Here’s some of the ways Pacific Beach made local history in 2025
Dante Ulanday - News Moderator 
PACIFIC BEACH – End-of-year stories are some of my favorites, and enough readers have chimed in over the years to let me know they feel the same. Something about reading where we’ve been and thinking about where we could be headed.
If newspapers (and news posts) are the first drafts of history, and I believe they are, then let’s take a look back and remind ourselves of the local history that was made in 2025.
Beach & Bay Press joins Times of San Diego and NEWSWELL
In May, San Diego Community Newspaper Group became part of NEWSWELL and Times of San Diego.
NEWSWELL, a nonprofit based at Arizona State University, was founded to build innovative solutions that help local newsrooms and communities thrive. It also operates Times of San Diego. A month later, San Diego Community Newspaper Group closed its Pacific Beach office and moved its staff to the Times of San Diego office in Bankers Hill. A few months after that, veteran journalist Andrew Keatts was tapped to lead Times of San Diego and the newspapers as general manager and editor.
Endless Summer ends for Mike Hynson
Legendary local surfer and board shaper Hynson, who died on Jan. 10 at age 82, will always be remembered for trailblazing surfing and surfboard design. The charismatic wave rider was known as well for his stylish approach to the sport and for co-starring in Bruce Brown’s 1966 film The Endless Summer.
Beautiful PB creates Pacific Beach Arts District
In April, Beautiful PB, a grassroots nonprofit devoted to a more sustainable, equitable, and beautiful community, announced the launch of the Pacific Beach Arts District. The new Arts District will organize, energize and promote the arts, cultural and entertainment life of Pacific Beach.
Yoga can return to the coast
It’s back to the beaches and shoreline parks for yoga classes, as a federal appeals court struck down the city’s ban on free yoga taught in public outdoor spaces in June. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals found that teaching yoga is protected speech under the First Amendment.
Residents rally against ‘Turquoise Tower’
Hundreds of San Diegans rallied and marched in Pacific Beach on July 19 to protest the proposed 23-story “Turquoise Tower” project, as well as Senate Bill 79. The Neighbors for a Better California rally protested the increasing density and high rises like the tower.
Mission Bay football unbeaten
The Buccaneers rolled to a 49-14 victory over City League foe Hoover High in their regular season finale in November to complete the school’s first undefeated regular season since 2009.
San Diego Unified closes school’s field to public
San Diego Unified School District decided to temporarily close Crown Point Junior Music Academy’s joint-use field to the public in October due to damage and sanitation issues caused by off-leash dogs.
