on a variety of business-related issues over the years, this was the Chamber’s first time endorsing candidates in recent history. The endorsements by www.oceansidechamber.com | Winter 2021

Peter Weiss for District 4 the Chamber Board followed several months of work by the Advance Oceanside Political Action Committee.

Much of 2019 was spent developing policies and procedures and seeking Chamber member input on what issues were most important to our businesses. In addition to its endorsement, The Chamber’s Advance Oceanside Political Action Committee raised nearly $12,000 to support our candidates this year.

“Both of these councilmembers have proven that they have the best interests of our business community in mind”, said Chamber CEO Scott Ashton. “While the State’s mandated closures have been destructive to our business community, City leaders have bent over backwards to try to help our businesses succeed in this environment. Both Ryan Keim and Peter Weiss have played instrumental roles in those efforts.”

Oceanside Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Journal | 19

R E G N HA C E GAM

ge n a h C r o f s n o , y n n Soluti h o dJ an a c i n o d e M m r o f ns a r T s e Li v

By Kristi Hawthorne It can be easy to walk past the homeless person on the corner, the woman lying on the street, or the man at the intersection holding a handwritten sign.

They become almost invisible to many. But families are among the most invisible -- you don’t often see them on the street, but chances are they are living in a parked car somewhere.

It is heartbreaking to imagine children living in a car with their parents, without a warm bed, a place to bathe and a home to play in. How did they end up here? What do they need to get back into a home?

These questions don’t always have easy answers and the extent of someone’s past troubles or life choices can be impossible to know.

The mission of Solutions for Change is to solve family homelessness – One family, one community at a time. Here is one example.

Monica and her boyfriend Johnny were struggling with addiction.

20 | Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Journal

Unemployed, with no resources, they were barely making it. Torn between paying the electricity or the light bill, the couple could no longer pay rent and as a result became homeless with their children. The family resorted to living and sleeping in their car, at times in dark and dangerous places. They went from place to place trying to find meals to eat. One of the most difficult aspects was finding a restroom where they could take their children to clean them and change their clothes to be ready for school.

It’s a heart wrenching dilemma that many families have to face. But Monica and Johnny found help, a hand up, and needed stability in Solutions for Change, which transformed their lives and that of their children.

While many public assistance programs seek to help families in distress, simply providing motel vouchers and even subsidized housing, is not a permanent solution. Although these may temporarily fix the problem, the solution is not a permanent one. Many times, addiction continues and destructive patterns and behaviors remain. If a troubled family is only moved to a more comfortable location, then the root cause of homelessness may not be addressed and therefore not resolved.

Solutions for Change notes, “There are about a half a million children caught in the churn here in the United States, and unless we commit to solving it, these children face a greater likelihood of falling into the pattern of generational poverty and homelessness in the future.”

The organization’s approach differs greatly from Winter 2021 | www.oceansidechamber.com

handouts, feeding programs and shelter beds. Instead its goal and focus is an “innovative, permanent solution focused on well-being and capacity building.”

It provides the right set of opportunities, addresses root causes of dependency, and equips people with the skills, knowledge, and resources to permanently solve their homelessness. This is accomplished by addressing three key areas: personal development (well-being), workforce development (economic capacity), and community development (service).

This program blends “affordable housing, educational opportunities, employment training and health related solutions all within one cohesive strategic partnership.” As a result, parents become the role models their children need them to be. Parents see their children begin to excel in school. New opportunities become possible for families and the communities within which they live.

After completing the program, Monica and Johnny are now sober, living life responsibly for themselves and their children. They both work for Solutions for Change and are helping others. Johnny said, “We can share what we’ve learned and help them on their journey to help transform them.”

While Johnny was diagnosed with cancer, it was comforting to know that his family had a safe place

to live. After his recovery, Johnny and Monica took the next step, getting married on the premises of Solutions for Change, surrounded by their children, friends and support staff.

Monica says she feels forever blessed and that it is both beautiful and comforting that her family is at a peace again. Her husband Johnny noted that their children are laughing once more, simply being kids again. The family has a real home and stability, a future and new hope. “It’s an amazing journey and we’re so grateful for it.”

Solutions for Change has been empowering families to grow beyond their vulnerabilities to attain true freedom from dependency and become productive, “tax-paying” citizens. Every year, with community support, they impact hundreds of lives. For over two decades, they have provided transformative services to 1250 families and 2500 children.

A Unique Group Term Life Insurance Program Offered Exclusively to Oceanside Chamber of Commerce Members This special program allows business members of the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce with 5 or more employees the opportunity to take advantage of a group term life benefit typically only available to large companies or unions.

Offers Guaranteed Coverage up to $50,000 for each employee; $20,000 for spouses; $10,000 for dependent children.

Unique Features: • No Employer Contribution • No Health Questions • No Medical Exams

Joel Marcus Insurance www.oceansidechamber.com | Winter 2021

Highlights of This Plan: • Completely Voluntary • Males & Females pay the same rate • Everyone pays a non-smoker rate

(760) 804-6233 jmaflac@aol.com CA License # 0525206

Oceanside Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Journal | 21

Not All Stroke Centers Are Created Equal Provided By Dr. Gene Ma Chief Medical Officer, Tri-City Medical Center “My dad had a stroke and he can’t speak but there’s nothing more that can be done.”

These were the helpless words of a friend who called to share with me that his dad had lost valuable time wandering around his wholesale membership warehouse store because he had suddenly been unable to communicate. By the time he was taken to his local hospital, it was too late to treat him with a clot-busting medication often used in severe stroke cases.

“Ask the doctor if there’s a thrombectomy capable stroke center in the region and if there is, request an immediate transfer,” I responded.

Stroke care has evolved dramatically since I started practicing emergency medicine almost 25 years ago.

What remains a constant, however, is that time is critical. Delays in seeking care can be catastrophic, as would have been the case here. I’ve witnessed time and again the miraculous recovery after a stroke victim arrives paralyzed on one side of the body and is treated with tissue plasminogen activator(tPA). For patients who seek care within 3 hours of a stroke, this life-altering, clot-busting medication helps open up a clogged artery in the brain responsible for loss of function.

My friend’s experience impressed upon me how important it is for patients to recognize that stroke care no longer stops at 3 hours. Fortunately, for his dad, a regional Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Center was nearby. As the human brain is exquisitely intolerant of diminished oxygen flow from a stroke, he was expeditiously transferred to the regional facility where specialized doctors called neuro-interventional radiologists used a small artery to tunnel a catheter into the arteries in his brain and retrieved the blood clot. Thanks to the skill of those specialists at that advanced stroke center, he recovered almost immediately and today, you would never know he was almost left with what would have been a disastrous, life-altering deficit.

The data is irrefutable. People are waiting too long at home to seek emergency care when needed, for fear 22 | Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Journal

of COVID. We as emergency physicians are witnessing devastating strokes, heart attacks, infections, diabetic complications and many other preventable illnesses because of delays in seeking medical help during this pandemic. The reality is that COVID isn’t contracted in hospitals, but out in the community when we let down our guard (and our masks). Yet heart attacks and strokes lack the courtesy to wait out the pandemic.

Here’s what you can do to ensure the best possible outcomes for yourself and your family during these trying times: • Plan ahead by knowing where the closest Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Center is located to you and your loved ones. Tri-City Medical Center is a Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Center and is located at 4002 Vista Way in Oceanside.

