City savings?
City officials offered early retirement packages to nearly three dozen employees in an attempt to reduce the municipal payroll. It was not yet known whether any employees are interested.
The offer conforms to early retirement terms set by the California Public Employees’ Retirement System. City employees total about 125.
Closing time
The City Council on Tuesday declined to consider later closing times for Waterman’s restaurant on Pier Plaza.
Co-owner Eric Fonoimoana, an Olympic gold medal beach volleyball star, pointed out that the restaurant has become more family-friendly since its days under the name Dragon, as he made an unsuccessful pitch for the later closings, including 1:30 a.m. instead of 1 a.m. Thursdays through Saturdays.
During the Dragon days, city officials took away the restaurant’s late-night hours, and then later partially restored them.
“We’re just looking for a second chance,” Fonoimoana said. “…When you are punished, at least when I was a kid, it didn’t last forever.”
The council upheld a Planning Commission decision to reject the later closing times after Councilman Howard Fishman could not get a second for his motion to reconsider the matter.
For your sister
The sister city associations of Hermosa, Manhattan and Redondo Beach will hold their seventh annual Cinco de Mayo celebration 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 2 (dos de Mayo) at Ortega 120 restaurant, 1814 S. Pacific Coast Highway in Redondo.
The holiday commemorates victory over French forces at the Battle of Pueblo in 1862.
The event includes a silent auction and a raffle for a 42-inch flat screen TV. Tickets are $25 or $30 at the door, $20 for those under 21. To buy, see hb-sistercity.org.
Proceeds benefit the people and cultural exchange programs of the Mexican sister cities.
Fiesta!
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and School, at 320 Massey Ave., holds its annual Fiesta Friday, April 30 through Sunday, May 2. There will be rides, games, food, live music and a silent auction. Hours are 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. For more see ourladyofguadalupechurch.org.
Flights for Hope
Local cancer survivor and clothing designer Alexis Vitale teams up with Sangria Restaurant on the Pier Plaza for “Flights for Hope,” a wine tasting to benefit her nonprofit HopesSong.org Thursday, April 29.
The event will feature tastings from the Cambria, Acre and Giesinger wineries from 7 to 9 p.m., plus live entertainment, silent auctions and raffles. HopesSong is a social network that connects cancer patients, survivors, families, friends and health professionals.
For more information see SangriaHB on Facebook or email alexis@hopessong.org.
Park plan
The Clark Field Master Plan Committee invites members of the public to submit opinions, ideas and suggestions for changes, upgrades, additions and more on the Clark Field complex, at 861 Valley Drive, by visiting the hermosabch.org website and clicking on “Clark Field Master Plan Survey.”
The survey takes about two minutes. For more information see Donna Hunter at the Community Resources Office, 710 Pier Ave., or call 310-318-0280, or email dhunter@hermosabch.org.
MMA
Sean “The Destroyer” Loeffler of South Bay Jiu Jitsu in Hermosa will take part in the Bellator Fighting Championship of mixed martial arts in Kansas City, airing 7 p.m. Thursday, April 29 on Fox Sports Net, with highlights shown 4 a.m. Sunday, May 2 and Sunday, May 9 on KNBC-TV Channel 4 and 4 a.m. Sunday, May 2 and Sunday, May 9 on KNBCHD Channel 404. ER
