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When is the best time of the year to go to Anguilla.
Thank you Richard and the EasyReader team for the article about Paul Martin’s. I believe our phone number is incorrect in this article? It should be 310-643-9300 and I believe it’s missing a digit. Thank you again and we are proud to be part of the South Bay community!
Regards
Mark Evensvold
I have never met Mr. Horrell, however, after reading the article I would consider him a good man. If and when Mr. Horrell ever meets his disgruntled neighbors I have a line for him … “Sir, it is obvious that living in this city is too much drama for you … perhaps you should move to a new community where wildlife doesn’t exist!”
A couple questions that need further analysis:
1) How could this lawyer ever pass the state exam?
2) How could he not know that the LA Municipal code has no bearing on this case?
3) Would it really cost $12,500 to repair a small Redondo Beach lawn? Good Grief …. sand and grass seed is not that expensive
4) Is this publicity going to help the Averas’ business?
By far, this is the most rediculous lawsuit I have seen in a while … but from a comic relief standpoint … I cannot stop laughing.
Good luck with winning the lawsuit … having snow fall in Redondo has greater chance of happening.
To Russ and family,
I was saddened to learn of your great loss. At this
difficut time my thoughts are with you and yours.
Most sincerely,
Leah Cryan
I am amazed by Mr. Hory’s unethical suggestion that Manhattan Beach Mayor Ward should make decisions for the City based on his supposed personal aspirations to represent a more broad constituency. Mayor Ward is man of integrity who would never do so. But more broadly, Mr. Hory’s comment reinforces my conclusion that those few who advocate that this City spend huge dollars during this recession — the worst since the Great depression — to create each month a man-made river of sand so that non-residents many have their “preferred free workout,” are not grappling with priorities, any of the opposing points, or even reality. They just want what they want. How many teachers could Manhattan Beach hire if the City just left the dune alone, without the monthly cost of sand relocation, park workers, and police presence necessary to create this dune-workout-facility for these duners in a neighborhood wholly unequipped for this use? A little knowledge, context and perspective go a long way. Mr. Hory’s letter lacks each.
Hello,
I do not live in Manhattan Beach anymore, but grew up all over the South Bay area and now reside in Illinois. But everytime I come here, I am amazed at all the history of these neighborhoods that have been lost, and now Sand Dune park, that as children we have so many memories sliding down, and crossing through the paths to get to the ocean, it was a pretty site on the way to another beautiful destination, our beaches. I have lived at the bottom of Sand Dune park and above it as well. I am oppossed to the loss of this beautiful park that also harbors the home of many beautiful parrots that have made their home there as well, what will happen to them? Please leave the park, I hope the next time I come to Los Angeles, I will still get to visit “Sand Dune Park” and I am sure there are others that grew up here, that want it to still be here when they come as well!
Excellent work. You have gained a new reader. I hope you can keep up the good work and I look forward to more of the excellent posts.
Toni, No one has proposed closing the park, or the dune. The park and dune will remain, and the children will be permitted to play on the dune. At issue is whether the City should spend huge amounts of resources in a recession, deploying enormous, noisy and polluting trucks to create a river of sand on the face of the dune each month. This is a rather recent development, caused by tremendous spikes in usage by atheletes that have destroyed the dune by scraping sand from its face and pushing it to its bottom. To maintain that usage, huge trucks are deployed each month to scoop up sand from the bottom, transport it through the neighborhood to the top, and then dump it at the top, each month. This erodes the underlying dune, pollutes, and costs a fortune. We should save the dune, and stop turning it into a wholly unnatural manmade work out facility, in a neighborhood totally unequipped for this usage. That manmade usage is destroying the dune, and the neighborhood. We need teachers, and books, not this expensive and polluting “facility” which robs us of our park, dune and enjoyment of it and out neighborhood. Sand Dune Park will be waiting for you when you return.
Just to be clear, no one has proposed “closing” the park or the dune. The park and dune will remain, and the children will be permitted to play on them. At issue is whether the City should spend huge amounts of resources in a recession, deploying enormous, noisy and polluting trucks to create a river of sand on the face of the dune each month, and additional sums for an elaborate reservation system. This is a rather recent development, caused by spikes in usage by atheletes that have destroyed the dune by scraping sand from its face and pushing it to its bottom. To maintain that usage, huge trucks are deployed each month to scoop up the loose sand from the bottom, transport it through the neighborhood to the top, and then dump it at the top, each month. This erodes the underlying dune, pollutes, and costs a fortune. We should save the dune, and stop turning it into a wholly unnatural manmade work out facility — a river of sand — in a neighborhood totally unequipped for this man-made marvel. To create this dune facility is the antithesis of Manhattan’s admirable “green” pledge, not to mention a mis-prioritization of limited financial resources. Just read any of a number of articles in this paper. We need teachers, and books, not this expensive and polluting “facility” which robs us of our park, dune and enjoyment of it and our neighborhood. Sand Dune Park, with the real dune, will remain, without creation of this manmade river of sand. Once the issue is understood, the answer is obvious. Let the dune be, and don’t try to change it into something unnatural huge trucks, expense and pollution, to create a “regional sand-river work out facilty.”
Hello Mr. Kemple,
Mayor Ward’s integrity has never been in question. However, you are free to spin the letter however you would like. The simple point was to express how South Bay is a community and that the majority of residents frequent various parks and beaches in adjoining communities. Accordingly, yes – local issues can be evaluated with this idea in mind.
Moreover, since we all agree on that something needs to be done to reduce usage – there have been plenty of ideas offered that do not cost any additional funds (reducing park hours and establishing a quota are just two simple, zero cost ideas). Since there already is a park attendant desk there, all that is required is actual enforcement. With the resulting reduced usage, all other legitimate grievances also decrease
Using Mr. Kempler’s own numbers of peak usage, this still only averages to 21 people per hour and I am not so sure that justifies total closure.
This is terrible… I’m sorry for your losses.
It sounds like this may be a rare thing referred to as Secondary Drowning. It’s not common, but a small amount of inhaled water has been known to lead to a series of events that can cause pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs) and haemoptosis (coughing up blood).
When people have water in the lungs and try to breath it will often cause a froth/foam.
Mr. Kemple,
First off, you must be unaware of the very large amount of money provided to Manhattan Beach Park & Recreation by Los Angeles County in a grant “to maintain and operate in perpetuity the property developed, rehabilitated or restored”. A significant portion of that grant was used on the dune at Sand Dune Park. South Bay residents are clearly part of Los Angeles County and therefore those residents have a legitimate financial vested interest in that park. Actions taken by Mayor Ward most certainly reflect his commitment to an obligation to them. A suggestion by Mr. Hory for South Bay residents to hold Mayor Ward accountable is totally ethical and appropriate even if Mayor Ward had no further political aspirations.
Second, the money spent at Sand Dune Park has never been shown to be disproportionate compared to that spent at the other major Manhattan Beach parks. Even so, the answer to the question “How many teachers could Manhattan Beach hire” if any monies were saved by dune closure is exactly zero. The Manhattan Beach School District is an entirely separate and distinct entity from the Manhattan Beach City government. Any savings from park operations would not belong to the school district.
Third, the park workers are there whether the dune is open or not and the police get paid whether they are on a call or not. So the extra cost for that is zero. As far as the sand replenishment cost, how does that compare to the analogous event of mowing at Polliwog Park. How does it compare to the millions of kilowatt-hours of electricity used to provide park night lighting? The reasonableness of the maintenance costs at Sand Dune Park can’t be determined without such context.
Finally, I find it ironic that residents who chose to live in the Sand Dune Park neighborhood, that is just a few hundred yards from the noisy and toxic spewing El Segundo oil refinery, would complain about the noise and smog from some sand replenishment trucks six or seven times a year.
Great Post. I’ll be back for your next piece
Hey, I like your site. I was wondering if you would do a review post of my product at http://www.publicdomainpayday.com
I am impressed by the way you treated this topic. It is not often I come across a blog with intriguing articles like yours. I will note your feed to stay up to date with your hereafter updates. I like it and do maintain up the complete work.
Just imagine I read it twice. While I am not as accomplished on this topic, I concur with your closings because they make sense. Thanks and goodluck to you.
Missing you MJ…
I LOVE U! YOU ARE NUMBER 1…KING OF POP
Very interesting read. Thanks.
What an amazing story and very worthy of being shared with the world. Great reporting Mark. A+
I know Maison de Lumiere well, and I want to commend you on this article. It is an excellent and engaging account, and the photos are superb. You point toward something I have found to be true — when you experience God’s love as vividly as it shines at MDL, you are never the same.
Hey, this is my first visit to your blog… We are a group of volunteers and starting a new initiative in a community in the same niche. Your blog provided us valuable information to work on. good job
Un-Cuff the Cops rebuttal –
Before I dissect and dispute the authors letter, I would like to say that I truly am sorry to hear about your friend who was brutally attacked, and I am disgusted by this, and I can only offer my condolences and hopes for a full recovery…….. That being said, I truly believe that you’re wrong in your assumption that the demographic responsible are tattooed, drug addled skateboarders. Believe it or not, the one respectable trait that they all have, is a love and respect for this city that is equal (or sometimes greater) to the love they have of their own flesh and blood. I’m a 3rd generation member of this beautiful city. Born and raised in a home my family has owned since the late 20’s/early 30’s. Believe it or not, these kids on the pier w/ their skateboards and tattoos thwart more incidences that your friend fell victim to, than do they provoke or incite. Most of the fights and crimes committed around here are not from the locals– it’s the out of towners and transplants who have no respect for our beach community……..
Which if you agree or can believe that, I know exactly what your next argument is. If it’s the out of towners, lets not give them a reason to come here — blame it on the bars (as usual) shut down the promenade, close down the beach on the 4th of July, and for “GOODNESS GRACIOUS SAKES” can we please put an end to the 4th of July IRONMAN!!……. The correct answers for all of the above are NO-NO- and HELL NO!! This is what hermosa beach is. If you truly hate this fact, you should have chose residence in Manhattan or Redondo…..
As passionate as I sound about all of the above, what really bothered me the most about this letter is the whole “Un-Cuff the Cops” headline. In case you haven’t noticed, the negligence of the HB police department has cost us 2 embarrassing lawsuit settlements in 2009, one of which was a settlement to an off duty LAPD officer who was harassed and arrested by our fine police force. But really, I don’t wanna hammer the HBPD on this — that’s not my intention here. My concern, is that you’re stereotyping/profiling the wrong people. That was me 15 years ago, and I never bullied anyone, especially the locals. And I was a straight edger in those days, and I know for a fact some of this generations pier rats are too….. so be careful who you call drug addicts w/out any proof. You would probably be surprised at how many yuppie/middle class/average joe drug addicts there are out there…..
I can just say thank you for this wonderful post!
I have chills, thanks for the story!
QJ: “If Chuck wants a rematch, he’s going to have to come all the way back over to Japan”
The Manasseros have taken care to first love God and then those He has put there for them to love.I have the highest respect for them.
Hey there. my grandfather let me know about your blog a couple weeks ago. and I just love it. I will be back! Thanks!
Good article, Robb. Any help Hermosa can get is good. I still would never surf during or after storms despite the water quality being better than when I was growing up
I have read this story to my third grade students, not without tears. and they are inspired to send cards and words of love to all of you. Not only is your story inspirational and touching, but an important reminder to us all that we are interconnected to each other. This is a good time to remember that we are all God’s children and each of us is responsible for and to each other. God bless each and every one of you and may God’s grace be with you. Cathy (Teacher)
Touching and inspiring story. May God continue to bless them and all their families.
I am leading a “Cycle for Haiti” Spin Class at the South Bay Spectrum Club this Saturday, January 23rd from noon-2pm to raise funds for this very same orphanage, Maison de Lumiere. If you would like to participate, (you don’t need to be a Spectrum member) please contact me, sue@yourpromoplace.com. $100 a bike, you can ride for the entire 2 hours or split the time with a friend or two. God Bless the Manaserro family and all who help those in need!
With great respect and admiration to the Manasseros. I knew them, they are my son’s in-laws. The article is a great inspiration. God Bless.
Hello. Thanks for this site. I read it regularly to get the newest info. Extremely educational post.
It’s so inspiring and touching to see how one child’s dream impacts the lives of so many beyond anyone could possibly ask for or imagine. I met the Manasseros long time ago at a family retreat. I know God will continue to bless the Manasseros and their work as they continue to bless so many.
Thank you for the post. I appreciate it. You have a very good website.
Mark,
What a well-written article. Acurate. Well-researched and very thorough. Cudos.
What up Buttercup? Anytime I come across the name Mike Purpus I gotta check it out. Been a number one fan since I was 16 years old. You and Duke as well brought fame to surfing’s beginnings. Email me it’s been to long…..WIth much Respect and Aloha your friend Sandy Leilani one of the twins…..
The festival is SUNDAY, not Saturday! Excellent interview with Mitch Chang. Your attempt at humor in your article was not funny.
Thanks for this cool post. Anyway i found your blog on google and find it very useful. I’ll be sure to come back again for more!
I am deeply moved by this story. How great is our God? How great is His Name? Our God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask,think or imagine. He deserve all the glory, honor and praise. We serve a mighty God!!!
To fall in the hands of a mighty God is a beautifull thing. When you think you are alone , well your not. When you cry out to Him, well He’s always there. When you think everyone has given up on you, well He hasn’t. He uses people who love Him to show His unfailing love ! I have seen it throu this beautiful family.
Finally, I have been able to read this story that I’ve heard about. So much that I didn’t know. I thought I understood my daughter’s love for the Haitian people, the Manasseros, and the mission, but now I really understand. Thank you, God, for opening my eyes wider. Cindy’s mom.
Hi,
Great article, but you have an error in your last line. 10 year old IAN Irish took top honors in the 1k race. If you could change it, he would be very happy! If you can’t, no worries, there will be more races and more articles!! haha.
btw, Miles is his dad and Miles III is his brother…
thank you, Paula Irish
thanks for the correction….it’s done.
Hermosa is art, thru its rich history of music, surfing, skateboarding, Paddle boarding, art galleries and creative loving people. We are ART. What better way to celebrate our history.
Dear Susette,
Now I know why your health was spared, for this important work and more, in Haiti. You and your family are profound works of faith in action. Continue to empower those around you with your elegant love of Christ and His path.
Love to your growing family,your sister in Christ.
Martha
Took me time to read all the comments, but I really enjoyed the article. It proved to be Very helpful to me and I am sure to all the commenters here! It’s always nice when you can not only be informed, but also entertained! I’m sure you had fun writing thx
What a great resource!
I thought this was going to be another long boring blog post, but I was pleasantly suprised. I will be posting a backlink on my blog, as I am quite sure my readers will find this more than interesting.
Hello,I love reading through your blog, I wanted to leave a little comment to support you and wish you a good continuation. Wishing you the best of luck for all your blogging efforts.
Thanks for the great post. I always try to bookmark construction or concrete related posts like this one.
Great concept. And i would like to take it to the next level:
We could conduct guided Mural Tours using an electric car to be PC. And we could attach trailers that seat people on the back. Dignitaries from around the world would sit in the front seat.
Hermosa would be credited for causing a renaissance, a resurgence of art that would affect the entire world. We could have artists set up around the city just like they do on the left bank of on the Seine in Paris.
Artists from Hermosa would soon be contracted to do wall murals and ceilings of cathedrals at the Vatican and throughout western civilization.
Money from the tour and a 10% agent fee from the artists would go to fund the historical society, and would go to fund the Hermosa Arts Foundation to preserve and encourage the performing arts.
Hermosa would be the Mecca for art and art enthusiasts. Our artists would be treated like royalty.
We could have a permanent home for artists where they could display their art actually live off the proceeds. With the money that comes in we could buy up part of the strand and turn it back to an artist colony. Hermosa would flourish once again.
We could right books and documentaries. We could consult other cities and countries on how we expand this Renaissance. As for me, I ask for nothing except a small plaque at the bottom of my statue thanking me for my inspiration and imagination.
Hi. I just noticed that your site looks like it has a few code errors at the very top of your website’s page. I’m not sure if everybody is getting this same bugginess when browsing your blog? I am employing a totally different browser than most people, referred to as Opera, so that is what might be causing it? I just wanted to make sure you know. Thanks for posting some great postings and I’ll try to return back with a completely different browser to check things out!
What a great article. Sas is a prolific and talented, gifted
Love our article. I know Sash and love her. She is a gifted, talented, human being and is giving back her gifts on a platter. I always hold her dear to me. Wonderment should be her given name. See you at your exibition. Love you, Barb
Being someone who was blessed to watch them in action two weeks ago and for the last three years, I concur that this is an amazing family that honors God by living out His calling in humbleness and submission. I feel priviledged to call them heroes of the God’s servants. I also thank them for opening all of our eyes to see the truly gracious nature of the people of Haiti.
Thanks as well to the Mr. McDermott for the well written article.
The dune at Sand Dune Park has been closed for 5 months, and will be closed at least 3 more. At a recent city council meeting, dozens of residents spoke of how they enjoy walking the dune for exercise. Yet some city councilmembers seem determined to ban “workouts / exercise” on the dune. This is being proposed under the guise of preventing the dune from being a “regional workout facility,” but in fact they would seek to ban adults from walking up the dune for any reason.
I’ve lived on the plateau atop the sand dune for 8 years. Since then, my standard morning exercise has been jogging down the hill, running along the waterline, jogging back up Manhattan Beach Blvd., then running along the Green Belt until arriving at the bottom of the dune, where I would finish my morning by walking up the dune– I’ve never once run, it’s just too dang hard. Other times, I walk to the dune and climb it several times, where I happily chat with other Sand Dune Park visitors about the city, their health and the wonderful views. There have been problems at Sand Dune Park due to over usage and a few bad apples. The solution is to address the peak usage issues and to focus on the actions of the few bad actors; the solution isn’t to ban exercise in a public park and prevent thousands of residents from enjoying the park they enjoyed for decades.
I bike on the strand, run on the Green Belt, stroll along the beach and climb the dune. None of those activities make those places a “workout facility.” What are parks for, if not exercise? I can walk on any street or sidewalk in the city. I can walk on the beach. I can walk on the strand, the Green Belt and in any public park. Are we ready to ban walking in Sand Dune Park?
Will there be any unwanted side effects?
This is one of the greatest articles I’ve read in the ER. It paints a fairly vivid picture of what Hermosa Beach was like in 70’s. It sparked some nostalgia towards the record shops and bookstores which unfortunately seem to both be a thing of the past.
What’s even more tragic is that Keith is absolutely right about his assessment of current day Hermosa.
It’s a sad thing to read someone who grew up in Hermosa and has enjoyed a fair amount of success say “When I think about what they’ve done to the city, I wouldn’t want to live there — and I couldn’t afford it.” That quote made me cringe.
SONG IS THE BEST! HE MAKES AMAZING ROLLS! actually they all do, and super fresh fish as well…
It’s time for parents and a concerned community to realize great public schools need funding by the residents and businesses of their city. On a yearly basis. The volunteer parents and teachers of the Redondo Beach Educational Foundation are working hard to mobilize themselves with the local PTA’s, civic leaders and community and to rally around this ongoing budget problem. We need to all step up and help financially where we can. To be part of the solution, help our students and keep property values high, please consider donating to http://www.rbef.org
Great article. Hermosa Beach is arguably the birthplace of so-cal punk rock. So many great punk bands came out of the south bay, and more continue to pop up. South Bay punk rock is one of the few things they Yuppie Invasion will NEVER be able to get rid of!!
The relevant word is “thousands.” And that is just residents. There are multiples of thousands who used the dune who came to us from across the county, the country, and even the world. For that you can thank the LA Times, other media, and the internet.
Jacob Rome will suffer no harm if he eliminates the dune from his daily regimen. On the other hand, the neighborhood will benefit greatly from his not doing so, along with the thousands he mentions. Controlling adult dune traffic and use is more easily said than done, and is a rather costly. The gentleman who walked the dune many times a week with his backpack on was, though walking, certainly exercising and training.
The dune should be reopened as a kids only facility. As noted before, adults can take their pleasures elsewhere.
Wow…truly one of the most interesting stories I’ve read in ER. Thank you so much for the insight on Morris and late 70’s era Hermosa.
BIG SHOUT OUT TO: Song, Alex, Ki, and the rest of the crew at GU GU! hands down, best sushi/rolls in the south bay and surrounding areas.. also, great handicap access.
Great story! I’m from San Francisco and similar shit went down with the gentrification of my town too. So it goes. Thanks to Don Waller. Great read.
