The Christmas tree for Ocean Beach arrived early Tuesday morning and the 65-foot tree was erected at the foot of Newport Avenue. It had just been chopped down that morning from a home in the Midway District.
It’s the 42nd year of the annual tradition for the village. Unlike other years, however, it not only had a police escort as it was hauled to OB, but had a large police officer presence at its erection. In fact, officers from SDPD made up a large portion of the small crowd that witnessed the event.
Corey Bruins, president of the OB Town Council, was interviewed by Fox5 News:
“Every year we put a call out to residents for trees on their property especially here. We’re looking for trees that are already posing a threat to the property. A tree needing to already come down, so that we’re not killing trees that are healthy.”
“What’s famous about this tree is that it always leans a certain way. We’ll see which way it leans, that’s always fun.”
Probably one of the reasons there was such a large police presence was due to the recent attack on an OB man by a group of houseless people, and all the negative feedback that followed in local TV reports about how the ‘homeless are out of control’ and how families are afraid to bring their children down to OB. One news station even went so far as to claim the community was collapsing.
Yet, the arrival of the Christmas tree is always the kick-off moment for the holidays here in OB. And thousands will congregate on the sidewalks for the upcoming OB Holiday Parade which begins this Saturday at 5:05 p.m.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
I looked at the OB Hotel surf cam and saw it going up, and, as always, it’s got the famous tilt! After all these years I still laugh about a conifer sticking out of the sand on the beach. It’s just plain silly but I still like it.
One thing that really bothered me is that access is completely blocked by the street vendors. Can’t they clear the space in front of it so people can stand at the wall? I’m looking at it right now and one table has taken the entire space in front and next to it is a bunch of framed somethings that completes the barrier! Incredibly rude behavior! How about marking out the width of the berm to be zero vendors so people can actually see the damn tree?
sealintheSelkirks
sealintheSelkirks
https://www.obhotel.com/Webcam-Oceanbeach.php
So right Seal – there should be a “safe zone” near the tree the prohibits vendors, grocery carts or tents.
Let’s make one.
How about using chalk to mark out and leave a message for the vendors to leave the space empty from edge to edge of the sand berm walls? Anybody have any willing to go do that? Or would that be illegal?
sealintheSelkirks
As usual, the OB Christmas Tree is leaning left.
Well Frank it depends on how you look at.
From the pier it’s definitely a right leaning tree, but from Newport Ave’s point of view it is a moderate tree!
Like most things it is all about perspective and where you are in this world when you look at.
Hope to see you soon Frank & happy holidays!
Got a chuckle here, David. Good to hear from you, mi amigo, it’s been too long. It is true, it all depends on one’s perspective. I gave up my holiday parade MC “job” so won’t see you this weekend. Some of our readers are concerned that there won’t be visible access to the Christmas tree due to all the vendors. Any advice? In the meantime, I’ll have to return to the OBTC live meetings and see what captain you’ve recently trained. And you’ve trained so many over the years. We know we need more officers, geez, what’s with this city?
This year the tree is 6o’ tall so the view to see the tree should be good, but on Wednesday it might be harder due to the number of vendors. The vendor issue is another one of those perspective issues, some don’t like them so do. I like some of the booths but know it takes some sales away from the storefront businesses and there are some sales of illegal items. That said though we are all on this planet together and hopefully we can all do a better job coexisting.
See you at the OBTC meeting in January!
It’s a date!
I agree. Move yhos. Ugh painters…. Those pictures are sick anyway.. looks like a kindergartener didn’t them. Grade F. A big FAIL bad real bad.