• Recognize the symptoms of a stroke with the acronym F.A.S.T.-Facial droop, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call 911.

• Know the symptoms of a heart attack: Chest discomfort with our without jaw or neck pain, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea and weakness.

Most of all, stay strong Oceanside. The vaccine is imminent, and we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Together, we’re going to beat this and be with our friends and families again.

About The Author Dr. Gene Ma has served as an emergency department physician at Tri-City Medical Center for over 19 years and is Tri-City’s Chief Medical Officer.

Winter 2021 | www.oceansidechamber.com

A Distinguished Career of Service to Oceanside Jack Feller Served on Oceanside City Council from 2000-2020

By Kristi Hawthorne The Oceanside Chamber of Commerce wants to acknowledge and thank Councilmember Jack Feller for his many years of service to Oceanside. He has proudly served our City in numerous ways and capacities, including the Chamber’s Board of Directors and 20 years on the City Council.

Jack Feller has been giving back and serving his community for over 30 years. He has been involved in and volunteered for many civic events and organizations from Little League to Harbor Days, from Rotary to the Women’s Resource Center and dozens in between.

Born in South Dakota, his family moved to California in 1960 when

www.oceansidechamber.com | Winter 2021

he was just twelve years old. After graduating high school, Jack enlisted in the Navy in 1968 and was assigned to Camp Pendleton’s Naval Dental Clinic, where he served until 1974. After leaving the area, Jack and his wife Bunny moved back to Oceanside in 1987, to live permanently and raise their children.

They now enjoy a large extended family with over 25 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Along with Jack’s involvement in various non-profits, he also served as a Commissioner on the Oceanside Beach and Harbor Advisory Committee, Integrated Waste Commission and the Hazardous Waste Commission, was a founding Board Member of Pacific View Charter School, and served on the Seagaze Concert Series Steering Committee (just to name a few).

When Jack ran for a seat on Oceanside City Council, he felt it was just another “continued service to the community.” Elected to the Council in 2000, he has sought to maintain and increase the quality of life for Oceanside residents. While in office Jack has been an advocate for business, housing and job creation.

Rick Wright, Director of MainStreet Oceanside said, “I can always count on Jack to support our efforts to improve the downtown. He was a great booster for MainStreet and the recent formation of the Property and Business Improvement District (PBID). We will miss him greatly.”

Oceanside Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Journal | 23

Marva Bledsoe, Secretary/Treasurer, Oceanside Chamber, said of Jack: “He is truly a man who loves his community and participates fully. While most people know Jack as a dedicated, long-serving member of the Oceanside City Council, many may not be aware of how involved Jack is in the community-at-large. A fond recollection of mine is sitting with him in the stands at various sporting events.

While I was there watching my grandchildren play, he was there cheering on the Oceanside teams, even when he did not have a family member participating! Jack also served on the Oceanside Chamber Harbor Days Committee for years. As co-chair for almost 20 years, it was my privilege to work with him. As we would walk the food area at 5:00 am picking up trash to be ready for the second day of the event, Jack would always laugh and say ‘I guess you’re a true Oceanside lover when you are doing this in the wee hours of the morning!’”

Jack said that while he served on the City Council he enjoyed resolving problems for citizens and finding solutions for the betterment of his community. He is proud of many accomplishments including his role in the 2003 “Defenders of Freedom Parade”, helping to secure the future world-class aquatics center at El Corazon, and voting in favor to purchase the old Playgirl Club – now the beautiful home of the California Surf Museum.

Jack is optimistic for Oceanside and will continue an active role. He firmly believes in continuing to support our youth “as they are the future of our City.”

www.oceansidetherapygroup.com

“Where Families Come First” • Pediatric Speech/Language Therapy • Pediatric Occupational Therapy • Pediatric Physical Therapy

760.529.4975

760.529.4761 fax info@oceansidetherapygroup.com 3355 Mission Avenue, Ste. 123, Oceanside, CA 92058

24 | Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Journal

Winter 2021 | www.oceansidechamber.com

Optimistic Outlooks for 2021 While the challenges of 2020 still linger, our focus for 2021 is economic recovery. Our business community is characterized by resiliency, determination and optimism. Here’s a quick look at why some of our business leaders are optimistic about the coming year.

“The early social changes that happened because of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions reintroduced so many people and families to the pleasures, beauty and fun of the outdoors as well as the benefits of exercising. I continue to see so many people walking in neighborhoods and at local trails (there were always people at the beach so that goes without saying). I believe this will have a lasting positive impact through strengthening our connection with the community and creating a more positive mindset about how we interact with others.”

Brian Long, Realtor, Moov Real Estate Sales “Optimism is a key word in the world of education. 2020 has taught us all that the unexpected should be expected, what was normal has been replaced with new opportunities, and our attitude has the biggest impact on how we choose to deal with it all. 2021 is a great moment to take what we have learned, pursue new ways of thinking, and embrace the power and potential of today.”

Cameron Curry, Chief Executive Officer, The Classical Academies “2020 was all about the pivot, how we keep our business going while at the same time maneuvering with the new COVID guidelines, keeping our passengers and employees safe and happy. Delivering exemplary customer service while also making sure everyone follows the guidelines has been a challenge but now that people have accepted the new normal, we are looking ahead and focused on an amazing 2021. We at Oceanside Adventures are the perfect place to celebrate Oceanside and highlight the whales and dolphins we see! In 2021 we are focusing on the leisure and small group market.”

“This year has been a wakeup call to all Americans as to how fragile we really are. Many of our worlds were turned upside down. By keeping a positive outlook, working with family, friends and business associates in our community we can make 2021 a great year. There are many less fortunate than we are, having serious medical and financial problems. Reaching out together to help whenever we can, will make us all stronger.”

Joel Marcus, Joel Marcus Insurance “Our team at O’side Turkey Trot and Move Your Feet Before You Eat! Foundation are looking forward to having a live event in Downtown Oceanside filled with many local families and out of town visitors spending the holiday week. We are also looking forward to having thousands of students in our Miles of Smiles Program.”

Kathy Kinane, Kinane Events “In 2020 I have learned the value of relationships and being able to help each other. I wanted to find a way – either through my podcast, through my design business, or personally – to help other local businesses make it through the year. Helping and supporting others was then reciprocated in new client work, podcast and interview opportunities. Going into 2021, I am optimistic, that the City of Oceanside will rebuild as a whole and come out of this turbulent year. In 2021, I know that by creating new relationships, bringing more value through my knowledge and skillsets, and offering platforms to promote others will make 2021 a great year not only for me, but for everyone else.”

Quantal Langford, Langfordesign

Donna Kalez, Oceanside Adventures

www.oceansidechamber.com | Winter 2021

Oceanside Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Journal | 25

“As the pandemic hit, there was fear and anxiety.

And yet, there was still goodness, grace and human kindness in every corner of our community. People stepped up to help their employees stay afloat, to make sure the elderly had groceries, to ensure that youth had meals every day. I believe in that spirit of community and am optimistic that in 2021 we will continue to look out for one another with kindness and compassion.”

“After 50 years plus of being in the floral business, and closing for almost 3 months due to our nation’s pandemic, it has definitely been a challenge.