This is sad, we need to save Old Hermosa. We have been saying it for years. Now is the time to act before all the good stuff is completely replaced by these cold lifeless monstrosities. There is more to life than money. When I returned to California twenty five years ago, I purposely chose Hermosa over Manhattan because of the character of Hermosa. My son also listened to the music outside the Lighthouse, he is still playing music and it has been a savior for him. Don’t let them take this history and throw it away, it means so much to so many.
It’s the 30th anniversary of the gig and it’s Jim Lindberg, not Lambert.
Hermosa was home so long ago but I havn’t been there in ages and it sounds sooooo different now. Too bad. But just like Keith, I’ll never pass up the chance to just walk on the pier when I’m down there.
Great article from Don Waller, who has managed to collect the exact essence of life in the South Bay at that very moment in time. I would just like to add that my Dad took me to the Insomniac one night. We watched from the doorway, as a man rode a tricycle – wheels soaked in color – over a huge canvas on the floor. Lights were blue and red and there was jazz playing in the background. If I’d been a little cool, I may have caught the name of the artist. I was a child, so I had my eye on that trike.
As a teen, Either/Or Bookstore, Greeko’s Sandals, Rubicon & Manhattan Beach’s Platypus Records was where the tidbits of my after school job’s wages were spent. It was it’s own universe for a minute – giving birth to such a wide range of artists.
Took a trip there last March after my Mom passed out of this life. Yeah, it’s missing a chunk of its soul – traded it for higher priced, under-inspired shops full of shit.
The salty air & morning fog still feels really good, though.
Who knew that the Black Flag seed was sown from going to see Thin Lizzy and Journey? Great stuff… Love the quote about “Knucklehead Beach”… I get that.
They kicked out the Westside Burrito connection in Bremerton, WA, too. The reason we had so many places to play music there was the town was a ghost town. The civic economy was completely destroyed with the invention of the mall (another great Seattle export)
Music tends to be pretty viral, so don´t get in a huff when the town becomes yuppieville. The scene will move on and start eating fresh meat somewhere else just down the road where the rent is cheap and there´s burritos by the plenty. It will ache and people will bitch but that makes the tunes better in the end anyway.
What a fascinating time-capsule article. I was there during part of this history, having been close friends with record store owner Michael Piper. Like Keith, Michael turned me on to a lot of great music, and together we went to more legendary shows on the Strip than I can count. I would see Keith around back then, usually at Michael’s shop, but like most of us at that time, he was into the progressive rock stuff like Genesis & Gentle Giant. When punk started to happen & I heard that Keith was involved I could fathom it! I used to attend services at the infamous church- when Brother Ritchie was pastor- long before it was shuttered and eventually became the squathouse for the local punk brigade. One day a good friend of mine Bobby Blotzer, drummer for Ratt, said “I wanna take you to see a friend of mine. You’re not gonna believe this.” This was early 1980s. We went to the church, which at that point had been closed for some time, and made our way to a room where Ron Reyes was living…in a cupboard! It was an overhead storage cupboard, large enough to sleep in. And there he was! We hung out for awhile & I reminisced about what it was like going to church there back in the day. The So Bay’s transformation from a progressive-rock stronghold to one of LA’s punk epicenters was a strange transformation to watch, and the Smokestack/Fleetwood was a big part of that evolution. Then you have the local metal thing too, which began developing about the same time, with Ratt, Dokken, and Great White. Lots of history there, and its great to see that Keith is still going strong.
Oil drilling is ILLEGAL in Hermosa Beach.
Matt, I am so excited for you!!! I cannot wait to come to CA and see the store! Congratulations again! :o)
Thus far, HB has exceeded its conservation goal VOLUNTARILY.
It is typical when conservation efforts increase, costs go up.
Reportedly not related to conservation, however, Cal Water is requesting rate increases of 16.75%, in Jan. 2011; another 5.04% in 2012 and another 4.79% in 2013.
S-M-A-R-T… Can’t wait for my first latte!
This article was forwarded to me and I just had to say that I am so excited for you both!Congrats on everything; I wish you all the best.
Beekers
Thanks girls! We are getting really excited. We just had a taste testing/product development night and everything is just looking great. Next week. Tuesday we think. Cross your fingers!
Very nice article…I know you are all working very hard. I know there is a lot of talent, experience, artistry, persistence, expertise, hard work and sheer will going into this pursuit and God-Willing you will make a mark in El Segundo and big waves at the Beaches!!!
Thanks all for the drive and sacrifices. I am excited to see it all and I live in West LA!
Very nice article…I know you are all working very hard. I know there is a lot of talent, experience, artistry, persistence, expertise, hard work and sheer will going into this pursuit and God-Willing, you will achieve your goals in El Segundo, and create big important waves of culture at the Beaches!!!
Thanks for all of your determination and endless sacrifices. I am excited to see every production and I am willing to drive from West LA!
Gooooooooooooo Matt!
I love Bill Maher. Keep talking truth to power.
This is just so cool Matt! Good luck with everything, I am sure it will be successful!
Thank you JoAnne. What a nice surprise to see your words of encouragement after our first performance tonight. It was a remarkable evening and I encourage you and your friends to make the drive. You will not be disappointed. One of our patrons this evening came up to me to complain – because she wanted an encore to the applause and felt we had not given the actors their due. That won’t happen again.
All the best, Jeryll Adler, Executive Director, Pacific Stages
First off, Mark Mach….k – you live in MB, so when you vote in favor of approving speculative drilling in your beloved city, then maybe I’ll spend more than 2 minutes considering your lame argument before I completely take you to task on McPhearson oil’s bogus lawsuit. There was an excellent non partisan article in the easy ready a few months back that detailed the ongoing battle between the oil speculators and what is now the city of Hermosa Beach dating back to the days of the Biltmore (which is something you’re probably scratching your transplant head @). Shell oil foot the bill for a ballot initiative to drill — It was shot down by the residents in the 50’s. They spent a lot of $$ on this, but it was @ their own expense. McPhearson 30+ years later rolled the dice as well, but they did so thru the city council rather than thru a resident vote — knowing damn well, that despite what the local government was ok with, didn’t necessarily mean that the HB citizens would be ok with. That was a stipulation in the original agreement. The citizens – taxpayers – locals….rallied together and shut the project down. And sure, maybe these people were a bunch of tree hugging hippies, but regardless, it stated in the original contract, that the residents of Hermosa retained the right to overturn the allowances granted by the local government…. Before I go any further, this proposed angle drilling technique, was from my understanding, a crapshoot @ best anyway. The oil company invested pocket change to aquire these drilling rights — they gambled and lost. Just like the the Big Banks who gambled on the Housing market and sent us into the 2nd great depression. I personally feel like greedy corporations who care only about themselves have taken enough of my hard earned tax dollars – McPhearson is no different. They gambled and lost — they can get their bailout from some other sucker. But not me….
D. Matson -m1sk
What a GREAT idea! I love it! “Go Green HB and share the road!” My daughter and I walked the strand every morning and as much as we love the bikes (and of course the cyclist themselves) it’s hard to walk and ride at the same time. This will help to alleviate the traffic on the strand, and also help to promote an already “walking town” to ride their bikes to and from any destination. Couldn’t be happier!
Sounds very interesting…I just moved from the Manhattan Beach area and might not have moved had i known about this! I founded and presented “Sing! Sing! Sing!” at the Jazz Bakery in Culver City for 15 years and I am always looking for a nice venue for my performances. I am watching your project with great interest and admire your energy and tenacity! Put me on your mailing list on email. Mailing address is 11343 1/2 Cashmere St. Los Angeles, CA 90049 310.990.2405
Joe Carducci’s New Vulgate blog linked over to this interview. A great interview. I saw Black Flag with Keith singing at I think the Hong Kong Cafe in ’79 and it was one of the greatest shows of my life- he didn’t dress punk – corduroy pants and a J.C. Penney’s print shirt. – but was completely hypnotic onstage.
Anyhow I loved the article. I have seen the Circle Jerks and Black flag many times.
On a health note, please someone get ahold of Keith and ask him if he was ever tested for hemochromatosis – I have it and it put me in a diabetic coma and afflicted me with cirrhosis. His comments about managing diabetes are right one.
It is CRUCIAL he gets tested for HH (hereditary hemochromatosis). It’s a common genetic disease and it treatable but left untreated it causes diabetes, cirrhosis, and even death.
Hello, Michael’s sister and old friend of Keith’s here in NYC,
I had long since moved to Santa Cruz, where Michael came to live with me and then to NYC where he also relocated by the time Keith started doing music. If anyone knows how I can reach Keith, my H.S. friend, I would be indebted. email: brannan.piper812@gmail.com. The music world is so small that I imagine that those of you young enough to have had the “Michael experience” are aware that he passed away on April 18, 2008. DEVASTATING. I want to thank Keith for keeping his spirit and contributions alive in his references to Mick in his interview. Michael went on to become a leading rare international record dealer, record producer, and continued to be a seeker of new and unusual musical talent for his entire life. I miss him everyday.
Keith, just so that you know, I always thought that you were not only super intelligent but also very hip in an understated way……. which is the only way I like it. Very proud of you.
Michael would want you all to know that he believed keeping the spirit of music alive and most importantly, circulating it, sharing it and connecting through it is a positive and passionate undertaking. I made sure that his passing was full of love and peace. I never left his side.
would love to hear from any old friends. Best to all, Brannan
P.S. correction. I meant old enough to have had the ” Michael experience”……I guess reading Keith’s interview made me feel 17 y.o. again.
Congrats Matt!! You have really created something great. Good luck – hope to visit you and the store soon!
The Hermosa Beach Neighborhood watch administrator is using fear mongering to defame recyclable collectors.
In an email send to many Hermosa households he states that these recyclable collectors are involved in ID theft and other crimes. No scientific method/statistics for this deep insight was given.
The people who go out early in the morning to collect recyclables probably don’t have a choice and that this is their only livelihood. To take this last opportunity to make a living through (hard) work away is not only unChristian but will drive them to alternate ways to make money.
Another aspect is the amount spent on police hours for trash protection /enforcement. My wild guess would be about 10 calls a month minimum. Each call takes approx. 15 minutes or more.
This makes at least 150 minutes a month (10 x 15) or 1800 minutes a year (12 x 150). This comes up to 30 hours a year at about $50 an hour per officer (incl. benefits etc.) or $ 1500 a year (minimum) to protect our trash. How about having specially marked bags put out for recyclables collectors. It is our property after all, so we should be able to decide who we give it to.
Tyler Hatzikian has gonads of steel. They clink and spark when he walks down the avenue….
To Ray Devore (Letters, ER Feb. 11, 2010): Don’t worry, duuuude. No one is threatening your boring little life. Pacific Stages will simply add some interest to South Bay for those who appreciate more than surfing, volleyball and lowest common denominator entertainment. So go down to the bar, order a pitcher and “fuhgeddaboudit”.
Mary Leath
Redondo Beach
This is terribly sad news. Can’t say I knew Blue other than on a casual basis when I’d visit Shellback or Ercoles and he was manning the door, but he was a fixture at those bars, and took his responsibilities seriously. A friendly face, always a nod of recognition, an all-around good guy who helped define the MB scene. I am stunned by this news, RIP Blue. Seriously, I am without words to learn of this news, and wish it weren’t so.
A raised glass to you……….
I can’t wait to try the lamb skewers and they sound like a good deal at $10. The rest of the menu is on their website, http://www.hudsonhousebar.com
I’ll take the extended meter hours over higher rates, but would rather see the revenue goes toward transportation options instead of car parking.
Hey Steve,
Knowing you I know Cancer must have thought twice I am sure you are gonna get by it. Well look at the positive side you get to spend more time with beautiful nurses now;) God Bless!!!!
Linda is a life long friend of mine. She is an amazing and caring person. I hope that others, including myself can take this class and help out others in need.
It was a thrilling evening indeed! Now we music lovers don’t have to hop on the 101 Fwy to hear music of absolute world class caliber. Don’t miss this chance to hear stunningly great music in an intimate setting featuring my friend Yana Reznik and her hand picked virtuosos. Let’s hope this concert series is here to stay!
S.J. Pettersson
owner
Manhattan Beach Music & Voice
Hi there! Eden, I was soooooooo surprise that you didn’t make a Cut to compete here in Canada,
as we were so happy when I saw you on the Web. What happened???
Take care,
Steve,
As your former neighbor (w Andy Leserman)& someone your age…I can relate.
Great attitude, get well & when I get back out that way (WI now)
I will make sure Andy & I look you up
Take Care,
Bob
Wow! This is an Olympic record – a quadruple cover up.
To wit (allegedy, of course):
1. The drunk cop drove away, to cover it up.
2. The cops who responded wrote no report, to cover it up.
3. The brass hid it from the press, to cover it up.
4. The brass is still hiding the names of the officers involved, to cover it up.
All that’s missing is a back flip – but that is coming. Wait for it.
These sharrows are a good step forward for the city of Hermosa.
Linda is my sister and has encouraged me to look for similar courses in my community!
Linda Cunningham is an exceptional person. She deserves a tremendous amount of credit and respect for what she does to help people in her community. As well as all the other volunteers who are helping too. Thanks to them we are a very lucky community!!!
I was in the Baptist congregation at the church. I was one of several unruly young teens who would run through the church discovering these great hidden places, running around the roof with all of the dead pigeons and ditching church to go down and hang with the ‘hippies.’ The year was 1967-1970. The place was a magic land of funky madness. It was a small congregation which put the bigot into bigotry…..I played The Doors for the pastor, Avery Richie, who summerized his impression like this…’it’s one thing for a “Nigger to sing like a nigger, but another thing for white man to sing like a nigger.” This was my spiritual leader…..but, instead, I follow Morrison, Hendrix and Dylan…..The church’s fate becoming a mecca for So Cal punk and the place where Black Flag was born seems somehow fitting.
Steve,
As a former resident of Redondo, now living in Houston, know that we all wish you well!
It was a neat show, and the exhibit runs for a couple months, check it out.
Bark! Bites!
We have enjoyed the CLOSBC for many years and especially enjoy the high quality of the set designs. As dog lovers we purchased tickets with no expectations other than high quality as usual.
However we were very disapointed in the mak-up, sets and the story line, especially the second act. Why no make-up? Some ears and tails at a minimum would have been nice. How did the dogs go from Doggy Day Care to the park without their humans? Why are they singing show tunes?
The name of the play should be Bites!
Regards,
John Barnett, RB
She will be missed by everyone. A wonderful person.
Condolences to the family.May she rest in peace.
Pat Chaplin
Pages will be a very special place to stop and get a lift for the day, the week, or the month.
The three wonderful owners are an inspiration to the community.
I wish them great success and send my love always.
Mom/Barbara
Pages will be a very special place to stop and get a lift for the day, the week, or the month.
The three wonderful owners are an inspiration to the community.
I wish them great success and send my love always.
Mom/Barbara
As a result of the CARD Act reforms that went into effect on February 22, credit card companies are projected to incur $12 billion in annual losses. But we all know that credit card companies are far too imaginative to let this happen. The reforms require the credit card companies to give you 45 days notice before rate increases, and those increases cannot be applied to existing debt unless you miss payments for 60 days. In addition, there have been new restrictions placed on how they can market to college students under 21 years old. This all translates to nothing more than a bump in the road for card companies. Old methods of revenue generation will be replace by new ones in the form of lots of fee
“You’re doing What?!!”
“A book store in this economy? “Are you crazy?”
“The future is online book selling, don’t you know that?”
So said the safe seekers, troubled by this way audacious risk taking.
The three were polite. They did not argue.They planned, calculated risk..and set sail onto uncharted waters, holding precious cargo destined for a community starving for its life affirming treasures.
Godspeed you three, you brave…you book moms.
Machuszek says “if Macpherson had a successful, eco-safe oil operation, Hermosa Beach citizens would be getting paid in tax revenue.”
Sure. And if I had a magical talking cow, I’d be rich. What does either one have to do with reality?
To Mr. Devore AND Mr. Kennedy, I have a few quotes too. I am not sure who said them.
1. actions speak louder than words
2. all sound and fury signifying nothing
3. put your money where you mouth is
Simply, before you judge my taste or where I come from and “who is this Jeryll Adler Chick”, please know this. I am not saying there is something wrong with what is already here culturally. I am simply saying it is largely not my taste and rather than simply complain about that I want to add something to the mix that appeals to me personally. I also believe I am not alone in wanting other choices.
Mr. Devore, I respectfully suggest that perhaps you should have read the entire article before you commented. Considering that with Pacific Stages very first production we have already been singled out for a prestigious O! Recommends from the LA Stage Alliance I think this Jeryll Adler chick is someone who knows quality theatre and has the ability to make things happen. I did not know that makes me an interloper out to destroy a quiet Hamlet by the sea. That was certainly not on my to do list when I set out to do a good deed, but here is another anon quote ‘no good deed goes unpunished.’ I do all of this as a volunteer and I am no rich dilettante, just a very hard working woman who cares and believes strongly in community service and the power of the arts to enrich our lives.
We are all carpetbaggers from points East, West, North and South unless we are American Indians. At some point in history many of us moved some place we or our families had not been before. And all around us EVERYWHERE is evidence that the world changes regardless of our attitudes. Most probably migrated from our roots – mine first in a working class community in New Jersey – because we loved what we saw elsewhere and wanted a change. I adore the South Bay. That does not mean that I want to live in a time capsule. With or without me the South Bay will and does change. I just want to be someone who makes a positive and thoughtful contribution.
And just so you know a little more, I am a second generation American grateful to be alive at all because the vast majority of my family died in the Holocaust. I love my country and my community and don’t bandy about names like Hitler or Mussolini lightly. These are not casual references to me.
So, as to all my quotes – only one person who has written in has bothered to come see our debut production LOBBY HERO. Thank you Mary Leath. Ray and James B, buy a ticket please before you continue this carefree banter, and come say hello to me. We are a young not-for-profit and I am usually the woman who also takes tickets. [Typical of us intellectual elitists, huh Ray?] In other words, “actions speak louder than words” , “put your money where your mouth is” and please realize that all of the drama has impact only if we bother to take the time not to judge without pause. How about taking a chance you might actually like something different than what is already here. Otherwise, those words – no matter which side of the conversation – are “all sound and fury signifying nothing.’
In closing I will share one more quote – written by Jeryll Adler – “Love Theatre, Hate Drama.”
Jeryll Adler
Redondo Beach
I like this place! I love the idea and wish there was a place like this in Astoria, Queens. I am a surfer and found a “real surfer bar” in Point Break NYC. I am kinda jealous ;0PIts filled with surfers, people who like surfers, people who like the beach and people who don’t want to live close to town. I really like this place. You know what they have these real Proctor and Channel One surfboards on the wall. It’s nice for coming any day of the week and eating a late brunch. The food was outstanding. The brunch and sides were prefect and tasty. It is a perfect “escape” from city living. It is probably one of the only places where you can get a nice frozen pina colada or margarita. The service was on hit. They came up and checked on us so many times and made sure everything was up to par. It gets very active and the bartenders keep everybody having a good time. The bartender was very accommodating. He was nice enough to make a drink, that wasn’t on the menu, for me :0) Did I mention the bartenders are nice eye candy. It was amazing to see their “das boot” which is shaped like a boot filled with beer. Don’t get me wrong, I am not drunk…it’s an actual boot shaped beer container ready to be emptied. Try it ..You will love it!! Oh. How can I forget, they even have a wheel o’ shots where you just have to spin it and have to drink whatever shot it lands on!! Now call that bar creativity at its best!!! And when I spill a tray full of shots on myself, the bartender so kindly remakes them for me? Good music, too, and the decor helped us weather an otherwise overcast and rainy day. You know that old song “Brandy”? It goes, “Brandy, you’re a fine girl, what a good wife you would be. But my life, my lover, my lady is the sea.” I believe Brandy works here. No reason, I just do. And that song happens to be a guilty pleasure of mine, so that’s a plus in my book. You can simply waltz over to this colorful and warm establishment, enjoy some drinks with friends, and walk home. The bar is right at the center, so you can walk to either side for drinks, and the bartenders are friendly and at your service. There is a variety of seating, good music, and friendly neighborhood people to make your time more enjoyable. Not pretentious, very cozy, I think Point Break is a fabulous place to spend some time with friends.
WOW heart breaking she was a wonderful women in the industry as a leader in the South Bay for Photography, a mentor to some as myself. I pray for her family on this sad lost, and am blessed to have known her.
Her Life lives on with her wonderful Photography work
The world has lost an amazingly beautiful and talented lady.
