Delayed parade
The St. Patrick’s Day parade, which draws thousands of spectators to Hermosa’s main drag, will take place 11 a.m. Saturday, March 24 after heavy wind and rain prompted a one-week delay.
The 18-year-old parade, which travels Pier Avenue toward the ocean before turning south onto Hermosa Avenue, was rained out entirely in 2003, when police requested its cancellation for safety reasons.
Nearly 100 local businesses, civic organizations and school marching bands, bagpipers, floats, vintage autos, step dancers and Irish setters are scheduled to take part in the seven block parade.
This marks the second year the chamber has organized the event. Sponsors including Athens Services, Chevron, Consolidated Disposal Service, South Bay Yellow Cab, Scotty’s On the Strand and Crown Disposal contributed about $6,500.
Love of school
The Hermosa Beach Education Foundation presents its annual “Hearts of Hermosa” dinner dance to benefit the city schools Saturday, March 24 at an elegantly tented venue next to the Hermosa Beach Community Center, 720 Pier Ave. cocktail attire is suggested, items will be auctioned, and music will be provided by Vox DJs.
Doors open 5:45 p.m. Tickets are $140, or two for $250. Corporate and family sponsorships are available, and drink tickets also are available for pre-purchase. For more see HBEF.org.
Candidate passes
Services will be 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 27 at Rice Mortuary, 5310 Torrance Blvd., Torrance for former Hermosa Beach City Council candidate Steve Powers, who passed away Sunday. He was 63.
Last November, Powers, who bore up under health issues that limited the strength of his breathing, ran for one of two open council seats. He finished fourth with a respectable 19 percent of the vote, only 10 percentage points behind the top vote getter.
Blood drive
The Kiwanis Club of Hermosa Beach hosts a blood drive 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, March 25 at the Kiwanis Club Hall, 2515 Valley Drive. The drive is sponsored by the American Red Cross, which since 1940 has been providing about 40 percent of the nation’s blood supply.
Kiwanis President Michael Goergen cited Red Cross statistics indicating that every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood due to a life-threatening illness, serious injury, or accident.
“This is the sixth blood drive we worked on with the Hermosa Beach Kiwanis Club. At the last one we collected 17 units of blood and may have saved 51 lives,” said Beach Cities Red Cross Donor Resources Development spokesperson Alice Lan.
Donors must be 17 or older, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good general health.
To make an appointment, go to redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code: hermosakiwanis or contact Mickey McRae at 310-372-6939 or mickmacr@aol.com. Identification is required.
All donors will receive a voucher for two tickets to a Los Angeles Galaxy game and will be eligible to enter a regional drawing for annual Disneyland passes. Free massages will be provided by Sherri Douglas of The foundation for Wellness Professionals.
More blood
A separate blood drive last Sunday at the Clark Building brought 40 pints to Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center, and “Be the Match” marrow registry signed up 10 donors. The Comedy & Magic Club, El Pollo Inka, Fritto Misto, The Pita Pit and Fresh & Easy Market were sponsors. For information on future drives call or text 310-406-5907 or email: cam4hb@gmail.com.
Shooting air
Residents reported the sound of gunshots and a vehicle being driven away from the 600 block of Eighth Street about 1:15 a.m. last Wednesday. Police found four 9mm shell casings, but found no holes in any nearby homes, and believe the shots might have been fired into the air. ER
