Heavy holiday: Police anticipate a crowded western Hermosa over the Fourth of July weekend, and while revelers might be tired out by the time the actual holiday rolls around on Monday, that means they’ll be spending the weekend before partying themselves out.
The very unofficial “Iron Man” contest, in which hundreds of mostly young people run on the sand, paddle in the ocean, chug beer and throw up in thick foamy gouts, is expected to have an early start time similar to last year’s 9:45 a.m. The event’s terminus is set once again for the north end of town near the waterline.
“We anticipate it being busy through the weekend into the Fourth of July,” Police Chief Greg Savelli told the City Council recently, as he described his department’s holiday preparations, which once again will include all-hands deployment augmented by Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies.
Councilman Howard Fishman, who has since accepted the rotating mayoralty, expressed some reservations about the 37-year-old Iron Man.
“Once again we are not going to take any action about drinking on the beach?” he asked.
Savelli said the event has caused police no significant problems. He has repeatedly said that the wisest course is to use limited personnel to contain the event. Drinking on the beach is illegal, and violators can be cited, but not arrested.
Councilmen Peter Tucker and Kit Bobko endorsed Savelli’s approach, and Councilman Michael DiVirgilio said he does not condone the Iron Man, but the event is not as “alarming” to see in person as newspaper photos suggest.
“You couldn’t see it unless you were looking for it. You can’t look on The Strand and see it. It might roil some people’s sensibilities, but if you didn’t know it was there, you wouldn’t know it was there,” Bobko said.
Gum Tree jubilee: The bungalow housing the Gum Tree café and boutique on upper Pier Avenue will celebrate its 100th birthday with a “good old American BBQ” on the patio and a $100 gift card raffle 5 to 9 p.m. during the downtown’s First Thursday event July 7. The structure has previously served as a hippie flop house and contained a graphic design business, hair salon, vintage furniture store and the Pink clothing store.
Correction:
In last week’s edition, the photographer’s credit for a photo of Milena and Desi Bogdanova of the Oliviera store was incorrect. The photographer who took the picture is Rafael Ruiz.