We appreciate all of our returning customers, as well as the pleasure of meeting new ones. We are looking forward to a positive new year. It has made all of us appreciate the most important things in life: our family, friends and customers.”

Rhonda Guaderrama, Director of Development, Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside

Sue Powroznik, Oceanside Florist Inc.

“We opened for business in May 2020 and quickly learned that creativity and working with our community was essential. We engaged with the community and made many pivots to support what was needed like custom tea blends and fun activities like poetic sanctuary and the mad hatter tea party.

We will continue to partner with our community and offer products and services that meet the needs of our guests. We look forward to spreading happiness in 2021.”

Focus on the opportunities in the coming years. The pandemic has expanded our thinking in business and education, while also hastening the demise, and the need to rethink many outdated business models. Sometimes we sense that an END is coming, and we FAIL to identify that this may be the START of something far better.

I believe we’re on the cusp of something great.

Bob Waite, AFLAC

Rushell Gordon, Owner Bliss Tea & Treats

kp.org/sandiego

26 | Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Journal

Winter 2021 | www.oceansidechamber.com

member of the quar ter Veterans Association of North County For over 10 years VANC has been committed to serving Active Duty and Military Veterans; and for their service to our military men and women the Oceanside Chamber recognizes them as our Member of the Quarter.

In 2019 VANC started a Veterans Emergency Financial Aid (VEFA) fund to offer active duty and military veterans a one-time “hand up”. Since April 2020 they have given thousands of dollars to help pay cell phone bills, utilities, emergency car repairs and such, most of these in $200 or $300 increments. Just when they were close to depleting the VEFA fund, VANC held a Golf Tournament on Camp Pendleton which raised over $27,000.00!

VANC’s response to the COVID Pandemic was to start a Food and Diaper distribution the second Friday of every month starting in April. From April to November they have served 17,946 Active Duty and Military Veterans. From that, 85.5% have been Active Duty.

Lori Boody, Executive Director says that, “Monthly we deliver to 6 housebound veterans, and my favorite stat is that we have given away 168,805 diapers!”

www.oceansidechamber.com | Winter 2021

In November 2020, VANC had 671 families come through the distribution event and they were able to give each family a turkey. Of the 671 families served, 91% were active duty. They have recorded 2,620 volunteer hours from individuals and organizations wanting to serve the area’s military. Boody says with pride, “We will continue to advance our humanitarian work for our Past and Present Military Heroes!”

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S W E N Y T I N U M M O C D N A R E MEMB W IN T ER 2021

Scripps Health to Receive $22.1 Million for Health Programs United States District Judge John A. Houston has approved $22.1 million in funding to Scripps Health for a variety of initiatives to support patient care, research and health equity in the areas of breast cancer, cardiovascular disease and neurocognitive conditions. The approval of funds to Scripps stems from a legal settlement reached earlier this year between the defendant, a pharmaceutical company and the plaintiffs, a class-action group of consumers who claimed the company misrepresented the health risks and benefits of its hormone replacement therapy drugs. Scripps was not involved in the case.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside (BGCO) Receives Grant for Food and Snack Program The Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside (BGCO) has received a $10,000 grant from the Rest Haven Children’s Health Fund for our Food and Snack Program.

As school closures continue, this much needed program provides nutritious lunches and snacks to youth attending BGCO’s Back2School Program.

BGCO Culinary Arts Specialists create diverse, exciting menus, using fresh, nutritious ingredients specifically selected to ensure that youth receive the daily nutrition requirements. The meals are artfully presented, packed full of fruits and vegetables and so tasty that the children don’t even realize they’re eating healthy.

City of Oceanside Recognized as ‘Utility of the Future Today’ for Water Reuse The City of Oceanside’s Water Utilities Department received a Certificate of Recognition from the Water 28 | Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Journal

Environment Federation as part of the Utility of the Future Today (UotFT) Program. This national recognition program celebrates the achievements of water utilities that transform from a traditional wastewater treatment system to a resource recovery center and leader in the overall sustainability and resilience of the communities they serve. Oceanside was recognized in the performance area of Water Reuse, for innovative and forward-thinking practices that are providing sustainable, efficient, and valueadded services to the community. The Utility of the Future concept is being promoted as water systems around the world are transforming operations through innovation and technology. Oceanside’s comprehensive water reuse program includes expanding water recycling and advanced water purification, initiatives that have taken almost a decade of planning efforts.

COVID-19 Costs SR78 Corridor Cities More Than 36,000 Jobs The San Diego North Economic Development Council released a report outlining economic impacts of COVID-19 on the SR 78 Corridor. The council estimates that compared to 1 year ago, employment has fallen in the five SR 78 cities (Oceanside, Vista, Carlsbad, San Marcos, Escondido) by an estimated 36,343 jobs. Most of these impacts (66%) are Winter 2021 | www.oceansidechamber.com

S W E N Y T I N U M M O C D N A R E MEMB W IN T ER 2021

concentrated within four industries: hospitality (-11,700), retailing (-5,000), arts and entertainment (-3,900) and education (-3.500). The report also highlights recently reported declines in taxable sales along the Corridor, comparing the months of April, May and June 2020 with those same months in 2019.

The impacts range from a 10% decline in Vista to more than 28% decline in Carlsbad.

San Diego Oasis Receives $300,000 Grant from Cox Communications to Create Education Hub for Older Adults to Adopt Technology Cox Communications awarded a $300,000 grant to San Diego Oasis, a nonprofit organization on a mission to change the way people experience aging and pursue vibrant, healthy, productive and meaningful lives through education and community service. This gift will empower San Diego Oasis to create the Oasis Innovation Center, a collaboration hub which will focus on the adoption of innovative technology for older adults, relevant to older adult wellness, healthcare, and lifelong learning needs, as well as provide a virtual technology series in the interim. This is one of the largest grant awards from Cox Communications in California to a single nonprofit.

MiraCosta College Food Pantry Recognized for its Excellence A MiraCosta College food pantry serving more than 1,200 students each month has received the highest level of certification from a leading nonprofit devoted to fighting hunger. Leah’s Pantry, a San Franciscobased organization promoting innovative nutrition programs to foster a more equitable and inclusive

food system, will recognize MiraCosta College’s food pantry as Gold-level certified during an October 27 presentation at the Oceanside Campus. Leah’s Pantry lauded MiraCosta College for, among other things, having robust community connections that connect students to valuable resources, integrating nutrition education in pantry programming, providing highquality resources to students and creating a client feedback survey to gauge satisfaction and target possible areas of improvement. More than 90 percent of some 170 students responding to a recent survey said they were ‘extremely satisfied’ or ‘satisfied’ with the services they received, and 94 percent rated the overall food pantry atmosphere as ‘excellent’ or ‘good.’

Frontwave Named Best Credit Union and Best Mortgage Company in San Diego Reader Poll Frontwave Credit Union has been named San Diego’s Best Credit Union and Best Mortgage Company in the San Diego Reader’s 2020 Best-Of Poll. Each year, the San Diego Reader invites San Diegans to nominate their favorite San Diego-based businesses, restaurants and activities to be named to the BestOf list. The top 5 nominees in each category then go head-to-head in a month-long voting process. This year, over 300,000 votes were cast and Frontwave was honored to be declared the winner in both categories it was nominated for. “This is a great honor to be recognized by our community,” said Bill Birnie, President/CEO for Frontwave Credit Union. “For nearly 70 years, we’ve been committed to making financial dreams come true. This recognition is proof that we are delivering on our vision to be the best place our members have ever banked. I want to thank all of our Dream Makers for their dedication to our members, membership, and the communities that we serve.”

