Welcome back to Ocean Beach! I’m typing this with my first sunburn of the season after a beautiful Mother’s Day spent on the beach. I’ve finally hit that parenting stage where I only have to tote towels, sunscreen, and a book, and I can relax in the sun while my kids entertain themselves with their friends. I thought it would be glorious, but I actually miss building sandcastles and being coerced into frigid water. It turns out that I’m not particularly talented at relaxing, which is good because we have a busy few months of summer fun ahead of us!
If you have not been out to the beach yet this season, you are going to be shocked when you step off the ferry. The second stage of the anti-flooding plan (my term because I cannot recall the official name) is almost complete, and the Village looks great! Based on my admittedly non-scientific study of chest-wader usage, this project has been a resounding success! I did not have to slosh through water a single time on my daily journey to the post office this winter. The street was also widened in a few places, which will make it much easier for emergency and municipal vehicles to maneuver through town and access the docks.
One sad construction outcome was the removal of the beloved cement stoop that ran from Dehnhoff to Cottage, having absorbed generations of melted ice cream and shell vendor dreams. When news broke online, residents shared photos of stoop shenanigans dating back to the 1960s. I loved the stoop and the hub of kid commerce there, but I must admit that the new design is very attractive and practical, with plenty of benches and wood instead of cement.
The restaurant scene also has exciting changes. A couple of long-time favorites changed ownership, and new restaurants emerged. On the east side of town, the Kismet Dive opened a second location in the old Castaway space. The Last Resort opened in the old Taco Beach, and a Smashburger carryout will soon open next door. Ocean Beach Trading remodeled with new offerings, including cones of “ferry fries.”
While you’re exploring Bay Walk, please consider stopping by the Ocean Beach Fire Department’s blood drive on Saturday, May 24, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Community House. I’ve heard the door prizes are going to be excellent!
The Memorial Day Parade will begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday at the Fire House. Veterans are invited to muster at 10:30 a.m. If the remembrance ceremony moves you to want to serve your community, please ask any of the OBFD members present about how to join the department. Applications for this year are only accepted until mid-June, so this is the perfect time to start!
One woman we will all miss seeing at the parade is Illa Silsdorf, proud mother of the Silsdorf family and former First Lady of Ocean Beach. We will also miss Joe Carpenter. I loved seeing his quiet pride at events with his wife, Angie Carpenter. And Houser’s will not be the same without Marcus Montgomery’s big presence and bigger smile.
