Bracing the Pier for a Big Winter

Forecasters give this winter's El Niño a 69% chance of reaching historic strength, and Oceanside is getting ready now. The city declared a local emergency on Oct. 14 so it can hire crews and get permits faster, and the City Council signed off on it 5-0 Wednesday. It also puts the city in line for state money that can cover up to 75% of eligible costs.

Assistant City Manager Michael Gossman told the council to expect bigger storms, seas 10 to 14 inches higher than normal and a 19-year high tide cycle, all aimed at The Strand and the pier. The city is also watching the San Luis Rey River, where chunks of the old Pacific Street crossing are still slowing the water down, and Buena Vista Creek, which already floods often at El Camino Real.

The pier comes first. The hammerhead has sat empty since the fire took Ruby's and the Brine Box, and on Wednesday the council unanimously approved $274,000 for Jilk Heavy Construction to wrap it in temporary cable bracing by December.

The presentation had homework for the rest of us, too:

The bigger pier bill is on your ballot. Measure S would add a half-cent sales tax for 10 years, raising about $20 million a year, and the city says the concrete bridge under the pier needs about $60 million in work within a few years. Supporters point to the city's track record with its money and the measure's oversight committee. Critics point out that voters just extended the last half-cent tax in 2024. Both sides showed up Wednesday: six firefighters and Save Oceanside Sand spoke for it, and the Sierra Club and several residents spoke against it. Voice of San Diego's rundown is worth five minutes before Nov. 3.

Día de los Muertos needs new hands to keep going. If you read last week's issue, you know this festival has been saved by a small group of volunteers more than once, and that they're looking for people to carry the torch. Chema Navarro of Friends of Oceanside Día de los Muertos told the council the festival runs on grants, sponsors and volunteers, with no city money, and said he's hoping to retire this year. Mayor Esther Sanchez said that unless more volunteers and money come through, this could be the last one. Go Sunday, and if you want to help, last week's story has how to get involved.

Oceanside lifeguards turned 100. The city hired its first paid lifeguard at the pier in 1926. The lifeguard captain said the crew has made about 2,400 ocean rescues this year, just over 900 more than all of 2025. Thank you lifeguards for all that you do!

O'side's own is in the WNBA Finals. Oceanside-born Te-Hina Paopao got a shoutout from the dais, and a councilmember pointed out the city could get its first-ever WNBA champ. Her Atlanta Dream lead the Golden State Valkyries 2-1, and Game 4 is Saturday at 10am our time. She’s of our own, so consider Oceanside a Dream town until further notice.

Happy 100th, Alethea Nagata. The mayor honored Alethea Yasukochi Nagata, who turned 100 on Oct. 15. She's lived in Oceanside her whole life, apart from her family's internment in Poston, Arizona, during World War II.

Last Saturday the city handed out $130,000 in O'Arts grants to 23 local artists and groups, and the list covers everything from Pacific Islander cooking workshops, a youth sewing program and everything in between.

Here's everyone who got funded (thanks to Kristine Moralez at the library for sending the list):

Know someone on the list? Forward this to them and tell them congrats from all of us.

💀 Raise a Glass at Día de los Gargoyles - Stone Brewing Tap Room Oceanside - Fri., Oct. 23 through Sun., Oct. 25. Live music all weekend, starting with Michael Leclerc tonight at 6pm, plus a Backyard Altar BBQ pop-up Saturday. Info

🎃 Pick a Pumpkin at Mellano - Mellano Farm Stand, 5714 N. River Rd. - Sat., Oct. 24 & Sun., Oct. 25 @ 10am-4pm. Pumpkins, U-pick marigolds and the corn maze. $5 parking. Info

🎭 Dress Up for Art After Dark - Oceanside Museum of Art, 704 Pier View Way - Sat., Oct. 24 @ 7-11pm. OMA's grown-up costume party, with a runway show and drinks. 21+. $85, or $65 for members. Tickets

🕷️ Drive Past the Spider House - 5592 Thoroughbred St. - Nightly. Singing pumpkins, fog, lasers and a free walk-through. Tune to 95.1 FM. FREE

🌼 Celebrate 25 Years of Día de los Muertos - Pier View Way next to City Hall - Sun., Oct. 25 @ 10am-4pm. Altars, classic cars and music downtown. Make it a big one so it gets a 26th. FREE

👻 Trick-or-Treat the Haunted Market - Sunset Market, Pier View Way & Coast Hwy. - Thu., Oct. 29 @ 5-9pm. Trick-or-treating, a costume parade and contests. FREE

🎸 Catch Bonneville 7 at Pour House - Pour House - Fri., Oct. 30 @ 5-8pm. A free rockabilly happy hour to kick off Halloween weekend. FREE

💀 Glow at Neon Nightmares - Junkyard Sports Bar, 3617 Ocean Ranch Blvd. - Fri., Oct. 30 @ 6pm. Spooky flash tattoos all night, a body art bus at 6pm, "Scareoke" with DJ TJ at 7pm and an EDM set under black lights at 9pm. 21+. Info

☕ Dance Early at the Halloween Coffee Rave - The Hangar 76, 3229 Roymar Rd. - Sat., Oct. 31 @ 9am-noon. Billed as Oceanside's first coffee rave, with DJ Nati spinning while you get your caffeine. $15 presale, $20 at the door. Info

🌼 Get the Last Pumpkins at Mellano - Mellano Farm Stand, 5714 N. River Rd. - Sat., Oct. 31 & Sun., Nov. 1 @ 10am-4pm. Final weekend of the fall festival, so it's your last shot at the corn maze and U-pick marigolds. $5 parking. Info

📜 Hear Oceanside's Haunting Histories - Weese History Center, 510 Civic Center Dr. - Sat., Oct. 31 @ 10:30am-noon. The Historical Society tells the town's spookiest stories. FREE

🏴‍☠️ Dance at Sirens & Seafarers - The Rooftop Bar - Sat., Oct. 31 @ 7pm. A haunted high-seas rooftop party with live DJs. 21+. $18. Tickets

🤘 Rock the Halloween Glam-aganza - Pour House - Sat., Oct. 31 @ 8pm-midnight. New York Dolls and Stooges tribute bands, a DJ and a costume contest. $5. Info

🧛 Check In to Dead & Checked In - Cococabana and The Lobby - Sat., Oct. 31 @ 8pm-close. A two-bar Halloween party with DJs Duh Noize, Red & Ted and Air Razor up on the Cococabana rooftop and pop-up karaoke downstairs at The Lobby. No cover, and they suggest getting there early. FREE

KOCT is asking for donations to stay on the air. The 43-year-old station that airs every council meeting has seen its cable-fee funding drop from $468,000 in 2018 to $263,000 last year. KOCT is how a lot of us keep tabs on City Hall without sitting through every meeting in person, and that's worth keeping around. If you're able to, chip in at koct.org/donate. The Coast News

The Henderson Fire on Camp Pendleton is 95% contained. It burned 3,260 acres and closed I-5 more than once. The cause is under investigation (Might have something to do with firing live ammunition during Santa Ana winds but hey that’s just my opinion). The Coast News

That's the week, O'side. Go grab some marigolds, catch a Shock game and enjoy Día de los Muertos on Sunday.

-Ryan

Tips, corrections, or something I missed? Email [email protected] or send a DM.

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