Oceanside Earns Second Place in the National 2020 Mayor’s Challenge After a strong effort by the Oceanside community, the City of Oceanside finished second place behind www.oceansidechamber.com | Winter 2021

Oceanside Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Journal | 29

S W E N Y T I N U M M O C D N A R MEMBE W IN T ER 2021

minor schedule changes for BREEZE fixed-route bus service effective Sunday, October 4, 2020. The BREEZE

the City of Lakeland, Florida. In its third year of participation, Oceanside has been increasingly more competitive, receiving sixth, third and second place, consecutively. Residents can start accumulating points for the City in next years’ Challenge by documenting their water-saving efforts and completing environmental projects from home all year round.

Example projects include fixing leaky faucets, planting a tree, collecting rainwater, participating in a neighborhood cleanup, and much more.

BREEZE Schedules Optimized to Improve Trip Reliability and Route Connections The North County Transit District (NCTD) implemented

30 | Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Journal

service changes are designed to provide better trip reliability and improve connectivity to the SPRINTER, COASTER, and other BREEZE routes. “NCTD regularly monitors service performance and makes necessary updates twice a year to ensure the best possible trip experience for our riders,” said NCTD Chief of Planning, Strategy, and Innovation Robert Calix. “It’s important to NCTD that our riders are able to make their connections to other services and that they can count on NCTD to get where they need to go in a timely manner.”

Winter 2021 | www.oceansidechamber.com

HY I L W

VE

Library Division Manager Oceanside Public Library

IF

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CJ Di Mento, MA, MLIS

CA

Bringing up my children in a real town, being able to own a successful small business, and working with a talented Oceanside Public Library staff going above and beyond to serve our residents is why I love Oceanside. I’ve also been so impressed with the hardworking organizations, artists and creatives that raise the morale of the community while striving for financial recovery. Our arts and culture make Oceanside such a vibrant community to live in!

O

Our City has so much to offer! Our Community Members share why they love where they live and their passion for our community.

A O R NI

My name is CJ Palmer and I Love Oceanside for its diversity and creative culture. I love the diversity of the people, the unique businesses, and the creativeness that individuals bring to this community. I see Oceanside as a colorful, vibrant, and opportunistic city that allows local DJ’s, like myself, to be part of amazing events.

CJ Palmer CJ the DJ

The six years I have spent in Oside have been nothing short of amazing! My favorite aspect is for sure the residents.

We have such a diverse group of great people in town that value “treat others as you wish to be treated.” Sure we have a little imperfectly sandy beach, but how about that Strand we can walk, run, or drive on? Strolling down the coast is awesome because each block you come across rad little businesses, one after another. O’side is one-of-a-kind for its thriving, small business scene.

Living in Oceanside for 51 years I grew to love the city. I’ve seen all the changes, the diversity, the growth, and the well-being. I truly love good food and good drinks and Oceanside offers plenty of choices. The beaches, harbor, and pier offer nice scenic and relaxing views … a cool beach town for entertainment also!

Roots Craft Juice

Maintenance Specialist, City of Oceanside

I’ve been fortunate enough to call Oceanside home as a kid growing up and for the majority of my adult life. A true melting pot of culture and diversity, Oceanside embodies the beauty of a city that has managed to find its own rhythm while being surrounded by larger metropolitan cities. From the valley to South O, there is a certain amount of pride that is showcased in the local clothing wear and murals around the city. Whether it’s a hike at Guajome park or a cruise down Coast Highway, there’s always something to do!

The reasons I love Oceanside seem to increase every year I’m here. First, the weather is second to none. All the activities I love are right in my backyard and I can do them just about any time of year: beach, hiking, golfing, wine tasting, mountain biking and my favorite activity: eating! The variety and quality of new restaurants that have opened over the last several years is fantastic. Still working my way through them all!

Hunter Shepard

Luis Barbosa

Oceanside Chamber of Commerce www.oceansidechamber.com | Winter 2021

Marlon Figueroa

Michelle Geller

Economic Development Manager City of Oceanside Oceanside Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Journal | 31

Adding

into Your New Year’s Resolutions Just Got Easier Out with the old, and in with the new! Whether you wrote your New Year’s resolutions before the big ball dropped, or you are still debating on how you can start fresh and improve your wellbeing during the new year, take on a new perspective of zero waste while sticking to your New Year’s resolutions during 2021.

Resolution 1: Stay Fit and Be Active Choosing to stay fit and have an active lifestyle doesn’t require you to purchase that New Year’s deal at your local gym. Making a conscious decision to walk or even ride your bike during your next work commute, trip to the grocery store, or even excursion to the neighborhood park will help you get those steps in while also lowering the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by a car. A typical passenger vehicle emits about 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. That extra movement will do wonders for your physical and mental health, while also decreasing the amount of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere.

32 | Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Journal

Resolution 2: Eat Healthier, Shop Smarter Be sure to add fresh, whole produce to the top of your grocery list when adding more vegetables to your diet throughout the whole year. Opt to cut your own carrot sticks and freeze your own berries instead of choosing pre-packaged products that leave you with single-use plastic to trash. Keep the environment in mind when purchasing your produce by shopping local and visiting your local farmer’s market. Not only are you supporting the Oceanside economy, but you are reducing the amount of natural resources used to ship and transfer many of the fruits and vegetables found at other stores. And don’t forget your reusable grocery and produce bags during your trips to market.

For tools to better store produce and food products to help it stay fresh longer, visit GreenOceanside.org for our reference guides and video tutorials.

Winter 2021 | www.oceansidechamber.com

Resolution 4: Stay Hydrated, Choose Tap Over Bottled Getting in the habit of drinking more water is a lot easier with the help of a reusable water bottle. And the best part? Oceanside tap is healthy and delicious, so you can easily and affordably refill your bottle all day long. With over 60 million single-use plastic water bottles ending up in landfills each day in the United States, you can feel good knowing that this resolution is a win-win for you and the environment.

Resolution 3: Start a New Hobby Many of us want to start a new hobby during the new year, but either do not know where to begin or are overwhelmed by the many activities out there.

Whether you have a large backyard or cozy patio, consider starting your own compost bin and garden.

Consider checking with neighbors and friends about setting up a puzzle or board game exchange so you can promote reuse. Make artwork from old magazines and calendars and look up your local thrift stores for crafting ideas. You may even find that perfect pair of knitting needles to finally learn how to create your winter scarf.

Resolution 5: Spend Less Money, and Save More!

Who doesn’t like saving money, especially after the holidays? Often times, going zero waste goes hand in hand with saving money. Skip the $5 latte in that single-use cup and make your favorite coffee at home in a reusable mug. You can also opt to eat at home more often, and leave the single-use takeout container and utensils out of the equation. Do you often find yourself with spoiled groceries hidden in your fridge? Plan your weekly meals ahead of time and make a grocery list for items you know you’ll be using that week. Because a zero waste lifestyle makes you more conscious of your everyday actions, you’ll often find that you are spending less, and saving more.

