Nostalgia and Anticipation at the OB Town Council

Gio Ingolia, the new VP, with Gretchen Newsom, current President of the OB Town Council.

By Lois Lane

The OB Town Council met for the last time this year on Wednesday, October 22. The usual full house at the Masonic Lodge was down in numbers – only about 50 people there – including the board members. (The general opinion was that the World Series had lured some people away who are usually there.)

As always, the public had a lot to say, and the government was well represented, although the fire department officials who were there to be introduced ran out to an emergency call instead.

But most of the program was about the OB Town council itself, looking back at a year of accomplishments, and looking forward to the busiest time of year – the holidays. October is the last meeting of the year because the OB Town Council is busy with what’s coming up.

President Gretchen Newsom presented introduced the Awards Winners from the OBTC Banquet (including our own Frank Gormlie) and provided a summary of the year’s accomplishments, and what a year it has been! Here are some of the highlights:

• A safety appreciation BBQ to host our Fire and Police Department Protectors
• Along with other community groups, defended the OB Community Plan
• Awarded $6,000 in community grants to 10 local organizations.
• Doubled the membership to approximately 300
• Advocated for the new crosswalk at OB Elementary
• After a 3 year process, a new termite-proof OB Entryway sign was installed
•  Negotiated with CVS to be community friendly with a benefits package
• The Mallow Out Campaign, successfully negotiating more than 90% reduction in marshmallow debris.

Prior resolutions in 2013 set the stage for ending the 4th of July marshmallow fight in September, and the OBTC Plastic Bag Ban Resolution in November 2013 was one of the first community support initiatives for this ban.

Much of the meeting was geared toward getting ready for the holiday season. All of the board members serve as Committee chairs, and a busy and successful organization is ready to move ahead to the busiest time of year for the Town Council.

The first week in December sees the OB tree arrive, decorated by children from OB Elementary. December 4 is the annual Auction to help fund the food and toy drive. Saturday December 6 sees the OB Parade. All this in one week during the holiday period! Then the serious work of the Food and Toy Drive begins.

The theme of this year’s holiday parade is “35 Years of Peace, Love and Ocean Beach”.

I urge everyone to mark your 2015 calendar for the Fourth Wednesday in the month (do people still have calendars?). The OB Town Council meetings are the place to meet and greet politicians, hear about every possible event that OB has to offer coming up, watch our OBceans raise their issues, and see us as the cooperative community we can actually be. Well, actually, most of us don’t have our 2015 calendars set up yet. Instead, getting started by volunteering for the holiday activities. Start to plan your parade float. Anyone can enter. More details on the OB Town Council website