“Pig Pen” and the rest of the Peterschmidt family have wonderful memories that will live with us forever.
Love
The Petershmidt Family
Bad reviews like this are more a reflection of the maladjusted individual who wrote it that than a real reflection of the theatrical work reviewed.
We loved this show. Remarkable performances by all.
Bravo to the Civic Light Opera for once again bringing the finest in entertainment and creativity to all of us.
Hermosa Beach thought they settled all the lawsuits made against the HBPD and now this comes up? You can bet there will be a lawsuit. Rumor down at Torrance Court is the criminal charge pending for Seindensticker is littering! What’s the names of the cops who did the tasering here? Probably the same guys who are whining about positions being cut at HBPD. Why don’t we close down the HBPD and use the volunteer Citizens in Policing to patrol our beach town. They’re free and won’t beat down people for sure!
Another day in the south bay finds another person in blue committing a crime. Like his compadres in Manhattan Beach PD who drove drunk and crashed his car into someone else then left the scene & the other 4 MBPD cops that covered it up and falsified police reports, this Redondo Beach cop needs to see the inside of a prison cell for a while. Once a thief always a thief. How many people has he stolen from when he’s stopped or arrested them, or searched their house and cars? Notice how hypocritical the RB cops comments are when it comes to one of their own. If it was a normal Joe who did this, they’d come for his head! Disgraceful!
Way to go Jim….short and right to the point. There’s no reason the Sheriffs’ Department can’t give out the cops names. MBPD cops don’t work for LASD so there is no violation of their beloved Police Officer Bill of Rights to do so. These MBPD cops are criminals and it’s too bad we have been and will have to continue paying their salary while they’re on paid vacation (aka suspension with pay). Uyeda has outlived his usefulness and needs to resign immediately. Word is he’s practicing his gymnastics skills at a gym up in PV where he lives.
Hope the poor guy that got hurt when these drunken manhattan beach cops hit him, took off and covered it up sue the pants of the MPBD. These guys think they’re above the law and can do whatever the heck they want. Time to put them in their place. Sooner or later their names will come out, that’s when the party will really start.
As a hermosa beach business owner and taxpayer, I have one word for Averhill and Ramirez, “WHHHAAAAAAA!”
A 6-foot tall woman with platinum blonde hair? It seems like she may have trouble hiding.
julia taught me art when i was young and i worked for her last summer help in her summer camp. its so sad to hear how she passes. i am 17 and i want to peruse a career in art all thanks to julia, she was the reason i found art. i wish i had more time to thank her, she was the most amazing art teacher in the world, i will miss her so much, and im so sorry she had to leave. but here memory lives on everywhere in my life and my family’s.
Julia was a great influence on me and my two daughters who are now 15 and 17 at Redondo High. The started taking art classes from Julia when they were 4 and 6 respectively. They worked for the past 3 summers at her art camp. My 17 year old says if it weren’t for Julia she wouldn’t be the artist she is now, which is very good. Julia’s “Wolf” project was done recently in the Redondo Hands on Art Program. My 17 year old was a docent for the high school for this project. It gave her a warm feeling to know that Julia had taught this to her many years ago when she was 6 years old. Julia has been supportive, enthusiastic, caring, and just a wonderful passionate person. We were lucky to have her as a friend and art teacher. Our prayers go to Jack, John and Jacob and the other family members who are feeling their loss.
Gold Bless Mary! Thank you for leaving a legacy of images.
Julia was my mentor and shining example of how one should lead their life. She was a stand-in mother, a best friend, and just plain fun. She helped my dreams come true and made an impact on my life that will last forever.
My children loved taking art classes from Julia. Their art from her classes is still decorating our walls in our dining room and living room. We used some of this art to create thank you notes for legislators in our advocacy efforts. With kindness, understanding, concern and caring, she taught our children about art and lead them to create their own art utilizing different media and different techniques. She was an exceptional woman, educator and artist. We will all miss Julia. Her husband and sons have our deepest sympathy.
I like Lido. Good food, great people, and good wine selection. I always have great time at their wine tastings.
Kudos to councilman Fishman. Once again he takes the initiative on innovative ways to maintain and even decrease costs. He’s also not afraid to tackle the tough issues like business license fees, though he adds his own emphasis on inclusion and full disclosure for all parties involved. He truly lives up to his campaign slogan that promised “people power.”
Geoff Hirsch
Hermosa Beach
For myself, a writer who lives in New York yet loves L.A., this is yet another sign of vibrant literary life and community out there. Can’t wait to spend time there during my next LA stint this Spring!
Yana is so incredible! She is playing tonight, March 6th, in Hermosa Beach along with equally fantastic musicians. Please join me and other fellow music lovers there for what will be a truly memorable evening.
Stig Jonas Pettersson
owner
Manhattan Beach Music & Voice
Julia Tedesco was a very talented woman who touched many childrens’ lives. My children Kristina and Matthew were two of the many students that were so lucky to take art classes with her. I too feel privileged to have known her and I always enjoyed our chats. She will always be remembered and we have many art projects framed.
All I can say is wow and now I know why Rendondo is considered one of the most dog unfriendly cities. Glad I don’t live there. And Kilroy…I wonder if his dog ever sees anything but a back yard.
March 6, 2010
Dear ER:
As reported by Robb Fulcher (“Lean budget costs police positions”, ER-Feb 25), Hermosa’s council has essentially set in concrete a police and fire department hiring freeze further below already understaffed levels.
Incredibly, council decisions continue to be akin to handling a firetrap by adding combustibles while at the same time reducing and freezing means to control the eventual fire.
Hermosa councils have foolishly permitted liquor-dispensing expansion ad nauseam while knowing the city’s been overconcentrated in liquor selling for years, and that this added liquor selling and its associated visitor intensification, increases the need for costly fire, paramedic and police resources at a rate faster than any additional 1 cent city share of sales tax on each reported dollar of liquor-related sales.
The Council also knows that the state and county keep 8.75 cents of the sales tax from each reported dollar of sales, and that Hermosa Beach receives but 1 cent, not the entire 9.75 cents of the sales tax so reported. The myth of huge sales tax revenue from Hermosa bars has been outrageously perpetuated for years in Hermosa Beach. According to the city’s finance director, total city-received sales tax revenue from all the bars and restaurants citywide, dispensing full liquor, is less than $1,300 a day. Meanwhile, public safety costs in Hermosa Beach have reached $50,000 per day.
When it comes to freezing further the already understaffed Hermosa Police and Fire departments, while there’s no freeze or moratorium even contemplated as to the number of liquor outlets or gross amount of liquor-selling occupancy permitted in city, Hermosa councils are ignorantly continuing an official policy bordering on insanity. The focus should more-intelligently be on freezing and then reducing the 10 years of liquor and visitor intensification that’s significantly responsible for the costly, escalating fire and police requirements, not to mention the degradation to the community.
Howard Longacre
Hermosa Beach
APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE! ~ Your courage and commitment to your dreams is inspiring
(and a stroke of luck for Manhattan Beach)! While we won’t be in town for your first author’s event, we will look forward to others.
Today I attended the AAYF class at the PV Art Center that was Julia Tedesco’s last project, taught by her son in his mother’s place… What an incredible young man to step up at this time of personal loss, and to share this last gift that his mother created for us… it was of course another amazing project, so clearly taught, step-by-step, with everyone’s artwork different, yet all beautiful in the end!
I had been looking forward to this project all year as Julia is one of the few artists that I could recognize at AAYF, as I have been very fortunate to have learned and taught all four projects she created for our program. And I thoroughly enjoyed her wonderful directed drawing projects as they were always so user friendly to students and docents alike. She was indeed my favorite artist in the program.
I did not know her personally, but only as a very fortunate docent who was always inspired by what she taught. I just needed say how much she touched my life with her wonderful gifts of art and her warm and caring personality. Reading about her life and her many generous contributions to her community and the art world, only made her loss seem even greater.
My deepest sympathy to her family at this time. Thank you for sharing this wonderful lady with us. And thank you to her son for continuing her work in such a special way today. What an amazing family you are! Please know her memory lives on in many hearts.
cool shot of a very cool dude!
Thanks for the thought-provoking preview. Glen Phillips’ thoughts on his early success feels so real and unscripted that it has renewed my appreciation for Toad.
Julia was a person I saw once a year or so. Each time she had something wonderful going on in her life and recently things not wonderful at all. She always shared those things as an afterthought. She was a wonderful role model on how to live each moment to the fullest. My heart goes out to those she leaves behind. She’s a hard act to follow.
Why is the school board so reluctant to use the Economic Uncertainty Reserve? If this is not a time of economic uncertainty, then what is? The nation’s economy is beginning to recover, slowly, so tax revenues should be increasing over the next couple of years. This is the perfect time to use the “rainy day fund” to preserve the quality of RB’s schools. Ms. Butler is right: one year of overcrowded classrooms and overstressed teachers can have a huge impact on a little child.
3-13-10
Mike-
After six years out here in Yucca Valley/Joshua Tree and fresh out of the hospital (quad bypass last week), I finally got my Internet working by going to AT&T cell and came across this artilcle. It brings back lots of very positive memories, especially of the “Duke” during the sixties. He and Hoppy Swarts were two of the most popular and positive influences in the sport of surfing as we know it today.- Skip
Keep up the good work writing with the Easy Reader. Hope all is well.
Skip
Skip
Is stoked. That’s right: S T O K E D ! Muchas gracias! So many memories…my Mom and sisters (and me from time to time) lived on 12th between Rowell and Peck on Liberty Hill so I hung out a Polliwog since it was just a swamp. Was at that show and The Church (or The Colony during the day) and Red Beach…nothing about Red Beach? The stretch of The Strand just north of the Hermosa Pier where various M/Cs would hang out wearing their colors among their precision parked choppers hawking their wares: reds? whites? ‘lumbo? microdot? Even lived in the Hermosa Hotel for a minute. Damn, I got a CETA job at what was Pier Avenue MS!
Dear ER:
On New Year’s Day I ran into a wonderful woman, Linda Reardon (maiden name), at 24th Street, HB, who had my mom, Peggy Jenssen, as her fifth grade teacher at Grand View Elementary many years ago. She wanted to reconnect with my mom, gave me her contact info, but it was accidentally erased. I’m hoping if you print this that she, or someone who knows her, will tell her to email me so I can get the info to my mom.
My email: ktobler@fuesd.k12.ca.us.
Thanks so much…let’s see the power or the HB grapvine, ha!
Katy (Jenssen) Tobler
It’s a hoot to hear how folks like Longacre bemoan restaurants and bars for the liquor they serve, as if having a beer with a burrito is a precursor to social decline. Perhaps Longacre should inquire about where his meager prop 13 limited property tax ranks in filling the coffers of the City’s revenue? While the prohibitionists seek to limit alcohol these folks provide no recognition to how minuscule long time residents contributions toward floating Hermosa’s financial boat. As a result, Hermosa like all other California Cities rely on business related tax revenue for providing the majority of their funding. The last census indicated that the average age of a Hermosa Beach resident is 36 years. People 36 and younger do what people 36 and younger do – they party and booze it up, which explains why there are more bars in Hermosa Beach than Leisure World. If folks like Longacre would like to ban alcohol sales then perhaps they can come up with a plan to make up for the lost revenue.
Nono,
We had lots of fun reading this article. We see your studio and wondered if you were still teaching. We now know the answer to that. And you have a daughter, too! Good, everyone is active and athletic. It was great to get some insight into you and your family.
Love,
John and Debby
RegardingChris Miko’s pink slip: I certainly don’t want to trivialize seniority, but what does this say to the teacher inspired to do a good job? My kids, at they went through Mira Costa, noted the several more senior teachers that were just going through the motions. And they noticed the younger inspired teachers who became more jaded as they saw the lack of reward for excellence. What does this tell the kids? The unions and administrations need to ask themselves if they are really doing the kids a favor by not rewarding merit at all.
– Bill Mosier
Is seniority really the only measure we can use to determine which teachers stay and which ones “must” be cut due to budget shortfall? When we can’t afford something in our household, we make decisions about what we need and what we most benefit from having. This might leave a lot of discretion to an administration, but then again if they are held to the same level of accountability and cost-benefit analysis they might exert better, rational decision making than “last hired, first fired”.
How many hours of my life do I have to waste waiting to cross Rosecrans from Highland when I come home from work? The backup all the way down Vista happens every afternoon. The problem was made a lot worse when the city closed Ocean (The Strand owners got relief, but I and thousands of other MB citizens don’t get relief from traffic in front of their house). The city has done nothing to aleviate this problem. The least that can be done is to have someone directing traffic at Rosecrans and Highland at 5:00. Get a meter reader to do it. There will be plenty of money available now that the rate has been increased by $.75. I don’t care how they do it but fix the problem.
And of the 35 teaching jobs saved last week, how many have received a NASA fellowship? Have started a GeoKids Club? A Science Club? Are in STEM?
Why, exactly, am I donating to MBEF — purportedly an Education Foundation — when the best educators are being dismissed?
Was it DD that caused the property values to drop or was it the sub-prime market collapse that caused a devaluation of virtually all property? Let’s not put a political spin on this and just call it what it is; unfortunate timing.
I don’t know Mr. Miko personally, but my children do and for that I’m thankful. He made a difference in their lives. He got my son off of dinosaurs and into Space. My out of town friends still talk about the visit they made to Meadow’s Space Night and my daughter likes him so much she’s looking forward to fifth grade!
Mr. Miko, you inspired my children to learn more about space and science. Thank you!
I would like to share two quotes from James Michener, my Space teacher, about where I’d like to see you next year and the choices made by MBUSD.
“An age is called Dark not because the light fails to shine, but because people refuse to see it.” Let’s fight to keep Mr. Miko at Meadows because “character consists of what you do on the third and fourth tries.” I hope someone invites me to help keep you at Meadows!
Chris was my son Anand’s teacher last year and I was hoping he would be my daughter’s teacher next year when she reached 5th grade. He is a very inspiring teacher and in the words of my son “he gets me.” This is high praise and the reason why we shared news of the NASA fellowship with him. Although I know he has a philosophical view on this whole situation, it does frustrate me that we can not retain such a quality individual who has more than proven his passion for his subject of science and inspiring kids to learn in a way that is relevant to their generation. This isn’t easy, I know being a teacher myself. Best wishes Chris.
It’s a shame when great teachers like Mr. Miko are selected for layoffs just because of their seniority. He’s done so many great things for science learning at Meadows. Because of Mr. Miko’s high standards and teaching style, my older son thinks 6th grade science is a breeze!
“Our facility lost an air compressor which provides instrument air to several process units .. This situation resulted in an upset to our fuel gas system which resulted in fuel gas being sent to a safety flare.”
Is that even English? Damn, do they need help in the communications department.
My son was in Mr. Miko’s first class at Meadows. He is now a 7th grader and still mentions his name at least once a week and after school on Fridays he walks up to Meadows to serve as a mentor for the science club. My son talks about taking AP Physics and Biology in 10th grade. How many 7th graders have this type of discussion with their friends and parents? I contribute it to the spark that grew into an immense passion for science that Mr. Miko ignited in my son. I am sure he will go on to do great things because of it. My younger son can’t wait to have Mr. Miko as a science teacher next year. Mr. Miko is considered the rock star of science at Meadows.
It makes no sense to me that an individual with Mr. Miko’s achievements could be laid off. His exceptional performance includes raising the STAR test scores in Science 20 points in his first year at Meadows. I attribute his success to his ability to connect with the students and apply the concepts of science to every day life.
In the private sector, Mr. Miko would be considered an indispensable company resource. Something is dreadfully wrong with our system when an organization would consider laying off a NASA fellow.
I’d welcome a response from the Teachers Union on Mr. Miko’s situation, as well as how they are supporting young, bright, teachers who are at the bottom end of their seniority system. What is the future for new teachers in California with our budget situation and this type of system?
My daughter, Soleil had Mr. Miko as her 5th grade teacher, and she thrived in Science because she could feel his passion for it. I am grieved that the MBSD cannot see the contribution this man has given. Grieved at the politics involved, and the lack of discretion the board uses in making its choices. The children need more teachers like Mr. Miko who are actively involved on a global basis. I am very upset about him getting a pink slip, and the fact that there is an enormous wrong being committed here, and the children as always, will be the ones to feel the loss.
I know the children are going to feel the loss not the board of MBSD. Mr. Miko was my daughter Soleils 5th grade teacher, and she thrived in Science because of his passion. Of all the teachers, come on! Show us that you really do care about our childrens education and keep Mr. Miko! Give someone else a pink slip! KEEP MR. MIKO!!
Keep Mr. Miko!
He is one of the few teachers besides Mr. Barakat and Mr. Chow that actually get it, and the children benefit from these young passionate teachers! My daughter Soleil had him as her 5th grade teacher, and she thrived in Science because of his intellect and ability to teach the children, and actually inspire the children. The children will be at a great loss educationally!!! KEEP MR. MIKO!!
Using my poor math skills that I have from attending public schools with seniority policies, it seems that the 4.1million from MBEF saved 35 jobs at over $117,000 per job. Which teacher is making $117,000? If teachers actually made this much than we might have more teachers like Chris. Charter schools are the way of the future in California. I recommend to everyone reading this that they move their children to a charter school to get a solid education.
Laying off Mr Miko is a ludicrous act that should disgrace the dysfunctional California Teacher’s Union. Mr. Miko is the best teacher in the district and because of the inflexibility of the Union he would be one of the first to get laid off??? And where are the Directors of the School District whose job it is to manage the Union?
This action, of giving Mr. Miko a pink slip, yet again demonstrates that the business model of the School District and the Teachers Union is not capable of meeting the responsibility of reasonably managing the Manhattan Beach Teaching Staff. In a functioning business model, you layoff your underperforming employees first not your best performers.
I call for the layoff or early retirement of underperforming senior teachers prior to the layoff of the highest performing young teacher in the district. I call for the recall of the Manhattan Beach School District Superintendent. We parents and taxpayers of Manhattan Beach must hold the Teachers Union and the Manhattan Beach Unified School District Executives accountable for their actions. Let’s publicly and objectively review the performance records of each and every teacher in the Manhattan Beach School district. Let’s publicly and objectively make the decision of who gets laid off and who gets retained and let’s stop the insanity of allowing lousy older teachers to treat our kids poorly while we turn away the young teachers who inspire our children to do their best. If the School District and the Teacher’s Union can’t get it done right, then let’s do it ourselves.
Will the Sand Dune Park people please just shut up and go away. What is it about these sweaty over-adrenalized spandex clad narcissistic fascists who insist that our whole world is theirs to foist the ” exhilerating workout ‘ ethic all over the public landscape. Do we really need Gilad-type bodies in motion tramping our parks and strand . I think not. There are acres and acres of wide open sand available for there exertions, it’s called the Beach. A sand dune is created by centuries of wind blowing sand uphill. Since the dune in question is no longer naturally replenished but must be restored at great expense by city workers then it only makes sense to protect it from the constant displacement caused by people pushing themselves up and down the hillside in endorphined frenzy. Maybe we can erect some poles in our parks to train our next generation of athletes for the future Olympic sport of pole dancing instead of inside dark and smelly topless bars. In the meantime sweat elsewhere.
““We really wanted to be able to find a point where both parties would win – where they would have property to build a new police station and we would be able to bring in revenues to the district to help offset cutbacks we’ve had from the state,” Loewenstein said. “We’ve spent years on this now. It’s incredibly frustrating. I have personally spent a lot of time dealing with this. I kind of wash my hands of it.””
Offsetting education cutbacks on the back of the city isn’t useful. Coming from THAT perspective, no wonder it didn’t work out. And “washing your hands of” great work – time for someone new to replace you!
In this case, incredibly, the CITY has the right attitude:
Biggs said…we were trying to craft a win-win scenario that worked beyond the economics of revenue generation for the district.”
Thank you for writing this kind and sensitive article.
Hopefully, other media/reporters will model their coverage
of suicides in such a way. You have provided an incredible
balance of information and answers to questions everyone
has, yet avoided any harmful sensationalism which could
precipitate the development of suicide clusters. I think
it is very hurtful both immediately and longterm to ignore
a death by suicide, both to the family and the community.
Healing and ultimately prevention and the decreased stigma
of suicide and mental illness begins with acknowledgement
and discussion. In my opinion, your voice as professional,
talented writers benefits everyone. I applaud you.
There is something *seriously* wrong with these kinds of rigidly stupid union rules — what possible rational justification can be made for putting a higher value on the length of time someone has been receiving a paycheck from the school district than on his/her actual ability? While it’s a temporary setback for this teacher (although I have no doubt he’ll quickly end up with a better gig) the people who will really end up paying the price for this kind of idiotic decision are the students. How sad, and how completely unnecessary.