The City of Oceanside has its own goal to achieve a 75-90% diversion rate, and relies on the community to make this possible. Visit www.GreenOceanside.org to learn more about the City’s Environmental Programs, current events, and resources that can help you protect our planet for generations to come and take action for zero waste.

www.oceansidechamber.com | Winter 2021

Oceanside Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Journal | 33

2020 OCC Annual Report: Advancing Oceanside As we reflect on our work from 2020 we see a year in which the Chamber was able to focus on our essential “mission-based” work like never before in recent history. With the absence of major events and the streamlining of our meetings, forums and webinars, more time was made available for the critical work of advocating for our business community. The vast majority of our time and resources were focused on the key functions of Convening Leaders and Influencers, serving as a Champion for a Strong Community and being a Catalyst for Business Growth. As we work toward economic recovery in the coming year, these will remain critical areas of focus for the chamber.

Advancing Oceanside by …

CONVENING LEADERS AND INFLUENCERS The Oceanside Chamber works tirelessly to develop and maintain strong relationships through the various sectors of our community. This includes our small business owners, corporate leaders, the non-profit community, government employees and elected leaders. Through these relationships, we are uniquely positioned to bring people together to work on our City’s most important issues. Here’s a quick overview of some of our work in the area of Convening Leaders and Influencers during the past year…

PROVIDING ACCESS TO COMMUNITY LEADERS Annual Meet the City Reception – Before large “in-person” events became a distant memory, the Chamber’s Annual Meet the City Reception produced one of its largest audiences ever. The purpose of the event is to provide our business leaders with face to face access to our City staff and elected leaders and to allow our smaller businesses the ability to make new connections with our corporate leaders.

Emerging Issues Forums – The interruption of inperson events brought on the acceleration of our use of technology. The transition of our Emerging Issues Forum from our conference room to cyberspace was actually a blessing in disguise making it easier for the Chamber to bring our elected officials into the same “room” as our business leaders on multiple occasions throughout the year. This allowed our members to access real-time COVID-19 updates with our 34 | Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Journal

Congressman, State Senator and Assemblymember, County Supervisor and Oceanside Mayor.

A STRONG AND CONSISTENT VOICE FOR YOUR BUSINESS Save Small Business Coalition – Through its partnership with The Save Small Business Coalition, the Chamber continued advocacy efforts for a “Phase 4” COVID-19 relief bill that would include: • Paycheck Protection Program Extension and Enhancement • Workforce Development • Business Liability Protection • State and Local Aid Fighting for the Rights of Small Businesses – The Chamber supported City and County efforts to get local businesses back up and running safely.

We participated with neighboring Chambers and business/community leaders in the Re-Opening Rally to encourage fair treatment of Small Businesses.

Chamber staff wrote letters and gave testimony at several County Board meetings to ensure the voice of business was represented.

Regional Pro-Business Coalitions – Numerous Chambers and business organizations throughout San Diego County shared the common goal of fair treatment for our small businesses. On many occasions we banded together to provide a cohesive voice for our respective business communities. A highlight included the Oceanside Chamber’s efforts to organize a coalition of 20 San Diego County Business Organizations to push back against San Diego County Health officials’ decision to add additional re-opening Winter 2021 | www.oceansidechamber.com

requirements on our local businesses.

Your Voice on City Issues – To be the voice for our businesses on City issues remained a key priority. As an example, Chamber leaders participated in the City of Oceanside’s focus groups related to the General Plan Update to ensure that the business community has a voice in the process. We supported several successful mixed-used projects that will bring much needed housing to the downtown area.

A PLATFORM FOR BUSINESSES TO SPEAK OUT Digital Advocacy Through OneClickPolitics – The Oceanside Chamber partnered with the Carlsbad and Vista Chambers to take business advocacy work to the next level by purchasing subscriptions to OneClick Advocacy. The platform includes innovative communication tools such as photo and video messaging, integrated text messaging, and direct social media posts to legislators’ profiles to provide several avenues for business owners to connect with elected officials on important issues.

HELPING ELECT BUSINESS FRIENDLY CANDIDATES Endorsement Victories for Oceanside City Council – In August, The Oceanside Chamber of Commerce announced its endorsements for the 2020 City of Oceanside Elections. The Chamber Board of Directors voted to support Ryan Keim for District 3 and Peter Weiss for District 4. Both candidates won their respective district races.

2020 BALLOT MEASURES The Defeat of Prop 15 – The Chamber made recommendations on several key ballot measures www.oceansidechamber.com | Winter 2021

in the November 2020 Elections and participated in some successful coalitions including the defeat of Proposition 15 that would have ushered in the largest property tax increase in state history and the passage of Proposition 22 that protected app-based drivers and rideshare services

2020 CANDIDATE FORUMS The Oceanside Chamber, in partnership with the Carlsbad and Vista Chambers held two candidate forums to provide voters with critical information.

These forums included the 49th Congressional District and the Tri-City Healthcare District.

Advancing Oceanside as a …

CHAMPION FOR A STONGER COMMUNITY The Oceanside Chamber takes great pride in playing a role in promoting our City as a great place to live, work and play. We take seriously the role of contributing to the incredible quality of life our businesses and residents enjoy in Oceanside. In 2020, the Chamber launched its “Advancing Oceanside” brand to better reflect the work that the Chamber, the Oceanside Chamber Foundation and the Chamber’s Political Action Committee do in moving our community forward.

Here’s a quick overview of some of our work in the area of a Champion for a Stronger Community during the past year…

ADVANCING OCEANSIDE PODCAST In 2020, we launched our Advancing Oceanside Podcast to provide a platform for our local non-profits and small businesses to share their message to our community. We started the show with interviews of several community and non-profit leaders and plan to expand into other areas in the coming year.

NORTH COUNTY CARES PROGRAM North County Cares, a program designed by the Oceanside and Vista Chambers of Commerce along with the San Diego North Economic Development Council, brought much needed relief to our community. The program supported both families in Oceanside Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Journal | 35

need and locally owned restaurants who have borne the brunt of the impacts of mandatory closures and social distancing orders. Over $60,000 in donations (with Genentech being the primary funder) was raised for purchasing gift cards at participating Oceanside and Vista Chamber member restaurants. The gift cards were distributed to the Oceanside and Vista Unified School Districts to provide meals for families in need in our community.

AMPLIFYING THE VOICE OF LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS The Chamber recognized local nonprofits’ consistent need for supplies and dedicated a portion of their promotional efforts to support these organizations.

VANC’s food drives and Tri-City Medical Center Foundation’s annual Wigs for Hope fundraiser were both promoted heavily on our digital platforms. The Chamber partnered with the North County Food Bank to host a Virtual Food Drive supporting North County’s families and Solutions for Change to host a Bedding Drive supporting the influx of families entering Solution’s program.

such as Future Talent, Game Changers and Healthcare Heroes. The publication was primarily distributed by direct mail to residents and businesses.

PROMOTING HEALTH AND WELLNESS North County Health Fair – One of the few in-person events for 2020 was the Chamber’s annual Health and Wellness Fair. The event provided a much-needed opportunity for healthcare providers to connect with community members.

