Posts by Special Contributor
The 43rd Annual Easy Reader Writing and Photography Contest
“Write, shoot, and sell”: a note from Kevin Cody, Easy Reader publisher Grand prize winners: “Phillip the Shark” fiction by J.E. Marshall, “Madrona Marsh Frog” photo by Mike Barbee “Faithless” essay by J.E. Morse, “Boy in fog” photo by Marc Brocum “Retirony” fiction by Rory Parker, “On the rocks” photo by Steve Fujinaka “Bursting the…
Read MoreEasy Reader Writing and Photography Contest, Honorable Mention: “Days of Jazz and Insomnia” (poem) by Wanda VanHoy Smith, “An engagement with love” (photo) by Cat Eskilson
by Wanda VanHoy Smith 1960 Hermosa Beach the wild child of L.A. South Bay. between Ozzy and Harriet Manhattan Beach homes and the Air Research industry of condo Redondo Beatniks thrive on Hermosa books and coffee Between Ozzy and Harriet Manhattan Beach homes. Jazz lovers dig Lighthouse All Star’s jam sessions Beatniks thrive on Hermosa…
Read MoreEasy Reader Writing and Photography Contest, Honorable Mention: “The Crew does Soledad” (essay) by Steve Varalyay, “Dorymen” (photo) by Joel Gitelson
Hall is the only QB they know — or have even heard of — who loves to block on running plays to pay back late hitters October 18, 1974 6 p.m. The semi-pro South Bay Crew football team meets at Earthborn Industries in North Redondo. There’s an air of excitement. The team’s maiden game is…
Read MoreEasy Reader Writing and Photography Contest, Honorable Mention: “Bursting the bubble” (essay) by Brian Carroll, “Evening session” (photo) by Paul Anderson
Our cool blend of active and laid back by Brian Carroll Those of us who’ve lived in the South Bay for any substantial period of time are familiar with its well-deserved nickname “The Bubble.” It reflects the fact that the South Bay provides many of the characteristics people desire – tight-knit communities, beautiful beaches, great…
Read MoreEasy Reader Writing and Photography Contest, Honorable Mention: “Retirony” (fiction) by Rory Parker, “On the rocks” (photo) by Steve Fujinaka
“I told myself that, one day, I’d own a piece of the point. And now I do.” by Rory Parker Five days a week, 52 weeks a year, for 30 years is 7,800 hundred days. Eight hours a day for 7,800 days is 62,400 hours. This is what I paid for my security, for…
Read MoreThe 43rd Annual Easy Reader Reader Writing and Photography contest winners are….Phillip the Shark & Madrona Marsh frog
by J.E. Marshall It was 15 cent Sunday at Der Wienerschnitzel and Billy Brown was stuffed. He huffed and puffed his way up the stairs to his favorite bar on the Redondo pier. A pretty barfly named Louise was there, tossing her hair, laughing at the bartender’s jokes. They were laughing about how cheap…
Read MoreHermosa Beach surf pioneer Dotty Kerwin remembered
by Scott Kerwin Dotty Kerwin enjoyed a quintessential southern California lifestyle for 80 years before passing away at the age of 87, surrounded by her family at her home in Hermosa Beach on July 21, 2013. Her husband Ted Kerwin, who passed away eight months prior, was a member of the Kerwin clan, one of…
Read MoreFitzgerald Two-Mile run in Hermosa Beach highlighted by runner with a cause
by Saima Fariz The annual Dick Fitzgerald Two-Mile Run was held on Saturday Aug. 3 as a part of the International Surf Festival at the Hermosa Beach Pier. The race started at 8 a.m. sharp for all divisions at the base of the Pier, which served as the start and finish line. All runners followed…
Read MoreWilly Wonka Unwrapped – Torrance Theatre Company has Just the Ticket
by Vy Nguyen Are you looking for a sweet, delicious treat this summer? “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” is here! The Torrance Theatre Company presents Roald Dahl’s “Willy Wonka,” a musical production recreating the beloved story of Charlie Bucket and Willy Wonka. We can join Charlie in his adventure through Willy Wonka’s enigmatic yet fascinating…
Read MoreSearch resumed for missing Redondo Beach man, wife speaks out
Hi. I am Samantha Lamberg. Many of you have heard from or talked to me before. I wanted to provide some details of the big search and rescue operation planned in Mendocino tomorrow [Wednesday] for my husband Erik Lamberg. First, a little background. Erik and I were married back in 1992 and have been long…
Read MoreRedondo Beach relay raises funds for cancer research
The track at Lincoln Elementary School was transformed this weekend to make way for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life Beach Cities event.
Read MoreStrand Style- Hats off to summer
by Strand Style Stalker Lately the weather in Southern California has been sub-par. June gloom has set in (July gloom now), and the weather at my house is always completely different than the weather two miles away at my office- so I’m constantly dressing completely wrong. Yesterday I wore a black blouse with my go-to mint…
Read MoreWhatever | Pier comparisons: Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach
by Lina McDermott and Raquel Gerard Piers. Every beach city has one. But what makes a pier special? We visited the piers of Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Redondo Beach, just so we could answer that question for you. Manhattan Beach The Manhattan Beach pier is pretty sparse. There are benches aplenty if you’re one…
Read MoreShakespeare by the Sea makes King John memorable [THEATER REVIEW]
by Nate Lee “King John” is one of Shakespeare’s least-performed plays. In fact, it is the one play that he himself may have never seen on stage. Possibly because it doesn’t jibe with our more popular views of John as the villainous enemy of Robin Hood, and possibly just because it’s a history play, which…
Read MoreThe Bavard: 10 Strategies to Survive Tedious Corporate Meetings
by J. Bavard The situation is tragically familiar. You are mandated by some unseen force be spend hours (or days) in a strange room. There is a presenter, a PowerPoint projector, and an audience of colleagues, known or unknown. The information being presented is (choose any three): redundant, unnecessary, irrelevant, incorrect, outdated, humorless, disorganized, depressing,…
Read MoreBeer Bros Q&A: Strand Brewing Co. brewmaster Joel Elliott
Q: When did you start brewing? A: It might sound strange but I started brewing at about 5 years old. As a kid, I liked to take things apart – old cameras, radios, toasters, things like that – I wanted to know what their guts looked like and how they worked. At first, I couldn’t…
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