Bottom line is that seniority != ability. To use a sports analogy, suppose it’s 1987 and the Chicago Bulls need to let a few players go for budget reasons. Would anyone seriously suggest that Michael Jordan should get the pink slip, simply because he lacks the seniority of the other players? According to the teacher’s union, Yes, firing Jordan would be the “right” decision and would clearly be in everyone’s best interest. Nevermind the fact that he is demonstrably better than anyone else on the team…. he’d still get the pink slip.
That would be insanity, but incredibly, that’s exactly what the school district is doing here. Again, how sad for the students. Best wishes for the future Mr. Miko!!!
Spill was confined??? If anyone else was caught knowingly spilling raw sewage into a sand pit a few blocks from the beach, they would be in the pokey making love to Leroy.
I am a student in high school, it is straight stupid to lay off teachers who actually get students excited about school.
I just found out friday a teacher from school was getting layed off is because he has not been there as long as the other teachers and he is the first person that makes me want to come to school everyday and I find a way every way even if I have no way there I would run. Unlike other teachers he gets kids not just to come to school but to do their work. There are teachers in my school that do not even do anything to improve on students or help them out when they need it and he does this and it makes me angry and I want to do something about it but I do not know how and once I hear about Mr. Miko. Communities need to help out and try to keep the teachers that help out students. The sad part in all of this is that the man I have been talking about is not even a teacher that I have a class with and he has a big impact on my life I want to better in every aspect of my life because of him.
They should not be getting rid of teachers that make a difference just because they have not been there for as long as other teachers if anyone would like to give me suggestions for regarding what I should do please email me at twilightcullen14@yahoo.com
Mr.Miko is definitely the greatest teacher ever had. He inspired me in that one short year I had in his class, telling me and all my other friends and peers that we could all strive to seemingly unattainable goals or in other words he gave us dreams. To begin these dreams, in fields anywhere from astronomy to zoology, we started the after school science club that was previously mentioned in the article. Even though we sat around studying science articles and testing experiments that would have made most other students bored out of their mind’s it created a fun, exciting, and enjoyable environment that always highlighted the end of my week and of my friends.
Mr. Miko is definitely the greatest teacher I’ve ever had. In that one short year we had with him he caused my friend and I to strive for unattainable goals or in other words he gave us dreams. He showed us that science truly is fun. To do this he set up a science club that my friends and I were quick to join if not only to spend more time with Mr. Miko. After a time though this science club became a true comfortable learning environment were he was teaching us anything from astronomy to zoology. We always came and sat down to work on our projects reading about and studying topics that would have made most of our peers yawn, yet we continued to do it with a fiery passion.
I can still remember my project which was a study on whether or not allergies were a genetic trait. This may sound like one of the most boring subjects out there but with Mr. Miko there to help me along it was a blast and I couldn’t wait to come and work on this every week. For the study Mr. Miko let me send out a random survey in the school packet and I then we collected them to find the data.
Over the summer of that year me and my friends often came to school to find my teacher there. Once there we would just hang-out there like he was a friend more then a teacher. Which in truth, he had become.
That year of science club spurred my fiends and I to coming back in my sixth grade year to help out with the 5th graders project and then later working on the Disney Eco challenge in which we went out to the Ballona wetlands to help clear out the trash and invasive plants. In the competition we won semi-finals in the state against some teams that worked on this every day in their normal class rooms instead of every Friday with a couple of mismatch kids.
This project is still on going and my friends and I (the Eco Kids) still come to the restorations.
During the summer in between sixth and seventh grade I went to Mr. Miko’s science camp on rocketry. It was probably the best part of my summer. After one of the days my friends and I went to one of our house and spent hours sitting around a table with a two liter soda bottle trying to figure out how to get the most hang time. Also he had many science text book’s sitting on the table we worked on at the camp and I picked one up and asked if I could take it home. After he had said yes I spent the rest of the week reading a robotics book that was probably five hundred pages long, eight inches wide and eleven inches tall. I read through this book which was a dry study book like it was the greatest novel ever written.
Currently I am in seventh grade and still go to science club with the other “Eco Kids”. Also I still dream about careers in every aspect of science. Losing him would be the worst decision the union has ever made.
This week in my math class I was talking to my friend in my math class in between the bells telling him that Mr. Miko was getting fired and a girl sitting a couple of seats in front of us looked over and said, “Oh, hey I remember him. He was great right?”
At this my I was astounded because this was a kid that had never come to science club yet she still remembered Mr. Miko (as I later asked her) as a phenomenal teacher and probably the best she’ll ever have and by far the best she’s ever had. She too had been touched by his scientific brilliance even though she had never really dove in.
I know as a kid I have always been told that I could never change anything this big and that something like this was bound to happen eventually, yet somehow Mr. Miko changed my mind he got me to try, he got me to believe.
Great story on my brother and his hard working team Robb! These guys are humble heroes in the flesh.
it’s about time someone reviews a show as they should and not be afraid to tell it like it is . someone needs to remind sbclo of its demented last 2 seasons of shows . whoever is picking these shows is singlehandedly bringing the theatre down . i’ve never seen such awful choices for musicals in my life .
“More than 60 percent of school parents in both Hermosa and Manhattan contributed to their education foundations last year.”
Why not take a page from MB foundation’s book, they use pretty aggressive tactics to get a high participation rate, but it works!
Really great article about an exceptional person! Amy Massey is the kind of person who has enjoyed the best of the South Bay. She has a great family,is connected to a life giving community, has enjoyed a good education(including MCHS) and has seized the day again & again. I had the privilege of traveling to Thailand with Amy & the KHC Team, Amys life has made significant Local and International contributions to people everywhere she goes for all the right reasons. I’m sure her future will be bright though her life has already shone ablaze! What an honor to know and enjoy her as a member of this wonderful community! Congrats friend!
Dan
I was at the meetings in Hermosa when they began these programs over 10 years ago. They might be aggressive now, but we were not at all supportive of being aggressive at that time.
I am now in Redondo and I still do not believe that being aggressive is the answer for our community. We have far different demographics than Hermosa and Manhattan.
Rather, we need everyone to spread the word and explain the problem over and over until people get it. RBEF wants PARTICIPATION, not a specific amount. It would be great to get $360 per family, but, if a parent can only give $10 for the whole year, THAT is participation! And EVERY DOLLAR HELPS!
I do believe that most of us could scrounge up $30 per month to maintain the quality of education for our children. Think about what you waste on silly spending, BUT, it is not up to me to decide for others. That is a personal matter.
I hope that each and every resident of Redondo Beach will factor in the dire consequences of this problem and consider a contribution, no matter how small!
Nancy Burke Barr
This is a sad, sad issue.
I grew up in Manhattan Beach. The real issue is that MB locals don’t like “outsiders”. They want only MB residents to have access to the dunes. …and when it comes to all of the littering you see in the area…blame your drinking and smoking MB high school students. I should know… I witnessed it many times growing up. Only white people had access to the local beach; times have changed. MB beaches- and the dunes- should be open to everybody.
I love the idea of these supplementary education programs. I also like the idea of teaming up with corporations and organizations.
Dear ER:
I agree completely with the frustration people have over the loss of Chris Miko’s job. He’s an excellent teacher, and makes his entire profession proud.
The policy of seniority that created the loss of his job is California Education Code, however, and has nothing to do with MBUSD’s administration, superintendent, or teachers’ union. It’s the business of the state legislature. The California Teachers Association certainly plays a role in creating Ed Code, but its your legislators that pass it. MBUTA (Manhattan Beach Unified Teachers Association) is but a small part of the larger CTA, so this frustration toward local teachers, the local union, and the local district, is misguided and un-informed.
Rachel Thomas-Wilson
MBMS 7th and 8th Grade English
MBUTA President
I met Julia for the first time, a few years ago, at one of EASY READER Cartoonist Keith Robinson’s famous “Making It” backyard anniversary parties. She was a very warm, jovial and vibrant lady. I had just embarked on authoring my first children’s book (a manuscript I’m now submitting to publishers) and she was very generous with offering me advice. We laughed a lot. Later, I discovered that we shared the same hairdresser and salon. So, we heard about and kept up with each other, back and forth, through the grapevine and even exchanged a few pleasant emails.
I’m very saddened to learn of this lovely lady’s passing. For the little time and in the happenstance way that I knew her, she touched me deeply. My heart goes out to her family, friends and the many others whose lives were brightened by her smile and warmth.
Hope this new loan balance initiative assists with getting the housing market out of the funk again.
Congratulations to all the NoNo s and Jean Paul great work LOL
So, Rachel, can one then conclude that MBUTA opposes the referenced California Education Code policy of seniority?
If so, what specific steps has MBUTA taken to make this opposition known to the CTA and, in turn, our legislators?
If MBUTA does *not* oppose this policy, or if no such steps have been taken to make MBUTA’s opposition known, it’s in fact quite arguable that the frustration you deem ‘misguided and uninformed’ is indeed *right on target*.
Rachel,
Please, are you really making the assertion that the union has opposes and has actively fought against these seniority rules, and the only reason they exist is because the legislature is forcing them down your throat? That’s absurd — if the the union truly were against these rules, they wouldn’t exist. Overall the notion that the teachers and the union are mere innocents who have no influence at all over the Education Code is disingenuous at best.
I’ll second the previous poster’s point. If the MBUTA does in fact oppose these rules, what specifically has it done to attempt to change or repeal them? What motions has it introduced or submitted to the legislature to revoke them?
Twice I’ve posted a comment here in response to the tired, unfounded drivel by ‘local’, above. The first time my comment appeared for a day or two (after awaiting moderator approval for the better part of a day), and then it mysteriously disappeared. The second time it never appeared at all. PLEASE tell me there’s some system glitch … because the alternative is, um, downright scary!
Third attempt to post this comment:
“local”, here’s an alternative definition of what’s ‘sad’ …
Empty, unfounded claims of racism, localism or anything of the sort are nothing but _sad_ reflections of those who wage them — and, in this case, reflect a certain ignorance of the simple issue behind this 15 year community discussion: OVERUSE.
It should be noted that every one of the many past and proposed corrective actions addresses ALL users equally.
“local”, your incendiary comments suggest you are merely part of the problem, not part of the solution. You’re encouraged to get involved in the process, and thereby gain a clue of what’s really happening in your own community. Maybe then you can help by being part of the solution, as one thing is certain – the dune will never again be the free-for-all, regional workout destination that has wreaked such havoc upon the surrounding neighborhood, and resulted in such recurring and mounting damage to the dune itself.
By the way, anyone who has any interest in the Sand Dune matter owes it to themselves to invest just four quick minutes into watching the following:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEDzd0Jkbi8&feature=fvsr
more power and support to our filipino team
go pinoy go time to move on filipinas~~~~~~
I would hope a private school system (like Vistamar) would welcome a teacher like this, especially after all this good press, and because he has fire in the belly he would flourish to the top of job security and pay at a school like that!
sounds great! reminds me of missy higgins!
good luck! lots of fans here in so cal
Heartfelt congratulations to Ken Shuck, a consummate professional.
Over the years I’ve had the opportunity to see Chief Shuck in action on many occasions, both in the field and as an administrator, and I feel confident in saying that our city is extremely fortunate to have such true talent upon which it can safely and comfortably rely.
Best wishes to Ken Shuck on the well deserved new assignment!
An absolutely wonderful man full of passion and exuberance. He will be missed by all that knew him.
This story defines Republican Congressional candidate Pete Kesterson to be a financial planner who chairs Redondo’s Budget and Finance Commission … that has twice filed bankruptcy, once as recently as 2008.
Now *that*, my friends, is chutzpah.
Chief Shuck has the experience and knowledge to assume the command. He is involved in the community and cares for the people in the community. We are fortunate to have him. While it is sad to lose Chief Scott Fergusen, there is no other fireman more capable to fill and surpass the former Fire Chief’s position than Chief Shuck.
Who added the inappropriate and tastless comment with the picture of American Martyrs’ dramatization? Was it the photographer, “Currents” staffer or the editor? Someone should have caught it before it went to print.
Wonderful article!! I’m so proud of Amy and also for her family. All the best in your future! God Bless!
Rachael
This is so coooool!! I can hardly believe it’s finally here!!!
Hermosa lost one of it’s best. The Evans family, the the Wibberley family the Grannis family and others were what made Hermosa Beach a great place to grow up.
Why not charge the spectators $5/each admission? That will cut out the casual partiers and generate the income the city needs to properly police the event.
Wondering out loud if the police are just plain greedy.
And also wondering out loud if the police dept should be audited for their accounting estimations.
If anyone is inflating figures…they need to be held accountable. We don’t need them padding their police expense accounts on the backs of residents.
“We simply don’t have the manpower if people incite a potential riot,”…I think I heard this same type of talk in our nation’s capital only the term was “Crisis”. The only riot that would take place is if they canceled the tournament.
over 60,000 spectators and only 8 arrests…okay so i don’t understand how this is a big deal!? people are here to have fun and enjoy volleyball, Get over it MB!
I’m a Phoenix native who started playing volleyball when I was 15. My high school coach would tell amazing stories about the “Manhattan Beach Six Man” every year. I’ve heard about this legendary tournament for years. I played in my first in 2008, and I honestly must say it is the greatest time I’ve ever had!! Manhattan Beach should be so lucky to be able to attract 60,000 plus in a single weekend. I think the city is looking at it from the wrong perspective. Why not embrace it, but evolve in the same ways that the tournament has evolved? I’m sure many city government’s would kill for a chance to attract that many people in one weekend to their city. I want to see the revenue hike 6man brings to the city of Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach for the weekend. It’s gotta be a pretty decent rise for that weekend. People from all over the country flock to MB for 6-man weekend. They should be proud that the tournament has turned into and EPIC nationwide attraction. Just embrace it, but adapt your plans to accommodate. You can’t tell me 60,000 people flocking to a city on one weekend doesn’t produce some positive revenue results. Why do you think cities bid for the Superbowl? Trust me, I’ve seen what both MB and HB look like the night of 6-man. Every bar and restaurant is jam packed with people, not to mention all the hotels are booked. That sounds like a successful weekend to me. The random drunken A-holes and retards doing stupid things are going to occur regardless. You can find that on any Saturday night. LONG LIVE 6MAN!!
Limiting the alcohol would likely limit the crowds significantly. Raising tournament fees is a very bad idea for volleyball in general. It will discourage the people we really want to attend – people like me. The likelihood of a riot is negligible. There are far too many level-headed volleyball athletes in the mix that would strongly support any needed police action; and veteran volleyball players tend to be self-policing; and have the respect and command of those watching, and junior players. If Saikley Jr. or anyone of the many veteran players at the tourney had an issue, 100 respecting players like me would be at their disposal – not to mention their 6’5″ teammates. Needless to say, the police have the same respect from the numerous people like me and veteran players. Limit the alcohol, embrace the high-level teams…
While this a Manhattan Beach event, raising the fees limits all regular players who simply can not afford the money. Even $600 is $100 per person plus costume and other costs. Some teams are forced to have 10 or 12 players just to limit the cost. Raising the fees will mean that only the richer teams can join in.
The problem with crowds and drinking gets worse in the early afternoon. If they could somehow limit access so no one can enter after 2:00PM a lot of the hooligans will be kept out.
Drinking is not a problem but drinking all day long and coming in the afternoon with sole intent of getting drunk is a problem. The drunks usually do not play and not affiliated with the sport.
I thought MB was a smart town. These are two pretty stupid decisions. Why not cut alcohol out of all the clubs at night? There might be a riot at one of those and there may not be the man power available. Oh no, one better, you can put a city cover charge on every bar in town so you can have enough police on duty at all times just in case the entire town decides to riot…
pathetic.
$10 spectator fee. $20 drinking wristband. Thins crowds and raises $1m on revenue. No brainer.
A riot did you say? When has there ever been a riot at 6-man? There hasn’t been and never will be. Really, reducing the number of attendees? Don’t the businesses in the area make millions off this weekend just FROM the crowd that attends, and in turn, the damn city makes a shit-ton of money in taxes from this crowd. Why don’t you use the damn extra tax monies generated from the crowd to pay for the extra police. Let’s see, your figures expect increases of 20,000 people (we assume at a relatively short period of time, which is NOT THE POINT), and those 20,000 spend money on food, ALCOHOL, and pointless crap at local stores. I’m sure the taxes alone on this weekend generate enough to pay for the added police, you greedy bastards.
What is this fee increase REALLY going to??? 200 teams at the former $600 = $120,000. A raise to $1,200 would put the added fees to $120,000. Off the aggregate taxes you are getting FROM the attendees, you can’t reallocate some of the tax dollars to the police, because we damn well know that you’re (the City) making a LOT more than $120,000 off the taxes on sales from the weekend alone.
Good point me. I give myself a pat on the back. Why don’t we just cut the event altogether and see how much the city cries from lack of funds. Better idea, why don’t we cut ALL events completely, because there’s a risk of riot, and see how quick the city goes bankrupt.
Its been a credit to the volleyball community that no riots etc have occurred. I beleive that since so many advertisers have come in that people-not associated with volleyball have come to associate with the party. David above is correct in saying volleyball athletes are self-policing. I missed the meeting due to volleyball travels but what about: Fencing off the beach all the way to the ocean. Charging a considerable amount for a ticket ($40 approx per person possibly as temporary tattoes). Since teams pay a several Hundred dollar registration fee, a large number of admission passes (100 approx). These “Players passes” should have the team’s name on them to hold people and teams liable. With passes the volleyball community can enjoy the tournament while spectators help pay for security and city profit… We al know that local business and the city and general does well financially by having the 6-man tournament.
Those above that suggest charging money to go onto a public beach better check the Local Coastal Plan and also with the Coastal Commission of the State of California. It’s a “no-brainer” that it’s a public resource down there, not to be commercialized for a big beach party. It’s a great time and a classic, but like the Dune, it’s gotten way out of hand and over publicized. The event is on it’s last legs …..
WEE MAN YOU TRULY ARE A WONDER ALL DAY FUN WITH EVERY BODY WANTING TO MEET YOU HANG OUT WITH YOU PARTY WITH YOU ITS AMAZING HOW FAST PUBLICITY SPREADS WITH JUST A TV SHOW AND A LOT OF CRAZY YET FUNNY STUNTS EVERY BODY I KNOW LOVES THE TV SHOW “JACK ASS” WE’RE ALL FANS OF THE SHOW AND NOW YOU HAVE YOUR OWN TACO SHOP (COOL NAME BTW) YOU TRULY ARE A PEOPLE PERSON THANKS FOR ALL THE LAUGHS AND GREAT TIMES
YOUR FRIENDS: THE I.R.O.B CREW
Has councilmember Nick Tell explained to anyone how he calculated that 80,000 people will be attending the event this year? A 25% jump in one year sure sounds like a pretty ambitious estimate in my opinion.
Let’s have him explain how he arrived at that number?
Thank you for the article. Even though my daughter is a part of the ensemble, I had no idea about the background story. It is very moving and enspiring. I know the kids have worked very hard and are looking forward to a magnificent experience. Thank you again for the wonderful article.
Amen to Scott Warren! I am a Phoenix resident soon to be an OC resident and I have been playing in this tournament since 2001. All I have to say is LONG LIVE 6MAN and 60,000 people plus is a lot of revenue in that city for just one weekend! There will always be drunken idiots anytime anywhere!!! Usually the drunken idiots are not the competitive volleyball players! The cops are just being greedy bastards and need to suck it up for one busy weekend and get over it!
So I can still bring weed right?
I think all these pious people should be more insulted, upset, appalled and mad at the “church” leaders who have abused Catholic children including deaf children. And thanks to the wonderful Los Angeles Archdiocese, who has to cover legal fees for the abuse that occurred, is now closing small Catholic schools in low income areas, where these schools actually are needed. Come on all you entitled Martyrs families, get real, the community has to look at this production every year in the paper, and it’s kind of old. I think Jesus would understand the joke, he had more of a sense of humor than any of you. I think you have bigger fish to fry other than being so up in arms over a clumsy caption.
Move it to Hermosa, or Redondo, or El Segundo. Why should Manhattan businesses get all the revenue? Go somewhere you’re wanted… No fees, no fences, no unneeded security, NO MORE HIDDEN TAXES! Limit the alcohol, the problems are gone.
