Roundhouse Rumors
Mayor Richard Montgomery this week quashed rumors that the city plans to remove the Roundhouse Aquarium from the end of the pier.
Rumors began circulating when a Manhattan Beach woman posted a photo of the Roundhouse on her Facebook page with a caption that reads, “Rumor has it that the Manhattan Beach City Council is going to remove the round house from the pier. Is this true?” She went on to say a local realtor told her that the café at the end of the pier is not bringing in enough money to sustain the Roundhouse.
“I’ve never heard of that one,” Montgomery said. “That’s a state-owned pier. We couldn’t do anything to the Roundhouse even if we wanted to.”
Roundhouse Aquarium representative Lynne Gross also said she knows nothing of plans to remove the building.
The Aquarium in October announced that it faces a $100,000 shortfall as grants have dried up. In recent months, community members and businesses have held several fundraising events, helping the Aquarium exceed its first quarter goal of $25,000 by $5,000.
Aquarium officials are considering a number of ways to bring in more money, including hosting weddings at the end of the pier. They will present their ideas to the City Council at an upcoming meeting, though no date has been set yet.
As for the Roundhouse, Montgomery said it’s not going anywhere.
“You can just throw that rumor off the deck,” Montgomery said.
Vitality City
The city will host its first of a series of focus groups next week, during which residents can share their ideas about creating a Vitality City program in the South Bay. In October, the City Council approved the city’s participation in the three-year program aimed at measurably improving the health of beach city residents.
The innovative preventative health program is led by Healthways, which selected the three Beach Cities to be a model for the rest of the nation. Healthways’ Blue Zones Vitality City Team will launch programs, workshops and events this spring based on the feedback they receive from focus groups.
On Wednesday, Jan. 12, the following focus groups will be held at the Joslyn Center Auditorium, 1601 N. Valley Drive: Volunteer Coordinators and Clearinghouses from 8:30 to 10 a.m., Community Gardens from 10:30 a.m. to noon, and Walking School Bus and School Nutrition/Movement from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
There is no cost to attend. For more information, visit www.citymb.info or call Sona Kalapura at (310) 802-5058. ER