Advancing Oceanside by serving as a … CATALYST FOR BUSINESS GROWTH The Oceanside Chamber believes that “pro-business” is “pro-community”. Our small businesses play a key role in the character of Oceanside and the tremendous quality of life we enjoy every day. The pandemic brough about new challenges in how the Chamber would approach its role as a Catalyst for Business Growth…

RECOGNIZING COMMUNITY EXCELLENCE

MASSIVE OUTREACH CAMPAIGN

Virtual Awards Luncheon – In August, the Chamber held its 1st Annual Heroes of Oceanside and Camp Pendleton Event virtually. We were pleased to recognize representatives from the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Oceanside Police Department, Oceanside Fire Department, Healthcare Workers and Teachers/Staff from the Oceanside Unified School District for their outstanding contributions to the wellbeing and advancement of our City.

The Oceanside Chamber mobilized its staff to conduct a massive outreach campaign to the Oceanside business community at the beginning of the mandatory lockdowns and closures of our small businesses. Hundreds of businesses, both Chamber members and non-members, were contacted so we could learn what their needs were and how we could best serve them in the coming weeks and months.

ACCESS TO TIMELY INFORMATION Our outreach to businesses, as well as incoming phone calls and emails, made it clear that a top priority of the Chamber would be to provide timely information for our business community. Some actions that the Chamber took early on in the COVID -19 Crisis were…

• Development of a COVID-19 Website – Within just a few days of the lockdowns our COVID-19 website was up and running with multiple informational updates daily. We soon added Shop Local and Restaurant Guides.

Best of Oceanside Quarterly Journal – Throughout the year, we highlighted some of Oceanside’s best with our Stories of Unity and Resilience and features 36 | Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Journal

• Conduit for Communication – Chamber leaders facilitated “two-way” communication between government and businesses, most notably at the county level as Supervisors sought the input of Winter 2021 | www.oceansidechamber.com

businesses on safe reopening plans. At the City level, Chamber staff represented the business community on the City’s Economic Recovery Task Force.

• Creation of a COVID -19 Enewsletter – Chamber staff launched a weekly “COVID-19 specific” email to make sure our subscribers had access to the most timely information on emergency loan programs, small business grants, relief legislation, reopening guidelines, child care resources and more.

• Informational Webinars – It quickly became clear that “business as usual” would not work in 2020.

Through a wide variety of partners, the Chamber launched a series of free informational webinars on a wide variety of topics.

• Small Business Loan Sources – Oceansidebased Frontwave Credit Union stepped up to serve our businesses by becoming an SBA Lender and offering PPP Loans to small businesses. The Chamber helped connect small businesses to this program and many were able to receive these critical loans.

• Serving our Restaurant Community – As restaurants were among some of the hardest hit industries, Chamber staff made it a point to stay in close contact with restaurant owners and managers to keep them informed of the latest information and opportunities related to the food service industry.

VIRTUAL NETWORKING EVENTS Oceanside Chamber Events –While making business connections remained a top priority for many Chamber members especially during the pandemic,

www.oceansidechamber.com | Winter 2021

the Chamber shifted from in-person events to virtual networking events on Zoom. Our monthly First Tuesday Coffee went virtual and attendance remained strong. The Chamber’s Business Mixers and Business After Hours also shifted to Zoom. The Virtual Business After Hours served as a casual event for individuals to make business connections. The Virtual Business Mixers were hosted with a specific partner who had the ability to discuss their business and/or give attendees a tour of their location. The Chamber partnered with several other Chambers in North County to host joint Zoom mixers and networking events.

SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE Through its partnership with the City of Oceanside, the Chamber played a large role in the distribution of CARES Act funding to our small business community through two programs…

• Small Business Grants – The Chamber administered the “city-wide” portion of the Small Business Grant Program, while partnering with MainStreet Oceanside who handled grant distribution in the downtown district.

Chamber staff oversaw program promotion and outreach and the review of grant applications and distribution of the grant awards. In total, 77 businesses received over $155,000 in grant funding.

• Shop Local – Shop Local Oceanside is an ongoing effort to revitalize Oceanside’s economy through various avenues and to create overall awareness for residents and tourists to support local businesses. The Chamber purchased $8500 in gift cards from small businesses and distributed the gift cards to local residents who participated in Shop Local social media contests.

Oceanside Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Journal | 37

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Dentistry for the family from our family Proud residents of Oceanside for 27 years

• Implant • Sedation • Cosmetics • Cleanings • General & Children’s Dentistry A Personalized Experience and Setting the Standard in Dental Care www.colemanandcolemandentistry.com

760-291-8544

The Chamber’s Workforce Development Task forged a partnership with the Oceanside Unified School District’s Career Technical Education team to develop plans for video tours of local businesses. The program will be designed to provide OUSD Students with exposure to emerging industries in Oceanside and potential career paths to explore. Our team is working toward developing partnerships with the Carlsbad and Vista Chambers along with Tri-City Medical Center in order to expand the reach of our programming.

BEST OF OCEANSIDE PUBLICATIONS The Chamber continued to provide strong avenues for local businesses to connect with prospective customers. The “Best of Oceanside” series of publications include an Annual Community Guide, Quarterly Journal and City Map, providing businesses with a variety of options for reaching visitors, locals, other businesses and more.

WEB AND SOCIAL MEDIA PROMOTION

NOW ENROLLING

SCHOLARSHIP PREP

As the pandemic directly affected a majority of our small businesses, the Chamber immediately began social media and website promotions for our members. Using platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, the Chamber shared various updates and offerings from businesses.

After the first shutdown, the OCEANSIDE Chamber immediately put together a list of restaurants and retail shops open and offering FREE PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL their services.

SERVING GRADES TK-8

ars 1 2 5 Ye

PROJECT-BASED LEARNING

UNIQUE STUDENT SUPPORTS Reach Higher. Dream Bigger.

COLLEGIATE-INSPIRED ENVIRONMENT

Visit bit.ly/enrollSPOS for more information.

38 | Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Journal

Winter 2021 | www.oceansidechamber.com

Welcome to the New Members of the Oceanside Chamber Board of Directors Daniel Butler, Waste Management of North County Daniel Butler is the Government and Municipal Affairs Manager for Waste Management in the City of Oceanside and has managed the City’s franchise agreement for just over 6 years. Along with his duties in Oceanside, Daniel manages Waste Management’s agreements with both the City and County of San Diego. Daniel is a current member of the San Diego Rotary Club 33 and previously served on the Board of Directors for the Santee Chamber of Commerce. Before joining Waste Management, Daniel worked as a political fundraiser based out of Los Angeles County with clients from local, statewide and national offices. He currently resides in Murrieta, CA with his wife and two daughters.

Robbie Calderon Hass, Hass Team Realty Robbie has been a proud resident of the Oceanside community for the past 20 years. Robbie has been a premier realtor for 20 years. Robbie is broker/ owner of Hass Team Realty, for the past 10 years. Hass Team has been ranked number one in representing buyers within the city of Oceanside.

Robbie is committed to her community and serves and has served on several boards/Nonprofits/ clubs including Boys and Girls Club of Oceanside, Community HousingWorks, North County African American Women Association, North County Philanthropy Council, Moonlight Cultural Foundation and Soroptimist International of Oceanside and Carlsbad. “I believe our purpose is to serve mankind in ways that make this world/our community a better place which in turn makes us all better people”.

www.oceansidechamber.com | Winter 2021

Rushell Gordon, Bliss Tea & Treats Rushell Gordon is the founder/owner of Oceanside’s premier tea room, Bliss Tea & Treats. A strategic, action oriented operational leader of change with significant results in project, financial and organizational management.