Good stuff man, I’ll have to fly to Cali and check out these tacos sometime
Dear “recoveringcatholic”, The comments of those above are directed toward the mocking of children (for laughs) as they express their faith tradition. (Kuddos to Kevin Cody for his stand-up apology.) How do you conclude from those comments, that their writers are not outraged by child abuse, particularly by persons within the Catholic Church? Show me those dots, and how you connected them. Have we even met before? Concerning the maintenance of Catholic schools in the face of legal expenses including settlements, where do you think the money comes from to pay those settlements to victims and to maintain those schools and other good works? From “recovering Catholics”, or from practicing Catholics? Please, take a breath, reflect, and express the good in you.
This is the police dept’s way of double dipping.
1) they get paid REGARDLESS if there is an event or not.
2) they should have the right to ask for more $$$$$$$ for doing their jobs.
The fees are insane. If they keep asking for money from events…why even bother to pay our taxes? Seriously…police dept you are losing your clout the next time you want your cushy benefits.
Fees are Extortion!
I agree with the above proposal, charge $10 entry fee and $20 drinking wristband, we travel to this event every year and it wouldn’t be the same if you changed it… the crowds can be a bit overbearing, I agree… and I’ve been to many more large events that are way worse than 6 man in terms of people drinking and being stupid…
Live on 6 man!
The city is not double dipping, they need to pay overtime to have all of the extra police on staff. As a life long local, tend to agree with scaling back the event, at least until it falls of the radar. Too many out of towners trashing the beach and not respecting the local community.
Control it, Fence it and Charge it for spectators and alcohol.
Donate 20% to charity.
I remember the Huntington Beach Surf riot of the ’80’s because of the bikini contest (100,000 people). They should have controled, fenced it & charged, but listened to sponsors instead that wanted a ‘larger crowd’ and did neither and hundreds of thousands in dollars in riot damage resulted. (No more bikini contest for Op Pro.)
Only 8 arrests means that there arn’t a bunch of lushes walking around being idiots. I think the biggest problem is the limited space and the poor mobility. I liked the comment above about embracing the tournament. From a numbers perspective it is the biggest day of the year for the sport of volleyball worldwide, something that I’m sure the city and the Saikley fam take tremendous pride in, and somthing that local businesses generate a lot of revenue from. I say go bigger. Open up the north side of the pier on Saturday, and bring in a lot more public restrooms. Let’s meet in the middle on an increase in entry fee.
Hey now.
I have taken a breath, reflected, thanks Mark. Thanks also for covering the legal fees for abusers as a practicing Catholic as you stated. God bless.
Hey Kuftaf, what business do you own? I hope when it gets robbed and you call the police it takes them a couple hours to get there you stupid idiot. Tell us your business so I can publish it in my paper and shut you down. I would love to know what you do.
I am still tingling from this beautiful story of triumph, heritage,reunion and “paying it forward”. This Choir Director’s strength, character & teaching expertise have brought these high school children a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn, grow, travel abroad and represent our country admirably. What an honor & truly amazing experience for these kids to use in their own bright futures. They will no doubt do the same, to the best of their abilities: “pay it forward”.
I have no doubt in my mind that Amy is being prepared to make some great changes in the world. It is in her heritage and blood line to be a mover and a shaker. I see the intelligence, strength, determination and heart that is required to succeed. Go, Amy! It is a joy to see you use your gifts and talents so effectively. May God bless you in all that you do.
8 arrests/60,000 people x 100% = 0.01333% arrest rate. Hardly verging on a riot. Probably have more arrests at a Dodger’s game.
There are more arrest in 1 Saint Patrick’s Day than 5 sixman events combined.-True Story… Lets Move Saint Patricks day to July then… I hope the city is not thinking of fabricating a riot to prove their point… please don’t pull a Bush… Oh Yeah… Theres no Money in this tourney… Its a Charity Event… Be Charitable… This Should be a Freebie from the PD’s…
The current fees ought to cover bringing in adequate security. Let’s not tamper too much with the best sporting event in the world:
http://jackanddave.multiply.com/journal/item/80/7th_Man_at_the_6-Man
Dear ER:
“After having read all of the comments from the last issue relative to the American Martyrs church play, it is unfortunate that something written with seemingly harmless intent from the previous issue, can blow up so out of proportion. In this world today, where there is so much volatility, we as a society need to stop attacking one another. Let’s stop making controversy over the small things and move on to far more important issues. I doubt seriously the slipped on the way to the locker room comment was meant as a malicious attack to those eighth graders. Yes it is true the eighth graders deserve respect and admiration for putting on such a play. But please lets refrain from over reacting.”
I can’t understand or fathom the logic of someone who defends the unjustifiable mocking of a faith-based tradition by mentioning in the same breath the tragedy of abused children as if there is a scale where lesser crimes can be perpetuated as long as or because one does not address the ‘bigger” crimes ?
Are you saying that one should now summarily ignore the “minor” insults against a faith-based tradition because all “minor” insults are classified as trivial ?
And one last Logic Question: how do you know or determine that those writing against the mockery of our Passion Play are not the very victims of the abuse you are harping about and/or people who have sought to fight the abuse ?
In other words, I can’t fathom the logic of your thinking.
Mike’s a genius. Now, all the rest of the state has to do is follow his lead, starting with the beach cities. Give the man an award!
Excellent article and very timely. Mike has always been a ” The Future is Now” type of contractor so it is great to see another outstanding project completed by our very own CLCA water conservation wizard.
Thanks Easy Reader for covering water reuse and runoff reduction actions people are taking. One correction: daily LA County urban runoff to the ocean is not 300,000 gallons but rather 300 million gallons! Surfrider’s has teamed up with West Basin Municipal Water District and the Green Gardens Group to offer sustainable landscaping classes, hands-on workshops and garden workdays through the Ocean Friendly Gardens Program. Check the website http://www.oceanfriendlygardens.org for the schedule & DIY info. Surfrider volunteers are looking to help people create gardens that serve as an example for their neighborhood and spark others doing the same. In fact, last month, a group of kids from an eco-club at Hermosa Valley School, the club leader and Surfrider volunteers were led by a local native plant expert in transforming a planter at 22nd & The Strand. It would be great if a reporter attended and reported on these great learning and doing opportunities.
Way to go Mike! You are always on the cutting edge of what is happening. In Bermuda and other places in the world, rainwater harvesting is a way of life. Every house captures water off the roof to save. There is no reason we can’t begin to engineer sustainable solutions like rain water harvesting right here in Southern California. Like always, you not only see the solution, you actually build it and make it work. I hope people call you and ask you to install the same thing for them. I know you can do it. Kudos!
What was the caption in question? I must have missed it.
I’ve been a resident of this city since 1993 I’ve been to the 6 man almost every year, It’s a key part of my upbringing. I would understand the extra police presence to deal with the ever growing numbers of this event. But come one MBPD you need to just look outside your small local department and just get some other agencies to help keep the few “8” arrests that you guys will make this year if that!. The tournament has become a local economy boomer for the amount of revenue it brings to our local businesses and the local residences need to realize that we’re not tarnishing a proud tradition yet making it possible for other people to enjoy the surf festival. I don’t see the doubling of entry fee’s when everyone is hurting in these times so if that’s your way of keeping it to few who can, then you’re the one’s tarnishing it.
Great story! I went to elementry school( south ) and junior high (pier avenue) with Tiger, who actually lived on cypress off 8th street across from old lady bectal. Tger was part of the 6th street gang who consisted of John Gardner,Tiger,Dave Boice,Dave Matte,Dean Boston,Bobby Warcola,Bruce logan and of course Davey Holladay, it was his house where we all hung out for years, and there was plenty of beach girls, Debbie Broin, Gayle Gannon, Roxie Natalie,Kathy Miller,Randy Goble,Barbara Holland, brings back great memories, tell James I said hi.
Karl Grossman and Camino Rio rock! I’ve seen and heard them perform many times and it is always fun, fresh and entertaining… Karl, is a classic example of music’s finest… A true professional and gifted artist…
Believe me I he police wanted to arrest people and be “the bad guys”. They could make 100’s of arrest. But they want everyone to have a good time. Just not getting out of control. Many people vomit and urinate on property owners homes, town streets and businesses. The stores in downtown mb might as well be closed that day b/c there is no parking, and people are in town just to go to the 6-man. I’ve been attending 6-man since 1978, and watched it grow. We love this event and don’t want to see it disappear.
Also, the city cannot charge $$ to attend the event.
They don’t Want the riots of Huntington beach on their hands.
We love 6-man….. But it’s getting out of hard to keep it from growing. Please be respectful of the town, ho
e owners and shops and businesses.
And all this from a little brother who hated it when the family sang “Happy Birthday” or anything else! Congrats on a fab career. Wish I lived closer! Your sis.
As someone who attends the 6-man tourney every year, it is very simple to see why the city is worried about this. The tournament has degraded from a wholesome exhibition of volleyball to a corporate-sponsored mess complete with excessive drinking and shameless jeering at players. I’m all for “talking shit” at the courts, but when you get thousands of drunk revelers screaming in the faces of athletes, something’s gotta give. Fights have broken out before and with only 50 officers covering the whole area, stopping fights before they reach massive, uncontrollable levels is next to impossible. The city does need crowd control: more officers and more space would allow for less elbow-to-elbow crowding and a greater ability of the officers to maintain control of the situation. I’m a college student, all for a good time, but the amount of ruckus that goes on at the 6-man could easily reach disastrous potential. Banning the booze on the beach isn’t necessary, but charge 5 bucks for an entrance wristband. Even if a bunch of people walk around the barriers or sneak in, you’ll still make thousands in revenues – enough to cover the added cost of an increased police force.
Santa Barbara county has the same problem with Halloween every year, it costs them approximately a million dollars to police the drunken crowd of partiers. Lets learn from this, and find easy ways to pay for and ensure the events safety.
In conclusion, I love the 6-man, but it needs some changes. Banning drinking on the beach will only incite binge drinking back at the houses/bars before people head down, so its not going to work. Expand the area of the tournament to spread out the crowd. Rope off the beach and charge 5 dollars for entrance. Bring in extra cops for crowd control. It’s not that hard. We can still make this work.
“I thought MB was a smart town. These are two pretty stupid decisions. Why not cut alcohol out of all the clubs at night? There might be a riot at one of those and there may not be the man power available. Oh no, one better, you can put a city cover charge on every bar in town so you can have enough police on duty at all times just in case the entire town decides to riot…”
How to you call MB a stupid town and then present 2 dumb ideas. You are stupid.
My father Walter Shields worked with Gordon and biked with him as well. My dad died on September 14, 2009, and I don’t know if he and Gordon were still in touch. I do know my dad used to speak highly of Gordon. Condolences to the family.
Thank you. I tried to unpack that Sam Miller email a few weeks ago, but you are much more succinct than I was. I created a Google alert waiting for other skeptics to point out what I discovered. Yours is the first since April 12.
Check it out if you’d like:
http://marioapnj.blogspot.com/2010/04/can-article-quoting-prominent-cleveland.html
Scroll down to ”
I did some research. That email contained only 344 words of the original 3410 words published in a Knights of Columbus local bulletin in Cleveland Ohio several years ago. About 90% was left out: With good reason….” Where I try to cut to the chase.
I am a junior… Its not a big deal.
And we miss Darius ever day of his life. I hope his parents have found and are finding comfort in all the sensitive and happy memories that still are shared that are the result of their wonderful son
Interesting, in a very jaded way… I guess it takes all types. I don’t think I would have ever read something like this growing up in the 1960’s in MB. As I would say in Thai: Sum Num Nah!
This summer my granddaughter will go to the beach, and with her blue colored bucket, draw some water from the surf, dig for some sand crabs, find collect shells, put them in the bucket, and bring it up too our beach chairs. She’ll play with this for a while, then carry it back to the surf and pour it out. I wonder if the knuckleheads at the LARWQCB will fine her for doing what the Seaside Lagoon is also doing?
Someone should carry a bucket of seawater to the next LARWQCB board meeting and hand it off to one of the members and then ask what they intend to do with it.
This is very unfortunate… This is something that the local government should focus on to.
Congrats Tiger!! I too went to South and Pier with all those guys. Lived on 7th st right below Learned Lumber. Larry Felker lived two doors down and the Cook brothers (Dell, Rich, Herbie, Hobre, and ,,,,?) across the street. I was always in awe of both Tiger and Purpus.
The head shot of Tiger is just how I remember him!
I totally agree with you that our Seaside Lagoon should not be taken away from the people of Redondo Beach CA. I met my wife 41 years ago down there at the pier (See Inn) and that area has a special meaning to all of us. I am sure we are not the only people that feel this way. I am really concerned about this Ca. Coastal Commission blackmailing our City of Redondo Beach. Who the hell do they think they are and who pays their salary’s. No wonder the state of CA is broke. They should be more concerned about all the runoff that comes down the LA River and all the other garbage outlets that flow into our ocean other than a Historic Swim Park for the people and our Kids.
Walter T, Pearson Redondo Beach CA
The Question you have to ask yourself is not who is being hurt by this closure, but rather, “Who is going to make a profit?” In my opinion there is a hidden motive behind these fines. Either the LARWQCB needs money for their website, ( because when i tried to make a formal complaint, it was offline) Or they are being bribed by another company that can make money from tis closure. Nevertheless I will be contacting all the government officials i know to check if the LARWQCB can have some budget cuts, since they have too much time on their hands to look for piddly nonsense like this. Keep the lagoon open, its cleaner than most our beaches in my opinion
I totally agree with you that our Seaside Lagoon should not be taken away from the people of Redondo Beach CA. I met my wife 41 years ago down there at the pier (See Inn) and that area has a special meaning to all of us. I am sure we are not the only people that feel this way. I am really concerned about this Ca. Coastal Water Commission blackmailing our City of Redondo Beach. Who the hell do they think they are and who pays their salary’s. No wonder the state of CA is broke. They should be more concerned about all the runoff that comes down the LA River and all the other garbage outlets that flow into our ocean other than a Historic Swim Park for the people and our Kids.
If they are caught turn them over to United States Veterans.
I have lived in Redondo Beach since 1962 and the Seaside Lagoon was a summer outing we did as a family and with my school friends for years and years. To read this article turned my stomach. It just goes to show that capital greed is everywhere. To penalize the lagoon with such an outrageous amount of money when there are so many other contributors to the contamination of our sea water is unacceptable. There is definitely a hidden agenda here and I hope that it comes out sooner than later. It was sad to see Marineland closed years ago, because it was such a part of our beach community and now the Seaside Lagoon, what next take away our beaches!
I take issue with your snide comment “Nothing says symphony like Detroit”. We happen to have a world class orchestra with world class artistic leadership, helmed by no less than famed conductor Leonard Slatkin. Thirty of my friends and I have tickets to attend the “Music of the Night” concert to hear Eric Kunze and the Detroit Symphony. I am certain it will be a stellar evening, even in Detroit.
The debate about financial regulation misses the crucial lesson of the financial collapse of 2008, the eventual regulation most likely punishing companies who have nothing to do with the Wall Street jerks that created the mess. Hedging commodities is a time honored practice used by farmers and companies of all size in order to fix a price from which they can account for future sales.
As we witness the hubris of Goldman executives expounding about how they’re doing God’s work, its instructive to review the source of the new found wealth in the financial sector. Goldman and a few others made huge income by shorting the housing market. Sure, they did so favoring some clients over others which is more a symptom of a criminal mind than a banker. Perhaps blinded by their own greed, the smartest guys on Wall Street did not account for the viability of the inter-parties, specifically AIG. Everyone knows that the demise of Lehman, a firm which was operating more like a a sting than a business, started the financial house of cards falling. Goldman’s former CEO Paulson stepped into the abyss by conning Senators and Bush to push through TARP, quickly bailing out AIG so that Goldman was able to collect their bets – our current crook Geitner making sure they got a dollar to dollar compensation.
It was easy to conjecture that the demise of AIG would had ridded America of Goldman, Citi, JPM, BofA, and the rest of the “too big to fail” arrogant bastards. We would not had had to worry about regulating financial derivatives and concocting other means to keep those who have nothing to offer society in check.
Unfortunately, Paulson successor Geitner, Sommers, Rubin and the rest of the Klan is running the country. We have huge companies who are more interested in playing the spread between the free money from the fed and fed treasury notes than lending. These pos financial behemoths still have the huge blocks of toxic crapola on their balance sheets which essentially locks up credit as they horde any and all available credit for their balance.
America and the world would had been a lot better off if instead of dumping trillions into banks, we opened a window for anyone with a 700 fica or better or a business with a 3 year track record to borrow money at the same 0.1% interest rate. Eventually, we will view TARP as a weapon of mass destruction to our economy.
Burgie
Finally, at least an attempt to stop some of the nasty problem many people ignore. 2 friends of mine got Strep throat the same day after it rained last year- both surfed the same time but they were 5 blocks apart. It’s pretty archaic that we haven’t even addressed the sewage runoff on a mass scale.
Loves that they are considering many of the ideas that the fans have been discussing…
http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=105901337524&topic=12323
Whatever happens, I just want the tournament to continue. I get the concerns of the nearby residents and the city officials. I think there are some good ideas here on how to bring the tournament back to what it was, and I think that bringing it back will be nice. 🙂
Go Barbies! 🙂
don’t demonize LA regional water board or the state. The city has known about these regulations for many years and has chosen not to act. This could have been solved in 2002
It’s awesome to see such enthusiasm working with kids! The Redondo Performing Arts Campus seems to be a great place for kids to develop their talents through the workshops and music schools! HollywoodDad.com would love to help participate and share in the excitement!
Please note the change to our performance schedule
Friday and Saturday at 8 PM
Sunday at 5 PM
Through May 16th.
Knowing about the regulations and accommodating them are two different issues. The Lagoon is (and always has been) an OPEN system utilizing ocean water circulated (and discharged at a rate of 200,000 gallons per hour)into a sand bottom lagoon which allows for a safe environment for children to swim and play. The only REAL solution to meet “current” standards would be a multi-million dollar hard bottom closed system paid for by the taxpayers of Redondo Beach. BTW – That type of system is usually referred to as SWIMMING POOL not a ocean lagoon.
I say can the 6-man and the johnnie-come-latelies and alchoholic pencil-necked geeks it has come to attract.
Has nothing to do with the fine sport of beach volleyball anymore. Has to go…can’t police it, can’t manage it, can’t control it…has to go. 60K? ? ?
Don’t want it, don’t need it. We want our beach back. This isn’t Ft. Lauderdale at Spring Break. Stay at home and on your internet facebooks…you pathetic little dweebs.
Steve Aspel: How is this a matter of eco-green overkill? Water quality laws are some of slowest to evolve. Between that and the time line of the incurred violation, since 2002 before the whole “green movement”, I think that this blaming it on the earth-lovers thing is a little, well immature.
Turn off the water pumps. Drain it. Fill it with beach sand and turn it into a world class beach volleyball facility.
How to grab more $$$$ from the public.
1) exaggerate attendance numbers.
2) threaten complete shut down despite no historical evidence of public danger
3) jack up rates on police “protection”
It’s a power grab here. Don’t kill the golden goose.
They are also talking of banning costumes. Really? The costumes? Costumes are not the problem. There are many costume tournaments throughout the year; costumes dont make people act badly. Six man is about the level of play. Where else can a your friends compete against Olympic, College and Professional athletes dressed in wigs, kilts, bridal veils etc.? To me the best part of six man weekend is feeling the enthusiastic, anticipatory climate of players dressed in their silly, colorfull outfits early Saturday morning; knowing that soon some incredible volleyball will be played by these “characters”. Outlawing humorous dress is not the answer.
We all know the real problem is the influx of day trippers and weekend visitors using the tournament as ONLY a party, not wearing a wrestling outfit instead of board shorts (or even players and their friends enjoying a discrete beverage between games).
Sam’s Bad Numbers…
Mr. Miller’s statement, “10% of the Protestant ministers have been found guilty of pedophilia” has no basis in fact! It was refuted by the named source in 2002 and remains refuted today.
In the original 2003 speech Mr. Miller cites a July/August 2002 Sojourners article by Rose Marie Berger in which she misinterprets statements from Penn. State Prof. Philip Jenkins regarding sexual abuse by Protestant ministers.
In the original article Berger writes…
“Philip Jenkins concludes in his book “Pedophiles and Priests” that while 1.7 percent of Catholic clergy have been found guilty of pedophilia (specifically of boys), 10 percent of Protestant ministers have been found guilty of pedophilia.” (This quote is used in Miller’s speech)
To which Philip Jenkins responds (Sept/Oct 2002)…
“I regret to say that the statement is baloney. I never said it, and it’s not true!… Every time this ten percent statement appears attributed to me, I try to debunk it, but these things have a life of their own. I have no idea what the actual proportion of pedophile protestant clergy is, but I would be amazed if it was more than a fraction of one percent.”
