Posts by Elka Worner
HB Councilmember Saemann builds own sleigh for tree lot
by Elka Worner Douglas firs, Noble pines and Christmas wreaths are flying off the Hermosa Beach Kiwanis Club Christmas tree lot, an annual tradition under the big red and white circus tent on the corner of Pier Avenue and PCH. “This is our biggest fundraiser,” said Hermosa Beach Kiwanis Club President Glenn Menard. “It’s heartwarming…
Read MorePUBLIC SAFETY: City unveils new Fire Station 2
by Mark McDeermott and Elka Worner The City of Manhattan Beach took special pride in unveiling its newly constructed MBFD Fire Station 2 last Wednesday. The $9.1 million, state-of-the-art facility replaced a nearly 70-year-old outdated fire station. The new facility’s ribbon cutting was the culmination of a nearly seven year effort that came to financial…
Read MoreHB Woman’s Club hosts 30th Annual Pancake Breakfast
by Elka Worner Guests at the 30th Annual Hermosa Beach Woman’s Club Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, November 5, ate more than 500 fluffy pancakes, bid on 70 gift baskets and auction items, and helped raise $10,000 in scholarships for local high school students. “This is our biggest fundraiser,” said Woman’s Club past president Margie Dupuis.…
Read MoreHouse of Homeira: Eric Brinkman curates an exhibit of Homeira Goldstein’s private art collection at the Manhattan Beach Art Center
“There was no art here. There was no fashion here, just all surfboards, and bikinis, wraps, and flip flops.” Homeira recalling her arrival in Manhattan Beach by Elka Worner Over the past two decades, art patron Homeira Goldstein has curated 35 shows at the Manhattan Beach Art Center featuring some of the country’s most…
Read MoreHermosa Friends makes friends with grants
by Elka Worner The Hermosa Friends Foundation distributed $10,000 in grants to local non-profits during its seventh anniversary celebration on Saturday, October. 7 at the home of Ryan Nowicki and Rosé Romero. “It was such a wonderful night,” Hermosa Beach resident Erin Phillips said. “Great food, great people and a great cause.” Nearly…
Read MoreKiwanians honor Koenig, Feys; Menard named president
by Elka Worner The Kiwanis Club of Hermosa Beach celebrated its 97th Installation of the Officers Sunday, October 8, with incoming President Glenn Menard assuming the helm. Outgoing President Rick Koenig received the “Distinguished Kiwanian Award” for his 23 years as a club member, as well as a Proclamation from the city of Hermosa Beach.…
Read MoreINFRASTRUCTURE: Polliwog Park’s new playground is unveiled
by Elka Worner “This is so fun,” screeched the preschooler, gliding through the air on a new swing at the official unveiling of a long-awaited $3 million playground at Polliwog Park. “This is an exciting day for Manhattan Beach!” Manhattan Beach Mayor Richard Montgomery said at the Sept. 26 event. “This playground has been a…
Read MoreAnnual Strand Alzheimer’s Walk underscores family financial costs
by Elka Worner Nearly 500 people carrying blue, purple, yellow and orange Promise Garden Flowers walked from the Hermosa Beach pier to the Manhattan Beach pier, and back Saturday morning, October 7, during the annual Beach Cities Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Blue Promise Garden Flowers were given to walkers with Alzheimer’s; purple flowers to walkers…
Read MoreThe Elon Musk enigma: Noble? Nuts ? Or both
by Elka Worner Former Time magazine editor Walter Isaacson shadowed Elon Musk for two years in preparation for writing his newly released, 688-page biography, “Elon Musk.” Isaacson sat in on Musk’s meetings, conducted hundreds of interviews with colleagues, family, adversaries, and ex-wives, and poured over emails and texts. What he concluded, he told the Los…
Read MoreHistoric home dedication also honors owner Majka
by Elka Worner For more than four decades, Marsha Majka has lovingly maintained her 1913 Craftsman home on the corner of Monterey Boulevard and Park Avenue in north Hermosa Beach. On Sunday neighbors, friends and community leaders gathered to celebrate Majka’s home as the city’s first residential historic landmark. “It’s such an honor,” she said.…
Read MoreDancing through the decade benefits HB museum
story and photos by Elka Worner More than 200 people attended the 7th Annual Hermosa Beach Historical Museum Dancing Through the Decades Gala on Saturday, August 26, at St. Cross Church. Committee Chair Jake Courtney, who auctioned off historic photos, beach artwork, a Strand cruiser, and a surfboard, said the evening raised $60,000. “The gala…
Read MoreHuntley Castner’s inspired pop portraits
by Elka Worner Local artist Huntley Castner describes his paintings as “essentially folk art, only with modern day folk heroes.” “I only paint people I think highly of,” he said of his vibrant portraits. His exhibit at Culture Brewing Company in Manhattan Beach features legends from the world of politics, sports, and entertainment, the Dalai…
Read MoreHuntley Castner’s inspired pop portraits of the famous, and beach city friends
Local artist Huntley Castner describes his paintings as “essentially folk art, only with modern day folk heroes.” “I only paint people I think highly of,” he said of his vibrant portraits. His exhibit at Culture Brewing Company in Manhattan Beach features legends from the world of politics, sports and entertainment, the Dalai Lama, Amy Winehouse,…
Read MoreCouncil proposes compromise to meet State housing order
by Elka Worner The Hermosa Beach City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to reject a zoning change that would have allowed up to 66 new units on the St. Cross properties and agreed to allocate some of those units to the Mitsubishi site on Pacific Coast Highway. “This is a win,” said Realtor and Hermosa Beach…
Read MoreHermosa Beach hair stylists mix love, business at their heart-covered salon
by Elka Worner and Blake Burrell When Hollywood hairstylist Brandon Martinez left behind the glitz and glamor of the red carpet for the laid-back beach lifestyle of Hermosa Beach, he wasn’t expecting to fall in love and open a salon. “I came down here just looking for a change because you can do hair anywhere,”…
Read More‘Stumbling Stones’ Documentarian Maclovia Martel aims camera on Amsterdam’s tragic past
by Elka Worner Palos Verdes resident Maclovia Martel credits her artist grandfather with inspiring her to attend art school and her dancer mother for inspiring her to become a documentary filmmaker. Martel’s grandfather was Paul-Jean Martel, a 20th Century Impressionist who exhibited in Paris with Henri Matisse and Mary Cassat before immigrating to the United…
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