The Ocean Beach MainStreet Association (OBMA) honored the community’s cream of the crop last week for individual and merchant spirit and a wealth of contributions for the betterment of Ocean Beach. The annual awards dinner, ceremony and annual meeting was held Oct. 27, drawing nearly 200 participants to witness the honors — including guests Mayor Jerry Sanders, District 2 City Councilman Kevin Faulconer and county Supervisor Greg Cox. The awards were presented by the committee chairs of the respective subgroups of OBMA, and the association’s new officers were publicly introduced. The OBMA’s new officers are: Barbara Iacometti, president; Julie Klein, first vice president; Mike Akey, second vice president and outgoing president; Yvonne Cruz, secretary; Mike Stifano, treasurer; and board members Dave Smedley, Mark Schlesinger, Gary Gilmore, Dave Martin, Mary Orem, Craig Gerwig, Tevia Schriebman, Chris Wilmot and Matt Kalla. Shriebman chairs the OBMA’s Promotion Committee, which evaluates ideas about how to market and promote Ocean Beach in coordination with other committees. The committee presented awards to the following: • Hodad’s (Mike Hardin) — Patriotic Service Award • Ocean Beach Surf & Skate (Lanette Jorgenson) — Business Award for the Best Use of Social Media • Lighthouse Ice Cream (Carol Ladiges) — Business Award for the Most Enthusiastic Community Spirit • Shannon Brown, Brown Marketing — Business Award for Outstanding Marketing Strategies • Pacific Shores (Kariann Medina) — Business Award for 70th Anniversary in Ocean Beach • Joe Ewing, photographer — Community Player Award Lifetime OB Press Pass Award Akey chairs the Design Committee, which helps direct the visual elements of the Ocean Beach business districts, including signage, planting, tree trimming and utility-box painting. The committee presented awards to the following: • South Beach Bar & Grill — Sunflower Award for the Best View Expansion • Sessions Public — Sunflower Award for Outstanding Use of a Small Interior Space • Ashley Lewis, Dog Beach Design —Sunflower Award for Community Beautification through Banner Designs • Therapie Day Spa — Sunflower Award for Serene New Use of an Interior Space • Victor’s Salon Spa — Sunflower Award for Vibrant New Use of an Interior Space • Electric Ladyland — Sunflower Award for the Most Creative Design & Use of an Interior Space • The Inn at Sunset Cliffs — Sunflower Award for Outstanding Landscape Redesign Gilmore chairs the OBMA Economic Restructuring Committee, which works to increase prosperity for the community by working with businesses to improve business. The committee presented awards to the following: • Sarah Chavez, associate civil engineer — Community Player Award • Seth’s Chop Shop — Community Player Award • Starbucks — Community Player Award • Electric Ladyland (Paul and Lynn Bolton) — Business Award for providing an All-Ages-Friendly Entertainment Venue • The Joint — Business Award for Outstanding Restaurant Revitalization Klein chairs the OBMA Crime Prevention Committee, which works with police officials and community advocates for the betterment of the community. The committee presented awards to the following: • SDPD Officer David Surwilo — Community Partner Award • Greg Gieselman — Community Partner for Outstanding Efforts with Graffiti Abatement • Union Bank — Community Partner Award • Point Loma Masonic Center — Community Partner Award Iacometti, as incoming president of the OBMA, honored several community members with Special Awards: • Katie Elsbree — 25th anniversary of Dollars for Scholars Award • Craig Gerwig — Outstanding Community Volunteerism Award • Julie Klein — Community Caretaker Award • Susan and Pat James — Dedication to the OB Community Award • Mike Akey — Four-Year Presidential Award The Ocean Beach MainStreet Association’s awards gala, dinner and meeting was held at the Point Loma Masonic Center.