Sojourner Article… http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=magazine.article&issue=soj0207&article=020741d
Sojourners apologized to its readers for passing on erroneous information and revised the article, removing the incorrect and defamatory information. But not before Sam Miller got a hold of it!
Now you know!
Rev. Rob Pollock
Vancouver, BC
CANADA
This tournament should be cancelled. The image it sets for volleyball is terrible, the image it sets for manhattan beach is terrible. Cancel it and the party seekers will find another place to party.
cops will be pocketing an extra $93,306.
what the heck?
Like I said the first time this came out…
Its all about the cheese.
60,000 people is a myth…
17,000 was the report last year.
And would they stop comparing it from the 1961 6-man event.
first of all southbay population back then was only 40,000
southbay was one big pile of sand till it turn into a yuppie ghetto.
The 6-man can still be a successful and outrageously fun tournament even with the proposed changes….No, Ryan, cops will not be pocketing an extra $93,306. Please re-read the article so you’ll understand where that money will be going. 🙂
8 arrests last year = “the ballooning and often unruly crowds that have in recent years”
@Court1 I agree, In the 8 years or so that I’ve been to 6 Man, attendance has grown but I have no idea where the 60,000 number came from.
Boycott the entire city of Manhattan Beach that weekend.
Show your disapproval by walking with your wallets.
Maybe if Manhattan Beach passed an immigration law like AZ, they could keep out the “unruly crowds” they worry of.
Riots? Really?
Heidi, it is these eco-terrorist who are harming our way of life and using bad science to do it. 2+ billion dollar fine? That is just a bully! The board could easily say “we know you are working on the problem and we will limit the fine to $100,000 maximum”. You do realize that 99% of what the waterboards want removed are indiginous to the ocean, right? Seaside lagoon is not ADDING anything but chlorine then removing it. ALL the other elements are naturally occuring in the OCEAN!!! If you took a bucket, scooped the water out and threw it back in you would be in the same violations.
Just for perspective, the chlorine max levels required by the boards are 1,000 times lower then drinking water. Chlorine also a gas, and rapidly dissipates even in water(as any pool owner will tell you).
I attended Saturday of last year’s event to take photos and watch some friends play. While the crowd was large, there is no way it was 60,000. Maybe 20,000 tops… about enough to fill a large hockey arena. And they were not unruly at all. I’ve seen worse crowds at an NHL Playoff game.
The Mayor Pro Tem states that it’s not the players that are the problem… so why are they being penalized by having to pay more? If it is “the other idiots” that are the problem, why not just staff the entry points with security guards and check their bags like they do at every other event? All it should cost is some guards and a fence. Not $93K!
I suspect that you’ll find that the people who will benefit from the increased fees and enhanced security are the ones who planted the seed with the city…the PD and the Private Security firms. Follow the money and you almost always find the answer.
I’m with Zorro on boycotting MB businesses that weekend. Take public transportation to the event so you don’t feed their parking meters, and when it is over, take your wallet to HB or RB and spend your money there.
Believe me….Andy and Renee…their band Hard Rain, along with so many other special people who come from all over…and play up to eight hours of “All Dylan” make this the best day of the year, each and every year.
You may laugh, dance, or you may find a tear in your eye when someone takes you back to that special place in your life that a “Dylan song” was needed. Bob Dylan has touched the hearts and minds of so many of our brothers and sisters. As with most though, it’s so much more personal.
Some couldn’t get through his voice way back when…what a shame. You’ll always hear the “well, he’s a great songwriter”. What Bob Dylan is cannot be defined properly. The best thing that i could say is… ” that Bob Dylan…and the art of Bob Dylan are both truly a gift from God ”
Come over to El Segundo at the end of the 105 freeway near the lax airport this Saturday. See and hear for yourself. You won’t regret it.
This is a simple act of extortion. These bureacratic entities can’t find a way to stay on a budget, so they have to fleece money out of us somehow.
I have been to six-man the last 8 years. There were NOT 60,000 people there last year, it was about 12,000 tops. This is a FUN annual event and if you need to limit the amount of drinking then check bags etc at entry but do not make the players pay for the City letting this get out of hand by turning a blind eye. And what does the music have to do with it? What a joke.
The Police Chief’s rec’s (3 of 5 authors of the Staff Report are police) make sense for him. He wants to hire more buddies for overtime work, and stretching the number of attendees increases the number of officers hired. He secretly wishes there were no Halloween, Super Bowl, or 6-Man because these days make his job more stressful — he fears a riot of volleyball players and fans. If his silly ideas about squishing people through gates, policing music, ticketing all players $80 bucks (by increasing entry fees), and forbidding coolers (which also carry water and gatorade, btw) are passed, he might actually get the riots he’s talking about.
Do these supposed 60,000 people not generate additional sales tax, hotel tax, parking ticket tax? How do the local costume shops do? Grocery stores? Beauticians? Gyms? Babysitters? Where are those numbers figured in?
Only 8 arrests with 60,000 people? Sounds like a homerun to me. And let’s please not go after the sponsors. A volleyball player finding a sponsor is like a normal person finding…a job. Let’s not take away jobs while we’re trying to mess up one of the finest events that exist.
PLEASE NOTE THIS IS NOT A MUSICAL. THAT IS A TYPO.
Also, we have added a matinee at 3 PM this Saturday for closing weekend.
Really Inviting! NOT!! $34 dollars to spend for a play that can’t decide whether it’s a comedy or drama? And the Author/director is not willing to release any other information about it!!?? Nor are there any reviews for the piece??!!
Seems to me, one’s money would be more worthwhile spending it at the Kirk Douglass, r Mark Taper. Not only do you know those pieces have been vetted… You can get a great seat for under $25, and spend the extra $9 on a movie you know nothing about!
Facts don’t lie . . .
It seems detractors of election result are often quick to clarify that all of the “registered voters” didn’t actually vote (funny, this is never the case when the vote swings the other direction). These critics choose to discredit an outcome simply on low turnout or the large number of voters who didn’t show up on election day. Strange, these critics stop short of suggesting those absent may have just been disinterested, too busy, uninformed, or just too lazy to show up at the poles or send in their absentee ballot. If this article was meant to highlight the unfortunate fact of poor local election turnout, I absolutely agree with the writer, it’s truly sad to consider that people don’t exercise their right to participate at all levels government. If this was an article discounting the outcome of an election . . . the results speak for themselves and the votes of all those (involved) folks who thought this was important HAVE been counted. The results are clear, DD won by a margin of 18%, or 4,271 votes (a true landslide in election terms). BTW – I’ll have to disagree with the writer, based on our democratic system, Bill Brand speaks for ALL of the people in District 2 just as Steve Aspel speaks for ALL of the people in District 1.
The city should not intervene in an existing business transfer by imposing an early closing when the business has a 1:30 closing and the business has never violated its conditional use permit. Business owners’ rights must be
protected too. Evidence showed Il Boccaccio had the lowest number of calls for city services of all licensed establishments on Pier Ave. Howard Fishman and Pete Tucker’s justly decided not to appeal the ABC decision. The
same ABC that already ruled the city did not have grounds to protest the license in the first place. The ABC already denied the city’s request in April, 2010 and nothing has changed. If the license had been a new business CUP the Councilmen could have voted for early hours. But that is not the case when an existing business is transferred, and City Council must follow a fair and consistent pattern in making decisions. Instead of giving into pressure from Jim Lissner, a vocal critic of downtown Hermosa Beach, they analyzed the true facts and voted to follow the same protocol that they did in the transfer of Café Boogaloo and Underground Pub. A thriving downtown will support future city revenues. The city revenues are down in this economy and restaurants and bars are calmer than before the economic
slowdown. The city should not be wasting money on legal fees for an ABC board appeal.
While I’m not a Betsy Butler supporter, I would appreciate it if the Easy Reader would post an explanation for the anonymous attack ad printed at the top of page 5 in your May 13th issue. I thought that political ads were required to state who paid for them.
Hi Harry,
this is a goofy article: 1)that was a very unprofessional and unpleasant moment during the council meeting btwn Aspel and Brand..something I would prefer to not revisit(and wonder why you did). Plus it happened some time ago. (Are your articles being delayed in publishing?)
2) “The notion the citizens took some kind of action against heart of the city” is very true. The public hearing on HoC was 12 hours long..two nights-6 hours each. Despite protests from the school district and many community members, the council still voted to adopt the plan. (It was a large plan, Harry)
The letter to the editor by Chris Cagle asking people to help him do a referendum was an answer to a prayer. The first 20 people to meet quickly grew to a group of almost 150 people willing to collect signatures. (These were rookies-not seasoned activists) We needed 4000 signatures but collected 6400 in a window of just over 2 weeks (the deadline to protest the vote).. It was a remarkable feat.
Please don’t minimize what impact this event had on Redondo’s history. It was the catalyst for political involvement of many residents. Many have aspired to run for office and have joined commissions. Some have started non profit groups. And ,yes,the tradition of “store front signature collecting” was born.
If the article was to referee claims made by council members..well, councils seem to contain colorful characters; opinions and statements fly in all directions during meetings. Don’t worry..somehow everything washes out in the end. It is impossible to think anyone can set the record straight!
Re: The Vocal Minority
Facts don’t lie . . .
It seems detractors of election result are often quick to clarify that all of the “registered voters” didn’t actually vote (funny, this is never the case when the vote swings the other direction). These critics choose to discredit an outcome simply on low turnout or the large number of voters who didn’t show up on election day. Strange, these critics stop short of suggesting those absent may have just been disinterested, too busy, uninformed, or just too lazy to show up at the poles or send in their absentee ballot. If this article was meant to highlight the unfortunate fact of poor local election turnout, I absolutely agree with the writer, it’s truly sad to consider that people don’t exercise their right to participate at all levels government. If this was an article discounting the outcome of an election . . . the results speak for themselves and the votes of all those (involved) folks who thought this was important HAVE been counted. The results are clear, DD won by a margin of 18%, or 4,271 votes (a true landslide in election terms). BTW – I’ll have to disagree with the writer, based on our democratic system, Bill Brand speaks for ALL of the people in District 2 just as Steve Aspel speaks for ALL of the people in District 1.
Wow… I’ve heard apple sold a million iPad in just 28 days… It’s surely the best gadget ever made… It takes computing to a whole new different level..
Money well spent? Like the water fountain on the corner of 190th & PCH. Millions of dollars… Will the students appreciate as much as the board does?
Wow $450,000 for rooftop dining? NICE PERK. Yes Arlene & Jane are right. One quick jump or fall off the top will add to the Schools price tag alright. Did they run out of room inside? How long will it take for the $300k in solar panels to pay back? 10 years? 20 Years? Or should they wait until the technology is better?
====================
May 17, 2010
Dear ER:
Help Stop Hermosa’s raised, concrete-curbed, Pier Avenue MEDIAN MADNESS.
Time is running out to kill the insane, unnecessary, MEDIAN.
The MEDIAN is an expensive, silly, and unneeded Pier Avenue amateur design mistake.
The MEDIAN is skinny, just 5-feet wide and will destroy Pier Avenue’s beautiful historic openness that dates back to 1900.
The raised concrete MEDIAN will choke traffic and hinder the free movement of Police, Fire, and Paramedic vehicles.
The MEDIAN will destroy Pier Avenue for its St. Patrick’s Day Parade and other future parades and celebrations.
The MEDIAN will choke traffic flow, forcing additional cars, cabs and trucks onto 2nd, 8th, Monterey, Manhattan, and other residential streets.
Removing the unneeded MEDIAN simplifies and speeds up the completion of the Pier Avenue upgrades and saves scarce city money.
Important: Tell your Hermosa Councilmen, Commissioners, Chamber of Commerce, Police, Fire, and Public Works Department officials that you don’t want Pier Avenue’s historic openness destroyed with an unnecessary raised-curb, emergency vehicles hindering, parade wrecking, expensive, narrow, ugly, raised-concrete-curbed MEDIAN.
Time is running out to stop the MEDIAN.
Get involved. Help stop Pier Avenue’s MEDIAN MADNESS.
Howard Longacre
Hermosa Beach
===================
They probably thought the winners of this tourney wins a lot of money…
ITS A CHARITY EVENT!!!
WHY WOULD WE SPEND THAT MUCH MONEY ON A CHARITY EVENT WHEN MOST OF THE PLAYERS THEMSELVES NEEDS THE CHARITY!
How about They donate their time.
Prizes: T-shirts & Medals
Do you get it… Do you get it…
Mr Munns fails to mention many of the indicators of the public’s will with respect to overdevelopment.
Perhaps he did not realize that the City conducted a survey on whether residents wanted to vote on zoning changes and the overwhelming majority stated “yes” – very reflective of the vote for DD. Additionally, there are at least two previous city surveys that show overdevelopment and traffic were the top concerns of residents.
Munns fails to account for the impacts of the city’s deceitful counter measure, EE, that looked good but had no teeth. Even former Councilman Pinzler stated EE would allow people to vote on zoning changes that were never likely to occur. The intent of EE, apparently, was to confuse voters and draw them away from DD in the hopes that neither measure would pass. I base this conclusion on the fact that most of the Council were also listed as supporters of “Save Redondo”, an organization that opposed ANY resident voting on zoning changes. Our Council played both sides of the fence in a desparate attempt to stop what they knew to be inevitable. What would the vote have been without the decoy measure?
Another indicator of the public bill, was the vote on what to do with the AES site. The City steeped the ballot language to make mixed use and condos look like Nirvana over the costs of a park at the site. Yet the people overwhelmingly picked a park.
While Mr. Munns is accurate that the two referendums related to the Heart of the City was never put to a vote, he failed to mention that the Council clearly understood the vote would override their approval of the HOC plan.
And as to his attack on Bill Brand – Bill ran against three candidates who were all pro-development. The fact that he won without a run-off election should be a clear indication of the will of the people with respect to overdevelopment.
I think if Munns objectively looked at the preponderance of evidence since the Heart of the City, he would draw a much different conclusion.
And it he doesn’t like Measure DD, he can stand at grocery stores every weekend of six months, collect 6000 signatures, and qualify an initiative vote to repeal it.
I’m a So Cal expatriate now living is Wisconsin. Even from this distance the city council is clearly fomenting this to create fear and then more fees. Sad day. I hope all VB players hit this hard. Tell mayor Tricky Dick that the sky (ball) is not falling.
I have played in this tournament since 1979. I may reconsider spending my visitor tax money someplace else.
If MB ruins this, there will be a counter tournament somewhere.
Hi Mary,
You addressed me by name so I feel I should respond directly to you.
I’m sorry you found my column “goofy”. Like you, I saw the exchange between the two RB city councilmen I cite in my column. I had a different reaction. I saw two people who believed strongly in two opposing views of the same topic. It occurred to me that unlike many opinions people hold, this one could be verified. I did considerable research, drew some conclusions and I stand by the facts I present in the article.
I’m not a reporter. I’m a columnist. One of the differences between the two is that I present opinions and observations. A reporter has an obligation to minimize the influence of his or her own opinions and objectively present the facts.
If I had uncovered data that supported the assertion that “the people” of Redondo Beach want to prevent development in King Harbor, I would have expressed that opinion. The numbers simply didn’t prove it, at least not to me.
I’m in King Harbor at least 4-5 times a week. I run into people I know all the time for one simple reason, I know a lot of people who work there or use it for boating. I have never-ever seen one person I know from any of the beach cities who doesn’t either work there or have a boat in the harbor. Think about that. I know a lot of people.
To me the absence of local users is more telling than any election, referendum or political movement. The people of the beach cities abandoned King Harbor years ago and it’s heartbreaking.
If someone wants to build something in King Harbor that the citizens want to use, I’ll scream my support from the highest hill. I don’t care if it’s a park, outdoor cafes, a bike path or a skating rink. But we’ll never get a chance to find out unless we enable the people with the resources and vision to bring new things here to tell us what they’d like to do and how they’d like to do it.
The current “no growth” image of Redondo Beach will do nothing but keep the status quo, decay, deterioration and a local population that looks elsewhere for its recreation.
I respect your opinion to think my column is “goofy” but perhaps I disagree when you say it’s impossible to set the record straight. I think I just did.
I’m an MB native, have never left this city. This’ll be my 17th 6man attendance (played in the tourney twice, myself). It took me several hours to peel my jaw off of the floor when I first read City Council’s proposed changes which, at the time, include costume bans, etc. I was wiping the rust off of my pitchfork to ready it in preparation of protest – it would have been a violation of our first amendment rights. I see now that they came to their senses about that and chose not to band the costumes. But do they have the right to ban coolers? Tents? Isn’t it a public beach? In any event, the more I think through the legality of it, I understand the alcohol ban. After all, public intoxication is not allowed. But what I can’t understand is: why won’t the city fence off the area (or areas away from the courts perhaps) and offer a city-sponsored beer gardens, like in the Hometown Fair? That way, people could drink, the city could make some cash, and the registration fees could be limited, all the while passing some of the burden onto the spectators, and not the players.
But, how foolish of me to think that the city actually really cares about banning alcohol because of “crime”, “fights” and “riots” (have they not seen the hermosa pier on the weekends? 20,000 drunk d-bags there on a year-round basis with minimal fights and no riots.) Instead, the 6man changes come on the heels of the city caving into the pressure of non-native residents who are forcing the closure of our beloved Sand Dune Park, too. This is about non-native rich snobs who have moved into our glorious beach community and turned this into an issue of “Hi, I’m a rich snob and my tax dollars pay your salary, so you better do what i tell you to do or else I’ll vote you out of city council power. And I don’t like fun and awesomeness, I just want to impose my snooty joykill ways on everyone so please, get all of these young people away from my house even though I purchased it knowing full well that I live next to all sorts of things, including bars and a public beach that WILL be frequented by lots of people on a year-round basis.” These snobs are trying to turn our beach community, with it’s unique culture and traditions, into a sea-side Beverly Hills. What next, will they try to impose a ban on the Hometown Fair too???
Looks as if I’ll be making room on my walls for one of your pictures! Glad you have something else to excel in, but what else is new? Love, a.s.
I remember Tiger. I’m John Gardner’s brother and he hung around with Tiger when they were kids. We lived in a few locations on Loma Drive, went to South school and Pier Ave. One of the homes we lived in was just over the fence from Clark Stadium and not far from Tiger’s house. I also remember old Lady Bectal and Mrs. Hayes. She was the one that used to carry around water jugs and fill them up somewhere down at the strand for drinking water. John Gardner is my brother and he’s still surfing where he lives up in Seaside, Oregon.
John lives up in Seaside,Oregon and is still surfing.
I’ll have to tell him about this article and that I saw a reply by Dickie Boyd, a name I remember well.
Dave: I just spoke with Dell Cook today on the phone.
Re: The beach cities fire department merger discussions, and Hermosa’s budget meeting.
Dear ER:
Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Manhattan Beach, have and are collectively wasting millions by needing to have their own little feel-good fire departments, especially with consideration that one of the best fire departments in the country, the Los Angeles County Fire Department, serves Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Lomita, Lawndale, Hawthorne and many other cities so professionally.
It’s little more than egotistical that the beach cities still insist on having their own political-pawn fire departments. In doing so, the councils of these cities are collectively wasting millions of the people’s tax money just so politicians can play political games at election time.
The quality of fire and paramedic services would not degrade and probably only improve were these cities to each set their specifications and contract with Los Angeles County Fire as other fine cities do. The fire stations would still be in the same places and most all of the fire personnel would probably feel more professional not having to put up with the political good-ole-boy games of these beach cities. So long as we have weak-as-water egocentric politician council members maintaining a mythology of providing better fire services with city-operated fire departments in these beach towns, the people’s tax money will continue to be wasted.
Hermosa’s council can and should set the trend by immediately exiting any local-politics merger baloney and commencing a process to contract with Los Angeles County Fire at their budget meeting in the Council Chambers, Thursday evening, 7 PM, May 27.
Howard Longacre
Hermosa Beach
And yet the City wants to incur the cost of shipping sand to the dune, reshaping it, and fencing it from all others, so that a lucky sweaty few can have an exclusive workout facility a great cost to the neighborhood, environment, and budget. Priorities? In January, the City understood and ordered in writing that they would not do this, and that they had better things to do with scarce resources. Nothing changed, other than some very selfish we-want-our-preferred-workout-regardless-of-cost folks, who had not participated in any of the prior thoughtful meetings set up by the City, showed up for about half of one meeting with a news camera, and the City caved. What an unflattering chapter in City Council history. Perhaps something will cause the City to reconsider its misguided turns, and return to reason, sound priorities, and fiscal responsibility.
