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San Diego Community Newspaper Group
THURSDAY, DECEMB ER 8, 2016
Locals help free ‘Shoeshine’ Willie from red tape Unofficial ‘mayor’ of Ocean Beach now back in business BY DAVE SCHWAB | THE BEACON
PHOTO BY THOMAS MELVILLE
‘TIS THE SEASON
Willy has been freed. No, not the killer whale in the 1993 film “Free Willy,” but “Shoeshine” Willie Washington, who was released from City-imposed red tape. The 79-year-old Marine veteran, who is considered the “honorary” mayor of Ocean Beach, almost lost his business recently due to alleged city code violations. “Inspectors from the City of San Diego Code Compliance Division approved the clarification of storage use for Willies Shoe Shine Shed in Ocean Beach at 4905 Newport Ave. and Cable Street,” said Washington's landlord, Michael Haas. “The case is now closed, and the shoe shine shed complies with all land-use regulations.” Former City Councilman Byron Wear is among those who deserve credit for lobbying the city on Washington's behalf. Haas noted Washington's shed is on the property where Mallory's Furniture Gallery is located on Newport Avenue. Willie operates out of a storage shed and also is responsible for checking vehicles into and out of the parking lot.
Sebastian Crowley and Jennifer Lucas, participants of SantaCon Ocean Beach, kiss on Newport Avenue before the OB Holiday Parade on Saturday evening.
SEE WILLIE, Page 4
Annual hot chocolate charity fundraiser on Garrison Street BY DAVE SCHWAB | THE BEACON
Point Loma is special every holiday season thanks to two homegrown Yuletide events: the Ybarra friends and family’s “Hot Cocoa for a Cure” annual hot chocolate charity fundraiser, and the annual Garrison Street holiday light show.
HOT COCOA FOR A CURE Where: 3616 Garrison St. When: 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10.
The 17th annual Garrison Street charity fundraiser will take place 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10 at the Freitas residence, 3616 Garrison St., across the street from the
original location of the Ybarra home. Upwards of 1,000 cups of $1 hot chocolates and scrumptious baked goodies will be sold. Carrie Ybarra said her family's charity fundraiser started out small, but has since evolved into a neighborhood affair. All event proceeds each year are donated to a needy local Point Loma resident.
“Seventeen years ago it was just a little hot chocolate stand set up on a card table run by my two daughters in front of our house to raise money for a little girl in Tijuana having leg surgery, and we raised enough money to buy her a Barbie,” Ybarra said. “Now it's SEE LIGHTS, Page 8
Christmas light dispays on Garrison Street.
FILE PHOTO