Sea of Santas floods Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach Strand in support of Mychal’s Learning Place
by Kevin Cody A sea of Santas flooded the Strand, between Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach Saturday morning. The occasion was the Fourth Annual California Santa Stroll, in support of Mychal’s Learning Place. The more than 800 Santas was a record, despite the threat of rain, according to Mychal’s founding executive director Ed Lynch. Each […]
Surfboard shaper Jarvis, woodworker Herwegh open Gallery 208 in Manhattan Beach
The former Third Gallery location, at 208 Manhattan Beach Blvd., in downtown Manhattan Beach, is now actually a gallery. Third Gallery, a women’s boutique, recently moved from its longtime Manhattan Beach Boulevard location a few blocks south to the former Cotton Cargo boutique location, at 815 Manhattan Avenue. Cotton Cargo, which opened in 1979, closed […]
Frosty the Sandman, sand dolphins join Hermosa Beach Holiday Sandman Contest
The Eick family, of Burbank, has been participating in the Hermosa Beach Sandman Contest since daughter Ebie was five years old. Ebie is now 13. Eric Johnson, of Manhattan Beach, has been competing in the Sandman Contest since his kids were toddlers. Now they’re grown and his children come no more. So Johnson sculpted a […]
City Attorney Jenkins thanked for defending Hermosa Beach for one-quarter of its history
by Kevin Cody Hermosa Beach’s low profile, highly respected city attorney for one-quarter of the city’s 115 year history, has resigned. During a ceremony at Tuesday night’s city council meeting, Michael Jenkins thanked by name all 19 of the council members he has represented since being retained by the city in 1995. Jenkins said he […]
Leno returns to Hermosa Beach Comedy Club, absolves steamer car that burned him
by Kevin Cody Sunday evening, one month after Jay Leno suffered face, hand, and chest burns so severe he required skin grafts, he was welcomed back to the Comedy and Magic Club with standing ovations at the start, and close of his performance. “You’d never know he had a problem,” John Bartlet, a Manhattan […]
Hermosa holidays officially begin with Pier Plaza tree lighting.
by Kevin Cody The Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce signaled the start of the holiday season by transforming Pier Plaza into a fun zone over the past weekend. Kids screamed from atop a Ferris Wheel on the beach end of the plaza, and jumped up and down in a bounce house on the Hermosa Avenue […]
After a decade of conflict over Sand Dune Park, Manhattan Beach forged a lasting peace
by Kevin Cody Over the past six months, Manhattan Beach’s public works department removed 100 tons of dead vegetation, planted 320 trees and plants, installed new irrigation, and refurbished the utility building at Sand Dune Park. And trucked 650 tons of sand from the bottom of the dune, and dumped it at the top of […]
Hermosa Chamber surveys businesses, residents about keeping Labor Day Weekend Fiesta, or launching new event in the fall
by Kevin Cody Since 1972, when the Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce took over the downtown Hermosa Arts and Crafts Fair, founded by the Colony Craftsmen, what is now known as Fiesta Hermosa has been a victim of its own success. Its downtown street closures annoy many residents. Its enormous crowds annoy downtown businesses, whose […]
Mira Costa girls volleyball readies for Saturday night rematch against Sierra Canyon, after victory over Newport Harbor
by Paul Teetor After cruising through what felt like a magical season for the last four months, losing to Sierra Canyon in the CIF Southern Section Finals Saturday night was a category 5 shock to the collective system of the Mira Costa Girls volleyball team. “I’m not going to kid you, it was tough on […]
Pickleball ping is music to Manhattan Beach players’ ears
by Kevin Cody When Manhattan Beach School Board Member Sally Peel disclosed at the Friday evening, November 1, ribbon cutting for the new Manhattan Beach Middle School pickleball courts, that she lived in the blue house across the street, the crowd of pickleball supporters quieted. When she said, “I hear the ping, ping, ping of […]
Nick Christensen was power surfer, gentle man
Nick Christensen was known as a power surfer when he competed on the pro tour. He remained a powerful and respected member of the beach community until his passing this pass weekend.
Cheer squads set tempo for $3 million Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk in Manhattan Beach
Cheer squads set tempo for Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk by Ralph Doyle The first Skechers Pier to Pier Friendship Walk in 2009 drew 1,700 participants and raised an impressive $220,000. Sunday’s 14th Annual Skechers walk drew a crowd estimated at 19,000, and raised an estimated $3 million, Rabbi Yossi Mintz announced from the […]
Hermosa Beach schools enrollment up, preschool coming
“The state of the schools is good,” Hermosa Beach School Board President Maggie Bove-LaMonica declared at the start of her State of the Schools address. Enrollment is up, fundraising is up, and HBCSD is among the top 5 percent of California districts in academic scoring, despite being one of the lowest funded.
Mustangs top Mater Dei in five, CIF championship next
Photos by Ray Vidal by Paul Teetor Real men don’t cry – unless they’ve just watched their girls volleyball team pull out a five-set thriller and advance to the CIF Finals next weekend. Then it’s okay to shed a few tears of joy and relief. That’s why Mira Costa Girls volleyball coach Cam Green gave […]
Mira Costa running back Kraskouskas’ four touchdowns runs out the running clock against rival Redondo
Mira Costa High running back Matthew Kraskouskas rushed for 104 yards, and four touchdowns in leading his Mustangs to a 51-14 win in a rivalry game that got so lop-sided a running clock rule was used in the fourth quarter to put the Redondo High Sea Hawks out of their misery, and let the exuberant Costa crowd go home early and celebrate.
M is for Marijuana and Money in Hermosa Beach election
Measure M asks Hermosa Beach voters to approve cannabis retail stores