I enjoyed your mamoir. I too grew up at the park. We lived above the park on 34th st. In the summer, my parents would invite several other families to get together for a day at the park. We would play volleyball, have a barbeque, and just enjoy each other’s company. It was a park for families. When they remodled the park and took out the volleyball court I was sad. Then I found out that kids can no longer go down on sleds, or boogey boards, or anything. How are kids ever going to know the thrill of picking off a scab if they are never allowed to skin their knee. Infact, the whole cith has changed. My father taught school at Pacific Shores, and coached football at both Mira Costa, and Aviation. I grew up going to highschool football games. It was a family event. Everyone did. I have tried to explain to my kids what life was like growing up in MB, but they just can’t understand. When we go visit, all we see are latin nannies sitting around a bunch of white kids. It is a shame.
This is a completely innacurate depiction of the woman pictured. This article paints the Count to be a creep. This is also a bizarre food article. Interesting, but bizarre. I could barely get through it.
This is an absolutely delightful story written about a man with whom I had the pleasure of being directed in several performances. Michael Hayden truly has a gift like no other when it comes to musicality and motivation. I would like to strongly encourage anyone who has ever been directed by Michael to dig into their pockets and help support the Mira Costa Ensemble!
So when does HB offically get renamed “MacPherson Beach”?
Has RUHS completed all deficiencies in earthquake safety, energy conservation, electrical, plumbing, disabled access, lighting and security, computer labs, and other repairs voters hear about when the school board asks for a bond? Or are they going to spend most of the money on a cafeteria to have junk food delivered by local fast food companies?
I like the Easy Reader, but I could not finish this article. This joke was drawn on so far that it was no longer a satirical piece on art/food reviews, rather it was an ironic satirical piece on satire in general.
Interesting the Redondo Beach Police have an officer who is an additive drug expert. The article doesn’t state what dosage the tablets were. I think Vicodin contains 500 mg paracetamol and 5 mg hydrocodone. It’s barely stronger than many over the counter NSAID drugs. But he should have had a prescription for it as it is considered a class 3 drug, which is:” Pure codeine and hydrocodone are Schedule II drugs but when compounded with paracetamol or with an NSAID they can become a Schedule III drug. Schedule III drugs are classified by the U.S. government as potentially causing moderate or low physical dependence, or a high psychological dependence if misused.” I’m sure pro football players have a need for pain relief, why wasn’t he being managed by a doctor? Couldn’t afford it? Or did the team doctor just go, here… Please have a follow up story.
No, the city get’s renamed Idiot Councilville.
I agree with Riz,
How did this article make the cover? It’s a diluted restaurant and gallery review thrown into a Creative Writing 101 assignment. Theres so many other important, factual story’s going on in the south bay, why give the cover to a work of fiction about a pretentious, womanizing millionaire.
This is a great article. I witnessed the FARTBARF show at DEVOtional in 2009, and I am going to see them again at DEVOtional this year. FARTBARF BLEW ME AWAY! FARTBARF IS AWESOME LIVE! I’m hoping they put out more recorded material, because I am/will always be, a FARTBARF fan.
It’s Lysander, not Lysandra….
There was a production of this recently up at the Norris which was probably one of the best I’d ever seen. Last year’s Shakespeare by the Sea production was excellent as well. Hoping to get the chance to see this one, although this write up may not have theatre goers flocking to see it…
Manhattan Beach Police Department is to be commended for arresting Tony Perez, who cheated an investor out of $20,000, while Sean David Morton, a Hermosa Beach resident, is being sued by the SEC for bilking investors out of over $6 million! Perez should have set up his scam in Hermosa Beach!
Why would Easy Reader hire someone to write a preview article who obviously detests Shakespeare and makes thinly veiled racist comments? The show hadn’t opened when this article went to press so it’s not like it’s simply a negative review, it’s more like a hate article barely masked in poorly written attempts at humor. Shakespeare’s work is toilet paper? Accents are acceptable sources of derision? Character names are just too hard and we should give up now? This clown does not represent the South Bay; the people I know in this community are educated, welcoming to culture and challenges, and would not be the first in line to lambaste something sight unseen. Perhaps the Easy Reader should read their articles before publishing them to weed out the loons who haven’t gotten over their D- in freshman English class.
It is never a bad idea to ask the people, especially since the City Council has on more than one occasion has gone in exactly the wrong direction with respect to the wishes of the majority.
Right on Rev. While we are all waiting for that EP to come out be sure to get your fill of Fartbarf on http://www.DirtyHippieRadio.com.
-Rev. Jeff Vincent (yes I’m ordained)
I am a resident of the 36th district, & have been trying to follow this race. Of the three candidates, Andrew Sharp & Pete Kesterson seem to be fairly accessible & visible, but I haven’t heard of any Mattie Fein events, where I could go to hear her speak. I went to a candidates forum, where both Sharp & Kesterson spoke, but Fein was not present. Also, I didn’t know about the Sri Lankan connection, but an internet search produced a lot of info. This site, for example, has a lot of links and references: http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2010/03/11/mattie-and-bruce-fein-and-foreign-terrorist-organizations/ and The Asian Tribune has some good articles as well. Definitely enough info to make me suspicious of voting for this candidate.
I met Andrew Sharp at a Tea Party event and knew right away he was the one for the job. He is not a career politician like Pete and Mattie and seemed genuinely concerned about the local issues of the district because he has lived in the area his entire life. I was impressed with his knowledge of history and politics and know he would be a good representative for us in Congress.
That is one frightening mug shot!
Very good article, as there has been a recent swarm of earthquakes on the Redondo Canyon fault this June (2010).
Excellent article, excellent reporting.
Bob
Given the recent activity on the Redondo Canyon fault, this article could turn out to be truly prophetic.
In response to Jane Harman’s consultant Harvey Englander’s comments:
Jane Harman needs to stop hiding behind her consultant and speak for herself. Today, I challenge Jane Harman to a debate next week on the important issues regarding the 36th district, her voting record, and her conflicts of interests. Let Harman finally disclose her financial interests and see how many votes she should have recused herself from. Sending Mr. Englander is not an option. After 16 years representing the district, Harman needs to stop hiding and speak for herself.
Wonderful column. And, your project is truly beneficial and inspiring. I believe the urban gardening experience will bear fruit in those kids’ future, even though they are now captivated by the much-advertised plastic “food” of McDonald’s and other purveyors of fast junk.
Attention: Editor and Publisher Kevin Cody
Please consider this ‘letter-to-editor’ submission for use in this week’s, June 17 edition.
I feel this is an important story that needs to be told. Please consider printing the entire letter.
Thank you as always.
==============================================
June 13, 2010
Dear ER:
Pier Avenue’s costly, unneeded, skinny, raised-curbed, off-centered median is now interestingly being rushed-built, completely out of logical construction order. This median item of Hermosa’s overall street project unquestionably is going to diminish the historic avenue’s beauty and functionality in many negative ways. Unfortunately, except for rightfully concerned councilman Jeff Duclos, the council’s other four members’ median obsession is another example of unbelievably ignorant, closed-minded, arrogance in action.
All should understand that council’s 2-lane Pier Avenue agenda never ended since some ten years ago when another pro-bars council first changed Pier Avenue’s 4-lane “arterial” legal designation to 2-lane “local” collector. The council still refuses to return it back to 4-lane “arterial” which is what it is supposed to be. That prior legal trick was later used to rationalize council’s incredibly dumb and costly reduction of the avenue to two lanes. After a massive outcry over that from both residents and Pier Avenue businesses, council fearing their own certain recall, quickly spent more tax money to return the avenue back to four lanes.
However former and current elected diehards supporting expansion of Pier Plaza’s eating and drinking on widened sidewalks with one lane each way up Pier Avenue have never given up their two-lane obsession. Those include Sam Edgerton, J. R. Reviczky, Michael Keegan, Peter Tucker, Patrick “Kit” Bobko, and Michael DiVirgilio, together with many of their handpicked city commissioner “rubber-stamps”. The median is just the latest slimy trick being used to eventually morph Pier Avenue down to two lanes with diversion of traffic elsewhere through the residential neighborhoods.
DiVirgilio deceitfully even told bicycle proponents, those previously dismissed, to now push for one lane each way. This just shows what a smiling disingenuous phony he also is, and always has been since he first fooled me. And now Bobko has hit rock bottom, going out of his way to pander to his political fans by displaying how despicable he can be with his disgusting, condescending, badgering, cheap lawyer intimidation of members of Hermosa’s rank and file police and fire personnel who would dare speak out against what is little more than the use of taxpayer money by Bobko to embellish his own political status.
But worst of all is Bobko and DiVirgilio’s unseemly use of Hermosa Beach and the some-total $5.5 million of taxpayers’ money being expended on Pier Avenue to photo-op grandstand this Pier Avenue project for their political resumes. It’s just further indication of the lengths these two shallow, carpet-bagger, politician-wannabes will go to advance their narcissistic political agendas onto taxpayers’ backs.
Howard Longacre
Hermosa beach
hmmm, now where are my dumbels
Nice remembrances, Matt. We played together, and I can corroborate your memories.
Sand Dune Park is a park, not a training center. It’s for kids and their families (still once or twice a year, for me and mine).
Eric Grenier
Lake Bluff, Illinois
Tell Scott Parker “Hi” from an old friend (Cary Walters Stone).
Next time I’m in CA – I’ll call for an appointment – I need help.
Tell Scott HI from an old friend!
Cary Walters Stone
More than 110 leaders from the three beach cities were there…we want this for our community!
dear Jan,
I am a teacher, and like you I believe in the children we teach. I feel your sorrow, I feel your pain. You probably shaped many lives, created memories that will for ever help making this world a better one. There are no words that can ease your loss, there are no hug that can erase your pain, but never forget that the children you taught are for ever better! I wish you the best in your new life… don’t give up, there are birthdays, homework, and many ways to stay in touch with the world you help shaping.
For ever thankful….
JPA
Have you been to a Women’s Empowerment? This yrs expo was a great time! Laila Ali was the headlining speaker and she rocked the house, excellent concert also. I travelled in to Raleigh from OH, completely more than worth it!
this is really so sad…the cajun is so unique and become a landmark on pier avenue…there a a million restaurant’s going out of business so why not open his sons in one of those? the bottom line is we have enough bars and hamburgers in hermosa but there is only one ragin cajun…another spoiled kid in south bay…he’ll be out of business is six months like so many others. the cajun and stephen deserves better.
This is a joke. No matter where I go in the South Bay area, everyone knows exactly what I’m talking about when I talk about the Cajun. Great food & atmosphere. I’m sure Steven won’t have much of a problem finding a new location, but it’s a shame he has to. Especially after all he has done to enlarge & improve the current location. I guess I’ve eaten my last meal at that address.
I live just behind the Ragin’ Cajun and will be at every city hall meeting to ensure that this Gastropub doesn’t happen. Upper Pier only needs family friendly restaurants. A “Gastropub” doesn’t sound like it’s going to fit that bill. Sounds like we’ll just get more drunk LMU students walking down my street while my children are trying to sleep. Not acceptable.
You might as well let the Ragin Cajun stay, because the residents don’t want another Union Cattle- We already have one.
This is INFURIATING. I’ll tell you one thing: I will never ever ever set foot in Junior’s gastropub. Ever. The kid gets Daddy’s land giftwrapped, gets funding from Daddy’s buddies down the road, and in the process kicks out a local institution? Shame on you, Bredesens.
This is so sad! My family and I love the Ragin Cajun! We live in the Inland Empire…yet drive all the way into South Bay once a month…just to go to the Ragin Cajun! I can tell you, I will never make a drive like that to go to some place called a “Gastropub.” The Bredesen family is making a HUGE mistake with this one. It’s a no brainer….let the Ragin Cajun stay!!
I’m from lafayette, La and I travel to the LA area frequestly on business. I always visit and eat at the Ragin Cajun. Don’t worry Steve, your loyal customers will find you and support you. You will remain successful. There are alot of restaurants in that area and all over the country that spout off about serving true Cajun cuisine. Most don’t even come close. Steve’s food is about as close to home cooking as I can get without cooking it myself.
John
This is SO Shocking. This is a FAMILY restaurant, serving families! I have lived by the restauant ever since they opened, they are polite, and caring about their neighbors. WE DO NOT NEED ANOTHER BAR! Let this father give his spoiled kid something on the Plaza which is already filled with drunks! Isn’t “teaching” your child about living with others treating them to also be “fair”? This Chris person is stealing a business from hardworking people to “give” to his spoiled son, this is MAFIA! Trust me, I too will be at EVERY meeting as well NO ALCOHOL! I don’t care WHAT they are calling this new place it will NOT make it, and then this Chris person can sit with an empty restaurant, and BAD KARMA! Everyone who comes in to town in the Entertainment Industry makes their FIRST stop at the Ragin Cajun! This Chris person is taking away a landmark and lively hood of good hardworking people, SHAME ON YOU, SELFISH!
You’ve got to be kidding. You have a successful , unique restaurant and you want to move them out and open a generic chain restaurant! I’m from Lafayette, Louisiana and know many people from Acadiana that when they come to L.A they go to Ragin Cajun. One reason is for the unique food and to get a taste of home in California. They also stroll along the pier and shop after dining, so not only does Ragin Cajun miss out, but all of Hermosa Beach and other merchants will be missing out on sales. I will never step foot in this other restaurant and make sure to tell other freinds not to go either. It will fail within a 4 months, then you will ahve an empty building on Pier Avenue. Steve will succeed and find another place, I know him, he’s a Cajun. I Feel sad for the rest of Hermosa Beach!
What a total and complete bummer. Spoiled kids are ruining a landmark. Pier Ave. just gets lamer and lamer. This article ruined my day.
This is so par for the course in the new self centered South Bay. I’m not outraged or even surprised. Gentrification sure hurts.
I’ve been going to Steven’s establishment since it opened. It has always been full of friendly people and great food. Steven can be assured that I will frequent his new restaurant.
Ragin’ Cajun was the last popular place on Pier Avenue that was not full of tools.
I guess the silver lining is that I don’t have to go to Pier Avenue anymore and struggle to find the ever disappearing parking. I’ll be at the great gastropubs in Redondo; Bouzy and Hudson House.
BTW don’t look to the Hermosa City Council for any assistance, they are powerless in this situation. Although the ego driven councilmen will probably again find some way to inject themselves and look like fools.
As a participant in the “Race of the Century” from the class of ’57, I enjoyed reading the very nice article by Randy Angel. He definitely captured the special feelings the RUHS family have for one another, the faculty, and their school. Many of the alumni there spoke of having parents, grandparents, and/or children who were alumni also. Special thanks to Steve Felix who was our communication medium, the hard work of Terry Martinez and Gentil Smith, the Alumni Association members, current students, and special guests as well as the enduring enthusiasm of the combined classes: present, remembered, or unable to attend but here in spirit.
I am so sad to hear the news. The Rajun Cajun has been a part of our community for a long time. The food is great. The atmosphere is happy. Please be sure to let us know where the Cajun is going. I will be following Stephen and his hometown hospitality. Good luck to the new restaurant. I’ll not be going that way again. I’m sorry for the other businesses in the area. They will surely suffer a loss of business because of this.
It may not be “family first.” Perhaps, it should be good people, good business, and customer loyalty first. Rajun has been a good, successful landmark for the south bay and that piece of real estate. Nepotism isn’t always right or beneficial–for anyone other than the parent and child/relative. You will be hurting a lot of people by ousting Rajun. And, despite what you may belive, it will not be outweighed by any benefit that you think a new place might provide. I assure you people still belive in and want a community place–and Rajun has been and is that place.
Ragin Cajun is a Hermosa Beach landmark. Every effort by every person of influence should be made to ensure that this landmark does not leave the city. The restaurant is a family friendly place owned by the most wonderful and kind people and it would truly be a shame, for Hermosa Beach, if it was needelessly lost.
Some thanks for 18 yrs worth of inflated rent, huh? makes you lose faith in handshakes and good old fashioned business relationships. who can you trust?
I cannot believe it! I was just there 3 weeks ago and had the best Cajun food ever. But more than that, Steve, Janeen and Mary were so warm, kind, cordial, friendly and hospitable to us. It was the best dining experience in a long, long time. There is no other Cajun restaurant like it. I hope the new location will not be hard to find and that you will not lose any of your clientele.
This is actually heartbreaking. The Ragin Cajun and its employees are like family. My husband and I have been eating there almost every Friday night since we started dating. Stephen, Jeannine, and their lovely waitresses have watched us date, get married, and very recently have a baby. They have ALWAYS made us feel welcome and special. The hospitality at the Cajun is incomparable and they take care of their customers with the utmost warmth and respect. There is no other! I am saddened by this and don’t think I can bring myself re-visit Pier Ave. without a certain level of disdain should they not find a spot on that street. Where they are is perfect. The owner is making a BAD business move.
What idiot in their right mind would ask a 19 year land mark to leave his shopping center for a START UP COMPANY? No wonder California is BROKE!
Stephen and Jeannine are two of the nicest people I have ever met. I can not believe this is happening to them. The Cajun is one of the Best restaurants around. It has been a place I always can depend on to have great food and a great atmosphere. The people doing forcing them to move are very selfish and I hope they feel guilty about what they are doing to the Domingues! Pier Ave won’t be the same with the close of the Cajun.
I do believe that Stephen and Chris Sr made a gentlemans agreement regarding the continued tenancy of ragin cajun on Pier ave. then sonny boy gets out of college and can’t find a job so he approaces other rest. owners for help with the tale of Stephen missing a deadline and not excercising his lease option and maybe telling them that Stephen was leaving on his own , which we all know is’nt true . my advise to these prospective partners is pull out now to keep yourselves from becoming a party to this injustice. and leave junior to his own devices ! When all is said and done, out of all the players the only real man is Stephen.
Why would a real estate investor throw out a quality tenant to enable a family member to open another “boring” eatery that is not needed, won’t be supported, and quite simply won’t survive in this economy? Mr. Bredesen is a fool! But Hermosa Beach’s loss can be Manhattan Beach’s gain. Stephen please consider moving your great food, great staff and family-freindly Rajun Cajun to Manhattan Beach. We are a much more business-friendly community. You will attract many more MB clientele simply because they won’t fear having to venture down to Hermosa to deal with the drunks, lack of parking and police/parking enforcement officials with attitudes. You would be welcomed with open arms by citizens such as myself!
I think I might actually cry!!! I live 6 hours north of Hermosa, and every time I make the trip down Rajin is the highlight returant that MUST be visited!!!! Nobody needs another CHAIN, why is it so hard for unique independents to stay in business? The resturant business is becoming like any other business factor where the Big Bad “Wall Mart” comes in and ruins every little guy in town!!! Ragin Cajun is an icon resturant and should NOT be touched!!!! Good Luck Stephen, I hope to find you open somewhere on my next visit!!!
This is very sad. I certainly understand that the building is Bredesen’s to lease to who he wants, but you just do not treat people — let alone longstanding local businessmen — that way. Forcing the closure of a local landmark is not the way to start your own business on good terms. It makes sense that the new place’s marketing partner has no interest in marketing it right now because they will forever be known as the joint belonging to the spoiled kid who ran a great local one-of-a-kind restaurant out so he can make sure Hermosa residents can somehow find a yet another place to buy yet another beer. I suspect I will muddle through without this beer outlet, because I will encourage everyone I speak to to avoid their new place like the plague.
The Ragin Cajun has been one of the most popular places in the South Bay to year for many years. I can’t believe that the owner would do that. I feel really bad for Steve and wish we could do something. I know one thing for sure, I will never eat at the new place, NEVER!! In fact, I hope it is a dismal failure.
Thanks, Steve, for many years of great food.
Hi Randy Angel,
I justed wanted to say what a well written article you did on the event.
I graduated from Redondo High in 1957, but I couldn’t make the event.
All the work by the volunteers is unbelievable, and I congratulate them.
I hope I can make next year’s Race Of The Century (ROTC).
Thanks Randy for wirting a great story.
Stephen (Mike) Palmer, class of 57
Las Vegas, NV.
I’ve been a regular customer of the Cajun for over 13 years; going down to hermosa every wed for lunch and friday night for dinner. In my mind its a “cultural landmark”. The way Steve and his family run the resturaunt and treat their customers is what keeps me coming back. If they cannot work a deal with their landlord, I will follow Steve and the Cajun to where ever they end up moving to. While its up to the property owner to determine who he will lease the location to, I cannot see the wisdom of trying to open a new resturaunt (with a crappy name by the way) in the place of an established, successful operation while the economy is in the dumper. If Steve is forced to move, hopefully he can find a better location with better parking to boot.