Demonstrated successes in gaining executive approval and funding for high-value, global start up operations and change programs, with the leadership discipline of getting the right things done as a result of many people working together. Strong people leader who attracts and maintains A players. Rushell’s strengths include: * Designing programs, processes, and tools to meet corporate and customer needs * Structuring startup operations to create strong customer communication/support programs * Evaluating and providing sound, data-based go/nogo advice to executive management * Overcoming roadblocks to manage large crossfunctional global teams to achieve common goals * Leveraging business intelligence to define, implement, and evaluate process improvements Juan Velasco, Slight Edge Salon Juan Velasco is a local business owner of Slight Edge Hair Salon in Oceanside and an advocate for the small business community. He also specializes in helping small businesses increase their sales and profits with over 18 years of entrepreneurship with his coaching company Scale My Profits. Ever since he grew his first company to $5MM in 3 years, he has developed a passion for helping small businesses reach their true potential. He has developed a keen understanding of the complex issues facing small business owners in the type of volatile economy we have today. Juan’s Business Growth model is perfectly positioned to help business owners realize their dream of creating their own multimillion-dollar business that feeds their passion to achieve personal, financial, and professional freedom.”

Oceanside Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Journal | 39

economic development update The City of Oceanside’s economic development team remains committed to helping businesses stay and grow here.

It is an understatement to say that 2020 has been a challenging year. The strength and resiliency of Oceanside businesses in the face of unparalleled challenges is what keeps us going, and we will continue to offer support in every way we can. It is heartening that even in the midst of this unprecedented time, new businesses have chosen Oceanside as their home, and exciting new projects are on the horizon in 2021.

Notable Projects in 2020 The 85,000 square-foot Scripps Medical Center Jefferson is now open at 2205 Vista Way, with physicians’ offices, urgent care, comprehensive imaging, outpatient surgery and GI labs. This is Scripps largest North County outpatient health center, and includes a pedestrian bridge connecting the facility to a 298-space parking structure.

New Businesses Opened in 2020 – Downtown and South O Craft Coast Beer & Tacos, Carte Blanche Bistro & Bar, Parlor Doughnuts/Proper Coffee Roasters and F45 Fitness – 371 Cleveland St. in the SALT apartment project, Bound Coffee – 2110 S. Coast Hwy., Bliss Tea & Treats – 301 Mission Ave., Ste 101, Booze Brothers Brewing Co. tasting room – 606 Mission Ave., Mostly E-Bikes – 203-205 Wisconsin St., The Plot – 1733 S. Coast Hwy, The Rising Co. – 332 S. Coast Hwy., Board and Brush – 109 S. Coast Hwy., Jack Simon Vineyards Tasting Room – 216 N. Coast Hwy., Le Citron – 524 S. Coast Hwy., Blooms Designs House – 206 -216 N. Coast Hwy., Ste. 206A, The Switchboard Restaurant & Bar – 131 S. Coast Hwy., Urbn Water Company – 125 S. Coast Hwy., Funk N Good Pizza – 209 N. Tremont St., T-zone – 318 Pier View Way

New Businesses Opened in 2020 – Greater Oceanside Enzo’s BBQ – 4141Oceanside Blvd., 88 Ranch Market – 4131 Oceanside Blvd., Mena’s Afghan Kabob – 4111 Oceanside Blvd., Krispy Kreme – 2325 Vista Way, UEI College in Oceanside Plaza. Graziano’s Pizza – 125 Old Grove Rd., Burn Boot Camp – 125 Old Grove Rd., H&B 40 | Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Journal

Korean BBQ – 2693 Vista Way, American Freight -2505B Vista Way, Thai Thai Oceanside Restaurant – 4121 Oceanside Blvd., I Love Pizza – 4093 Oceanside Blvd., The Appliance Outlet – 1527 Mission Ave.

New Businesses Opening in 2021 The long-awaited Oceanside Beach Resort has announced the names of its two hotel properties: Mission Pacific Hotel on the north block at Pacific St. and Pier View Wy. and The Seabird Resort on the south block of Pacific St. and Mission Ave. Construction is now complete on the exteriors and interior work is in progress.

The resort is scheduled to open Spring 2021.

Construction continues on the Brick Hotel at 408 Pier View Way, a 10-room boutique property that includes a rooftop lounge and restaurant with access to the adjacent Stone Brewing tasting room, scheduled to open Summer 2021. The historic building, once known as the Schuyler Building, was built in 1888. Next door, improvements are almost complete on the former Fire Water Saloon, which will be a yet-to-be-named upscale cocktail lounge opening at the end of 2020.

New Projects on the Horizon The Tremont Collective has commenced an adaptive reuse plan to transform historic auto repair garages into a mixed-use project with retail, restaurants and creative warehouse office. The property consists of three adjoined structures of approximately 13,000 SF on a 25,000 SF parcel one block off Coast Highway at Minnesota. www.fabricinvestments.com/tremontcollective The City of Oceanside looks forward to helping more businesses open and expand in 2021. The Economic development staff is available to assist with site selection, market data and other resources to help businesses locate, stay and grow in Oceanside. For more information, contact Michelle Geller, Economic Development Manager, at mgeller@oceansideca.org or (760) 435-3351.

Winter 2021 | www.oceansidechamber.com

Scripps Medical Center Jefferson Opens in Oceanside On October 19, Scripps Health announced the opening of Scripps Medical Center Jefferson, giving the region’s leading health system its largest North County outpatient health center in the city of Oceanside.

Located at 2205 Vista Way near state Route 78, the new 85,915-square-foot, three-story site is designed as a one-stop-shop for patients, with a wide range of outpatient services including primary care, cardiology, neurology, obstetrics/gynecology, oncology, ophthalmology, orthopedics and pediatrics, along with comprehensive imaging, outpatient surgery, urgent care and same-day walk-in care through Scripps HealthExpress.

“We are excited to open this comprehensive outpatient medical center, which offers a new option to people living in communities throughout the North County region to access high-quality outpatient care in an easily accessible and convenient location,” said Richard Walker, MD, president and CEO of Scripps Clinic.

The center features state-of-the-art medical technology in 93 exam rooms, 12 procedure rooms, 12 cancer treatment bays, four operating rooms and two gastroenterology suites. Solar power arrays and other design features promote energy savings and conservation, while patients can enjoy free parking and an onsite coffee bar.

A patient-focused layout of the center’s spaces promotes collaboration and efficiency among

caregivers and with patients. Visiting patients can check in on their own using 13 electronic kiosk stations spread throughout the center’s three floors.

Curbside arrival is also available through MyScripps, allowing patients to check in and wait in their vehicle until the care team is ready for them to enter the building.

“Scripps Medical Center was designed with our patients in mind to be a premier health care home, providing an incredibly wide range of medical services close to where people live and work,” said Kevin Hirsch, MD, president and CEO of Scripps Coastal Medical Center. “Extended hours and a mix of inperson and virtual visit options ensure that the right care is available when patients need it.”

Medical staffing will include 48 physicians from Scripps Clinic and Scripps Coastal, representing 40 different specialties.

