OFF THE WIRE
Get ready for road closures and a lot of police by the beaches in Oceanside, but no dogs or bicycles on The Strand.
Citing lack of money, authorities have ruled out a fireworks display at the municipal pier this year, but they still expect nearly 200,000 people to turn out for the city's Fourth of July festivities on and near the beach next week, officials said.
And that means increased traffic controls ---- for those on wheels or on foot ---- and triple the fines for any municipal code violations anywhere in Oceanside west of the train tracks, said Oceanside police Lt. Leonard Mata.
The department plans to have 200 officers in the area, all with a motto of "zero tolerance," Mata said.
Most city parking lots will be open, except for lots number 26, 29 and 30. Parking for the disabled will be on the north side of the Beach Community Center, and people can drop off disabled passengers at Surfrider Way on The Strand.
Police will close roads west of the tracks from Wisconsin Avenue north to the beach at Oceanside Harbor, Mata said.
A stretch of The Strand from Wisconsin to Breakwater Street will be closed from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Mata said.
Police will also close access to Oceanside Harbor at 9 p.m., with access ---- via Pacific Street ---- limited to residents, slip renters and employees. The roadways there will probably reopen around midnight, Mata said.
Mata said other rules include:
no smoking on the beach, pier or in public places;
no dogs allowed on The Strand on July Fourth;
no bicycles allowed on The Strand on July Fourth;
no tents on the beach;
no skateboards on public streets.
Citing lack of money, authorities have ruled out a fireworks display at the municipal pier this year, but they still expect nearly 200,000 people to turn out for the city's Fourth of July festivities on and near the beach next week, officials said.
And that means increased traffic controls ---- for those on wheels or on foot ---- and triple the fines for any municipal code violations anywhere in Oceanside west of the train tracks, said Oceanside police Lt. Leonard Mata.
The department plans to have 200 officers in the area, all with a motto of "zero tolerance," Mata said.
Most city parking lots will be open, except for lots number 26, 29 and 30. Parking for the disabled will be on the north side of the Beach Community Center, and people can drop off disabled passengers at Surfrider Way on The Strand.
Police will close roads west of the tracks from Wisconsin Avenue north to the beach at Oceanside Harbor, Mata said.
A stretch of The Strand from Wisconsin to Breakwater Street will be closed from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Mata said.
Police will also close access to Oceanside Harbor at 9 p.m., with access ---- via Pacific Street ---- limited to residents, slip renters and employees. The roadways there will probably reopen around midnight, Mata said.
Mata said other rules include:
no smoking on the beach, pier or in public places;
no dogs allowed on The Strand on July Fourth;
no bicycles allowed on The Strand on July Fourth;
no tents on the beach;
no skateboards on public streets.
Oceanside is skipping the fireworks July 4, but the city will be alight with celebration through the holiday weekend, starting Saturday with a Freedom Parade and ending Monday with a daylong beach bash.
Close to 200,000 people are expected to jam downtown and the beaches over the weekend, said acting police Capt. Leonard Mata.
Oceanside has had an Independence Day-themed parade since 1898, said volunteer organizer Cathy Nykiel, but the event was nearly canceled last year when the city ran out of money to pay for it. Downtown booster group MainStreet Oceanside and a cadre of determined volunteers took over.
This year, the group raised nearly $12,000 to keep up the tradition, Nykiel said, adding that's what it costs to stage the event.
The parade will start at 10 a.m. Saturday with the route along Coast Highway, starting at Wisconsin Avenue and ending at Civic Center Drive.
"Wear red, white and blue," is Nykiel's advice to parade-watchers, and get ready for a rip-roaring, flag-waving time.
"We have twirlers, cheerleaders, two marching bands ---- El Camino High School Marching Band and Oceanside High School Band. We have a lot of civic organizations."
Representatives of the I Marine Expeditionary Force from Camp Pendleton will be the grand marshals for the parade this year, Nykiel said.
"Bring a nice comfortable lawn chair or beach chair and make sure you have sunscreen," she advised.