Scripps Medical Center Jefferson cost $85 million to build, equip and furnish, and it was funded with operating cash flow. The building was designed by San Diego architectural firm Hanna Gabriel Wells, and construction was overseen by general contractor McCarthy.

Center hours run from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Limited weekend services also are available between 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Scripps HealthExpress is open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends and holidays.

Urgent care is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. Virtual care options also are available seven days a week at MyScripps. org.

Appointments can be made by calling 760-704-5600.

Includes primary care, specialty care, urgent care, outpatient surgery

www.oceansidechamber.com | Winter 2021

Oceanside Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Journal | 41

THE CHAMBER

h g ou r h T e Cam

While the COVID-19 pandemic has been one of the biggest tests that our community has ever faced, the resiliency of our business community has been a bright spot that will shine for years to come. In its 125 years of existence, it is unlikely that the business community has ever needed the Chamber as much as it did in the past year. From the perspective of our local small businesses, the Chamber Came Through in a multitude of ways over the past year. Here are a few examples of how the Chamber has supported the survival and success of Oceanside’s businesses…

“When the COVID-19 crisis hit, our need to connect with other businesses still remained. The Chamber came through by quickly creating meaningful and interactive virtual networking events. We were impressed with their ability to partner with neighboring Chambers in order to allow us to expand our network and reach a greater audience.”

Christopher Weiner, Print Master, AlphaGraphics – Oceanside “I just wanted to commend you, and the rest of the Chamber for keeping all of us up to date on all the changes during this pandemic. I am a small business owner and found the information so useful. We were able to keep up with SBA changes, loans etc. Each time an email came thru, I was forwarding it to friends and family. The Oceanside Chamber came through for us, and I think your organization is amazing.”

Myra Hoch, Owner, Strong Feels Good Fitness

42 | Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Journal

“When we were struggling to get assistance on our PPP Loan application with one of the large financial institutions, the Chamber came through by connecting us with Frontwave Credit Union. Frontwave took great care of us and treated us like we mattered to them. Their assistance with the PPP loan helped us weather the COVID storm.”

Zell Dwelley, Owner, Beach Break Cafe “During times of crisis like our businesses have faced in the past year, business owners need timely information and answers to important questions. The Chamber came through with strong access to elected officials through its Emerging Issues Forum. As a Chamber member, I was impressed that I could attend and participate in a videoconference that included our Congressman, State Assemblymember, County Supervisor and Mayor.

Membership offers access I could not have found elsewhere.”

Joanna Hunter, President/Owner, True West Facility Supply|Oceanside “When we needed to be sure we had the most up to date information on business closures and reopenings, loan programs and other resources to navigate the COVID-19 crisis, the Oceanside Chamber came through.

Their staff took the time to make sure we had the answers we needed in order to move forward.”

Tom Son, General Manager, Arrowood Golf Course “Now more than ever, we need City leadership that understands the importance of supporting our business community. The Chamber has displayed its support for businesses by endorsing and helping elect Council members Ryan Keim and Peter Weiss. We now have a strong foundation for rebuilding our business community and emerging from the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 crisis.”

Neil Nagata, Nagata Bros Farms

Winter 2021 | www.oceansidechamber.com

“Being a small business owner, an unexpected lockdown was a very challenging time. Struggling to get the PPP loan to cover the business expenses was so hard (with big bank’s scams to only pick applications for big organizations). The Oceanside Chamber of Commerce came through as a resource during this challenging time and provided all the assistance/consultations a small business can ask for. It makes a great positive impact when you know you have support from a team of experienced people who are there to help you navigate through this difficult time.“ Nita Arora, Owner / Center Director, Mathnasium of Oceanside North “Many of our local families have been seriously impacted financially by the events of 2020. When food insecurity became a growing issue, the Chamber came through with its North County Cares Program. This program provided tangible help to our local families by providing nearly $40,000 in restaurant gift cards that we distributed to more than 1700 Oceanside families.”

Deb Wickman, Oceanside Unified School District, Family Engagement – Teacher on Special Assignment “The Privateer Restaurants appreciates the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce for its generous purchase of gift certificates for the North County Cares project. Like for all our restaurant community, things have been tough, and that influx of revenue was very helpful. The Chamber came through for us in a big way!”

Charlie Anderson, Owner, Privateer Coal Fire Pizza “Small businesses have been impacted in terrible ways by government mandated closures associated with COVID-19.

When we needed a strong voice for our business, the Chamber came through by tirelessly advocating for fair treatment of small businesses.”

Juan Velasco, Co-Owner, Slight Edge Salon

www.oceansidechamber.com | Winter 2021

“Many small businesses like ours experienced a significant financial downturn in 2020. The Chamber came through for us with a small business grant. We appreciate their proactive response to make sure we were aware of the opportunity.”

Dan and Kim Roy, Owner, Fully Promoted of Oceanside “I am proud to be a part of the Oceanside Chamber! When the restaurant industry needed a strong voice to push back against unfair closure mandates, the Chamber came through for us and made sure our voices were heard.”

Kristin Cates, Owner, Rookies Restaurant & Sports Bar “The Chamber came through by reaching out to make sure our business had all the resources we needed to navigate the COVID-19 crisis. When this crisis hit, the Chamber made a concerted effort to proactively reach out to hundreds of businesses (members and non-members) to see how we are doing and discover how they can best serve our community.”

Josh Van Orden, Director of Operations/ PR & Marketing, Oceanside Therapy Group “The pandemic has severely impacted the tourism industry here in Oceanside. When we needed it most the chamber came through and advocated for us by supporting the reopening of public beaches and parking lots, thus bringing people back to Oceanside. While we had other state regulations which inhibited our ability to open, the Chamber provided monetary support and resources so when we could reopen and bring our visitors back to Oceanside we would still be in business. We value the efforts made by the Chamber and they continue to advocate for the business community, we are stronger together.”

Donna Kalez, Owner, Oceanside Adventures

Oceanside Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Journal | 43

The TheChamber Chamberisiscommunity. community.

Whether in times of prosperity or times of crisis, wewe Whether in times of prosperity or times of crisis, areare with youyou on the front lines, leading thethe wayway andand with on the front lines, leading making sure ourour community emerges stronger than making sure community emerges stronger than ever. ever.

WeWe areare all in together at at allthis in this together www.oceansidechamber.com www.oceansidechamber.com

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44 | Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Journal

Š 2020 Š W.A.C.E. 2020 W.A.C.E. Western Association of Chamber Executives Western Association of Chamber Executives

Winter 2021 | www.oceansidechamber.com

Oceanside Chamber of Commerce 928 N. Coast Highway Oceanside, CA 92054

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Oceanside Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Journal Published by the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce All Rights Reserved

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR AFFILIATED DOCTORS WHO HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED AS A 2020 TOP DOC!

2020 TOP DOCS PATRICK PADILLA, MD

ERIK STARK, MD

JASON PHILLIPS, MD

ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY

SPORTS MEDICINE

UROLOGY

DONALD PONEC, MD

KATAYAUN TOOSIE, MD

HUSSNA WAKILY, MD

RADIOLOGY

SURGERY

SURGERY

RICHARD LIU, MD

MICHAEL SHIM, MD

JAVAID SHAD, MD

OTOLARYNGOLOGY

GASTROENTEROLOGY

TRICITYMED.ORG | 855.222.TCMC (8262)

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