As if the parade weren't enough celebration, the beach bash Monday will have live music, lots of activities and plenty of summertime munchies for purchase, said Kim Heim of MainStreet Oceanside.
"We'll have everything from standard American favorites like hamburgers and hot dogs to Filipino food, all kinds of frozen treats ---- Italian ice, Hawaiian ice, packaged ice cream, funnel cakes, really, just all the things people love," Heim said.
A kids zone will be set up in Tyson Street Park where children can race radio-controlled toy cars or jump around in a big bounce house, Heim said.
Live music featuring several local bands will be playing throughout the day at Seagaze Park on The Strand, Heim said.
All of that activity will have police on high alert, with more than 200 officers on duty to keep the celebration safe, Capt. Mata said.
An area bounded by the railroad tracks and the ocean to the east and west and by the city limits north and south has been designated as a "safety enhancement zone," where fines will be tripled for anyone who gets out of hand, Mata said.
Some roads will be closed near the beach, as will city parking lots 26, 29 and 30, although handicapped parking will be allowed in lot 30 on the north side of the Beach Community Center.
Handicapped parking also will be available in lot 31 at The Strand and Wisconsin Street. All other city parking lots will be open, Mata said.
His advice to weekend revelers is to keep the celebrating within reason.
"We would like to remind the citizens that public consumption of alcohol is prohibited as well as public drunkenness," Mata warned.
Learn more at http://www.ci.oceanside.ca.us/ or by calling 760-435-5227.Close to 200,000 people are expected to jam downtown and the beaches over the weekend, said acting police Capt. Leonard Mata.
Oceanside has had an Independence Day-themed parade since 1898, said volunteer organizer Cathy Nykiel, but the event was nearly canceled last year when the city ran out of money to pay for it. Downtown booster group MainStreet Oceanside and a cadre of determined volunteers took over.
This year, the group raised nearly $12,000 to keep up the tradition, Nykiel said, adding that's what it costs to stage the event.
The parade will start at 10 a.m. Saturday with the route along Coast Highway, starting at Wisconsin Avenue and ending at Civic Center Drive.
"Wear red, white and blue," is Nykiel's advice to parade-watchers, and get ready for a rip-roaring, flag-waving time.
"We have twirlers, cheerleaders, two marching bands ---- El Camino High School Marching Band and Oceanside High School Band. We have a lot of civic organizations."
Representatives of the I Marine Expeditionary Force from Camp Pendleton will be the grand marshals for the parade this year, Nykiel said.
"Bring a nice comfortable lawn chair or beach chair and make sure you have sunscreen," she advised.
As if the parade weren't enough celebration, the beach bash Monday will have live music, lots of activities and plenty of summertime munchies for purchase, said Kim Heim of MainStreet Oceanside.
"We'll have everything from standard American favorites like hamburgers and hot dogs to Filipino food, all kinds of frozen treats ---- Italian ice, Hawaiian ice, packaged ice cream, funnel cakes, really, just all the things people love," Heim said.
A kids zone will be set up in Tyson Street Park where children can race radio-controlled toy cars or jump around in a big bounce house, Heim said.
Live music featuring several local bands will be playing throughout the day at Seagaze Park on The Strand, Heim said.
All of that activity will have police on high alert, with more than 200 officers on duty to keep the celebration safe, Capt. Mata said.
An area bounded by the railroad tracks and the ocean to the east and west and by the city limits north and south has been designated as a "safety enhancement zone," where fines will be tripled for anyone who gets out of hand, Mata said.
Some roads will be closed near the beach, as will city parking lots 26, 29 and 30, although handicapped parking will be allowed in lot 30 on the north side of the Beach Community Center.
Handicapped parking also will be available in lot 31 at The Strand and Wisconsin Street. All other city parking lots will be open, Mata said.
His advice to weekend revelers is to keep the celebrating within reason.
"We would like to remind the citizens that public consumption of alcohol is prohibited as well as public drunkenness," Mata warned.