Thank you Beach Cities Health District for being leaders for community health. If everyone in the Beach Cities were aware of and began to practice the Nine Blue Zone practices, we would all be healthier and happier.
Bravo to the Beach Cities Health District for providing leadership in our Vitality City quest. Let’s embrace the Nine Blue Zone practices that will help us live longer and happier lives.
This a great very lucky cool shot. Kyle was about 14-16 years old then. He is now 21 and in his 3rd year ocf college at Point Loma in San Diego. The shot was taken at “Burnout” surf spot at the Redondo/Torrance boarder. This photo was hanging on display at Good Stuff resturant in Redondo for a while. Dave does beautiful work on camera and tile. Thanks Dave for bringing this back out in circulation. Oh ya by the way Kyle’s last name was spelled wrong in this edition, it should be Jax.
Aloha,
George Jax
Hi Randy:
I enjoyed your article on the ROTC (Race of the Century)and was surprised to see that I was in two of the pictures you included (the Race and the Cheer Leaders). It was a memorable event that you captured so well and will be treasured as another keepsake of the day. Thank you.
Dixie (Henry) Foster ’61
Manhattan Beach, CA
Congratulations, now you need to mandate all contractors pulling permits use E Verify on their workers to make sure Americans get MORE WORK and go through all local restaurants and businesses and do the same. The restaurant food is rated for health and safety, the employees need to be screened for diseases, and using E Verify is a good start.
They say that “change is good.” Well in this instance, I cannot agree. The new developments and facelifts going on in Hermosa Beach take away from the character of Pier Avenue and what it is has been since inception. I’ve been frequenting the beach city for almost 30 years. It is the small quaint family owned establishments that draws so many back week after week.
Ragin Cajun is one of those establishments. I have been going there for over 11 years and Steve, Jeannine and Miss Mary are like family to me, my family and my friends. It is a place where I make it a must go whenever I have visitors in Los Angeles. It would be such a loss to Hermosa Beach if the Ragin Cajun were to leave. I guarantee, that whatever goes up in it’s place will never see any of the faithful customers that are loyal to Steve and his family.
Praying that minds will be changed and Daddy’s little boy will reconsider and reverse the process. I don’t know all the particulars but I will say that if things are not done in good faith… Bredesen family, you will reap what you sow.
I don’t see any reason to venture to Hermosa Beach if the Ragin Cajun is forced to find a new location. If that happens, that is where I’ll be taking my people and my money.
jean paul you are freakin awesome from sarah russell
Ragin Cajun is a Hermosa Beach institution. I have many out-of-state customers in my business who make it a point to come to Ragin Cajun (not the Pier Avenue bars) because of their legendary food and fun yet relaxed environment. Hermosa Beach will lose a vital counter-weight to the noisy, raucous Pier Avenue bars, and take big another step away from a town where families want to raise their children.
I can’t believe the landlord is doing this to Cajun. It’s so sad. I eat there with my family after I’m in a POPS show. It’s tradition. This landlord guy is hurting families. Not just people that work at Cajun — but all of us that love to go there. I’m very upset about this news. I wish somebody could do something about it. I don’t think this is a very good idea, Landlord. Quit hurting families and everybody that loves Cajun. I know you want your son to be happy, but what about all the other people your decision affects? I hope you think about this. You are not making the right decision to do this. Not only does this hurt other people, but it hurts me. And I’m eight. And that’s just not right.
Over 90% failure rate of new restaurants and now we may have to say goodbye to a Great One that we already have???
So Sad…
Sounds like the partners of the landlord’s son have been eying the Ragin Cajun location, making plans with the landlord’s son to take over the spot Stephen worked so hard on. Could the son’s contribution be a break on the rent?? Hmmmmmm? Since they own it and will do what they want to the Cajuns and converted Cajuns who enjoy Stephen’s food, why don’t they name the new restaurant, BP OIL???
Sour grapes! It sounds like the Bredesens offered Domingue extra time beyond his lease, which is more than he owed him. Stephen should have renegotiated a new lease at least a year in advance—either he was playing chicken or was simply non-committal. His loss, and ours. I do love the food and will follow them wherever they go next but it’s too late to be a crybaby about it. This is the way capitalism works; put up or shut up.
Great idea. I want to participate.
I note the phrase “Not so senile” was removed from the online edition headline. On the cover no less! How sad for the people who participated, and incredibly insensitive and offensive to all readers.
Just to note: a group of local RUHS Alumni meet regularly and call themselves the “Senile Sea Hawks” in good fun. The phrase was likely intended to echo that, not offensively.
Just one more good reason to never visit Hermosa Beach ever again.
Rajin Cajun is the only restaurant my husband and I take our two children to, in Hermosa Beach! It is the only restaurant there, that selflessly caters to our kids: there is a play yard that Jeannine set up out back for the children to play, while the adults dine and share laughs with the friendly staff! Besides the welcoming of families, Rajin Cajun is the only restaurant with authenticity along Pier Avenue. It is absurd that anyone would remove it, only to replace it with a Gastropub that will end up closing down, I’m certain. Stephen and Jeannine have worked so hard during the past 18 years to not only expand, but secure the restaurant’s services. The landlord needs to reward this family by letting Rajin Cajun stay exactly where it is on Pier Avenue. Please find another location for the Gastropub, and let Rajin Cajun flourish with their well know friendliness and flare!
Did anyone see the riots anfter the last game this week? What kind of fans celebrate by destroying their own city? The LA Lakers are a group of scofflaws. According to AP, 38 people were arrested for “public intoxication, vandalism or inciting a riot.” Probably doesn’t help to have criminals on the team. Kobe seems to have escaped that rape charge in Colorado just fine. In any case, the basketball is starting to seem pre arranged. LA always seem to get more than their share. Remember Derrick Fisher and the Spurs? Wonder if it’s because of Jack Nicholson.
To the Bredesens: I’ve enjoyed patronizing Stephen’s restaurant for 12 years now. Yes, the property is yours – indeed you’re free to do with it as you please.
In reading the article, I couldn’t help but notice an incongruity regarding the situation. Quoting the elder Bredesens: “…{I} decided to end Ragin Cajun’s run at the location at a time when the lease was ending and Bredesen’s son wanted to launch a restaurant.” “The bottom line is that Steve has done a great job, his lease was up May 31, he knew it was up, and we had other plans for the real estate.”
Quote from the younger Bredesen: “…Domingue waited more than a month past a renewal deadline without asking to renew his lease”, and then Bredesen approached his father for a lease of his own.
Well which is it guys?
“It’s a very difficult situation because he’s a very nice man, and he runs a nice business…I’ve owned the real estate for long time – it’s family first, right?”
Reminds me of the old adage of blood running thicker than water. Guess blood runs thicker than intregrity also, huh?
I wish the Bredesens luck with their new venture. Steve, I’m going wherever you go!
My wife and I just left there about 30 minutes ago, after reading the assinine comments from Stacy (see immediately above). What does she know? We are terribly upset about this situation. Our prayers are that you find another location pronto and make this shitty situation into a “win”. We love you and the cajun magic that is created in your kitchen. There is no way to put an end to that! As they say, “one monkey (landlord) don’t stop no show”. Look forward to see ya many times between now and the end of the summer. Peace out.
It did my heart good to see so many Class of 62 photos! I also enjoyed seeing so many elder class mates there. Thank you for the great pictures and wonderful article. Sincerely Mary Fowler Page ’62
Ms. Steward is a hero. It is a shame that she like many other highly experienced and qualified educators are being thrown under the bus by our incompetent Hermosa Beach politicians in the name of fiscal restraint. Yet it’s funny that city council continues to find money to throw at Hermosa Beach PD, even though they’ve cost us millions in abuse lawsuits and two of their abusive officers Lewitt and Sellan are now suing us. Education is what keeps our property values; not cops, firemen or god-forbid another liquor establishment. It’s time to invest in local education, even if that means we need to contract police and fire services to LA County. Thank you Jan for your almost 5 decades of service…you will be sorely missed!
I certainly appreciated the article, thinking it showed not only sensitivity but also an appreciation for what people want to read about. Good job, Angel.
Hey Stacy Wilson,
You have no idea you are talking about. What you are saying is complete conjecture. You come off sounding like a hack. Capitolism/business is about making money. This is nepotism.
It’s a dice roll to see if “Town Hall” flys.
Chris Bredesen Sr. is foolish if he is not hedging his bet by getting much more in monthly rent and plenty of property improvements. The guys from Union Cattle did the same thing at the Pitcherhouse. They put millions into Saint Rocke.
We are so sad to hear about Ragin Cajun! It is an absolute favorite of ours and we drive the 20+ miles to enjoy the great atmosphere, friendly people, and of course the outstanding food. Our trip there for Father’s Day was once again a wonderful visit. Stephen is the friendliest, kindest man and always treats us like we’re part of the family. You can’t find places like this anymore. We really hope and pray the landlord will reconsider and think about how much Ragin Cajun is a part of Hermosa Beach and what a favorite it is to so many people. Even if Ragin Cajun goes… we will be sure to follow! We love ya Stephen and we think you are amazing!!!
The Union Cattle folks are really shooting themselves in the foot with this move. It would make much more sense for them to open this gastropub of their in a commercial space that is not already occupied by a successful family owned small business that the community loves and enjoys.
Why not proove to the community that you are not just here to make a buck but that you care about making Hermosa Beach a thriving community? I wonder why they don’t just use the former space of Ken and Kent’s Deli that’s been sitting empty for months on Hermosa Avenue.
Words can not describe how pethetic Mr. Bredesen is as a landlord and a buisness man. You have a landmark resturant that has served pier ave.for the past 20yrs with true cajun culture (everything from the food to the hospitality) and just TRY to take it away in the blink of an eye. The Cajun will be sucessful no matter where it is located because it has loyal customers that are treated like customers not a number. EVERYONE BOYCOTT TOWN HALL GASTROPUB!!!
Wonderful – another icon restaurant falling to the yuppie “trend de juor”, which might last what – 2 years at the most.
Will the gastropub serve Gellato – oh, I forgot, that moth in the candle food already came and went.
Where in the South Bay can you go where you are greeted with “Hi Miss Karen, How y’all doin? Make ya self ta home.”
And I do “make myself ta home.” Stephen Domingue created a place that always feels like you have come HOME for dinner. Can we find a way to keep our home in Hermosa? I do’nt want a fake new bistro to replace the Ragin Cajun and the people who count on it to always be there.
Sad to hear the Cajun has to move. It was a pleasure meeting them during my assignment for the above photograph years ago.
FAMILY FIRST…if it was your family and you owned this multi-million dollar property at the beach…each and every one of you would do the same exact thing. quit whining and be for real. FAMILY ALWAYS COMES FIRST. And the OWNER of the property gets to dictate what is done with the property.
The Ragin Cajun has the best crawfish etouffe’ in Los Angeles county and I am going to be lost without Steve’s delicious cajun food. My dad, Paul Mouton, grew up in Lafayette and knew Steve’s mom and family and I’ve felt a connection with Louisiana and my roots in New Orleans whenever my wife and I go to the Rajun Cajun for a few Dixie beers and his great Cajun atmosphere.
A better business decision for the property owners would be to give Steve a renewal on his lease (which is a known, constant income)for the property owner and to use the current lease income to start the gastro pub (which is unknown and an unproven income) at a different location so that if the gastro pub is unsuccessful, they still have the Ragin Cajun’s lease income, with no down time, to keep an income stream, rather than the lost time and income of changing owners, waiting for health and building inspectors,etc and losing tens of thousands of dollars in income while waiting to fill the location and get final building permits, alcohol license and health inspection approval
It is a huge gamble and a real disservice to the Cajun community and Southern California to lose this fantastic landmark. Wherever Steve goes I will follow his restaurant to keep getting the tasty Rajun Cajun crawfish etouffe’ and his cheesecake with praline sauce.
Steve, please keep all of your Cajun Fans posted with your plans. Le bon temps roullet! Whatever happens, you will make it better, because you are the best!
I moved to the Hermosa in 1992 when pier still went to the pier, there were empty storefronts, and more crime. They redeveloped closing off the last block of pier and all the rents were raised. fat Face Fenner had to move. Pier 52 closes. Henneseys moved to end spot. Many changes. It sucked we were pissed at most of them Crappy clubs opened. Club sushi polluted the beach/surfer/punker atmostphere. Jocks came to party and fight and things were just different. Well there always be change. And this sucks. Some close friends waitressed there in the 90s and Stephen and he really overcame a lot to make it. He is a solid guy and I hope this leads to something better for him.
It’s a shame to see Ragin Cajun leave their spot on Pier Avenue. That said, I look forward to
knowing where they will open next. People will drive wherever to get their food, so I hope they
find a better space, with better parking. I wish them continued success!
It’s true that business is business, but this doesn’t sound like a good business decision based on
the article. It sounds like an emotional decision that was made by the land owner. Rarely do emotional business decisions turn out well.
I like Bouzy Gastropub in SRB, so I doubt I’ll be frequenting the new pub where Ragin Cajun is.
Just curious, how typical is a four year lease in the restaurant business? That term seems rather short.
FOR A SCAMMY, GREEDY LANDLORD A FOUR YEAR LEASE IS NORMAL ALONG WITH A PROMISE THAT YOU CAN STAY AS LONG AS YOU WANT WHICH WAS BELIEVED BY STEPHEN , WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE A WHOPPER OF A LIE , STEPHEN SHOULD HAVE SEEN IT COMING SINCE HIS LANDLORD OWNS A BUNCH OF BURGER KINGS,HIS LANDLORD SHOULD GIVE HIS SON A BURGER KING AND TELL HIM TO HOLD HIS OWN PICKLE !
Hey Janice Brown,
You have no idea you are talking about. What you are saying is complete conjecture. You come off sounding like a hack. Capitolism/business is about making money. This is nepotism.
For every successful family empire there is a family that has squaundered their wealth. For example, the Mondovi’s, the undisputed first family of winemaking in California, all pissed away in two years after Robert Mondovi gives up control. Family first, give me a break.
keep this up, the closing of unique places and your city will end up like Torrance with mostly chain restaurants. shame
OK ENOUGH!!!
Time for action!
Yes, we all know that Ragin Cajun MUST stay in Hermosa.
Hermosa Beach residents get mad, get off your duffs, organize, be or get media savvy…basically make a big stink.
You owe it to yourselves, your families, and the world of great food lovers. Good luck!
Dear Miss Stewart,
Thank you for believing in my daughter, when other teachers did not!
My child, and hundreds of other children, were blessed to pass through your classroom.
Enjoy this new chapter in your life!
P.S. She just completed her first year at college
Well i’m not suprised at the results of the Idiots running our schools. Obviously it is a dumming down of society when you see the lack of gratitude for this amazing young teachers contribution and heart to go far beyond the required. After all a teacher like this one might inspire our children to think. They would rathera school of fish where one turns and they all turn. For the students to repeat things told to them on the test sheet every friday, rather true or not you get a A if you repeat what you were taught. They would prefer for the children to never ask questions, to get one of 25 jobs pay taxes and go to church..lol Wake up parents fight for your children and for yourself. Thank you Mr. Miko you are a hell of a man. We have not forgot your heart and dedication to humanity and the children will never forget you.
Your article has one serious inaccuracy. The reporter states “…according to some advocates, limit states’ powers to restrict the right to bear arms.”
The Case is McDonald v City of Chicago and the US Supreme Court Decision will be released on Tuesday. Everyone, including this Nation’s must militant supporters of gun control (e.g., Mayor Daley of Chicago) believes that the decision will limit states’ powers to restrict the right to bear arms.”
People seem really upset about this…Not sure if it’s purely locals or people that just like Cajun food? Personally, I have lived in the South Bay for almost 30 years…my family and friends have been embedded in the South Bay for over 40 years…And I don’t know many people that eat here…
Doesn’t Bredesen own the land? Wasn’t this a quote…”Domingue waited more than a month past a renewal deadline without asking to renew his lease, and then Bredesen approached his father for a lease of his own.” Oh and I also noticed that he wanted a lease for 3-4 years…pretty sure when you want to renew a restaurant lease you ask for 10+ years…for the very reason of this happening…
Maybe it’s his land and he wants to improve the value of the land by upgrading it…or maybe he wants to give it to a family member. Either way, at the end of the day it does suck that this long time restaurant is leaving…
Also I read a comment that LMU students are drunk around the Hermosa area…wow really? Come on I went there…we don’t venture to HB…it might be the high density of post grad students living the rental units that surround…um all of Hermosa…What did you expect when you moved to Hermosa?
But then again maybe I am bias because I don’t work in the corporate world and am taking over my family business…in the corporate Torrance…blood runs thicker than water and they own the land…end of story
Ok, outside of picking up trash, what’s the point? I think most people
realize you can purchase and carry guns. People that want them, already
have them. I wonder if a bunch of karate black belts are going to roam the streets of Hermosa
doing a bunch if air kicks and punches while picking up trash in between? Just to show they could
use lethal force if they wanted to. It all sounds ridiculous to me. Just pick up the trash, leave the weapons and karate chops at home.
These guys kick ass! I’m surprised to read about them here.
Janice has always been an inspiration to all who know her and love her! We are so lucky to be touched by this amazing woman. And, Janice, your mom DOES know exactly what you’ve done!! xo Love, Stephanie
The Chief has yet to provide us with a map.
And a lot of people are NOT aware that it is legal to openly carry a firearm in California.
You can get the facts at our website: http://www.SouthBayOpenCarry.org
No worries Steven… there’s only ONE Ragin’ Cajun and your loyal customer base will find you wherever you go! Remember when God closes a door he open a window! Don’t just survive – THRIVE.
Mey Cher’ don’t worry no! When God closes the door he opens a window. You won’t just survive you will THRIVE!
Margaret paints from her heart. I suppose that’s one reason why I love her paintings so much. If you ever have the opportunity to go to one of her shows, make it a point to go when she’s there. It’s such a pleasure having Margaret explain her paintings and her creative choices. Thanks for a great article about a super artist!
It’s a sad day when a great place like the Ragin Cajun has to move. They serve great food, the owner and staff always made you feel like part of the family.
How stupid! Why should anyone provide these clowns with maps of places that they cannot openly carry guns. They seem to know the law. They need to buy a map and look in a phone book for banned locations. I say arrest them if they are too stupid to follow the law on their own.
I’d hate to see the 6-Man go, but I agree that there needs be a way to ensure that the tourney remains respected, spectators can enjoy and those that are there to cause trouble get ejected. However, $5 cover won’t do much and will take away the essence of 6-Man….as will a big fat fence. And 8 arrests means 8 officers removed from the scene for a long time to process paperwork and make sure those arrested are processed accordingly. Reducing manpower reduces ability to respond if something major happens. Personally, I think they should have a big screen next to the score booth to show face shots of those getting taken to jail. Nothing like fear of public humiliation to keep people prone to acting stupid from acting stupid. Brand it as some Freedom of Information Act transparency….with the subtitle of “Innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”
Letter-to-editor submittal for printing consideration. (not meant as a blog reply)
June 29, 2010
Dear ER:
Hermosa’s current rotating ceremonial mayor, Michael DiVirgilio, along with councilmen Patrick “Kit” Bobko and Howard Fishman, again intensified downtown liquor dispensing at their June 8th and 22nd council meetings by adding live entertainment hours to the conditional use permit (that will now run permanently with the land) of a Pier Plaza “restaurant”.
What is it that these councilmen still don’t understand regarding downtown liquor saturation in all its insidious forms, least of which is that it’s costing the city millions per year to police over and above the revenue the city receives from downtown liquor selling businesses?
DiVirgilio even rebuffed a long-term resident upon her presenting of evidence proving that the “restaurant” they were dead set on expanding entertainment hours for, was already being advertised as a “bar”. DiVirgilio, preoccupied with his childish, electronic egg-timer device, cut off the resident as she tried to present her valuable testimony.
It’s amazing to many in this small city, how DiVirgilio, owning no home, business, or having any other demonstrable stake in this city, can be such a micro-controlling little individual towards residents who take their own valuable time to bring information to the council.
There were no more than a few speakers at the meeting as usual, thanks to the crafty persuasion and control exerted over the council by their expensive contract city attorney, Michael Jenkins, with his obvious distaste of the public speaking more than a bare legal minimum. For years Jenkins has effectively kept the very few bothering to attend to a minimum of questioning or bringing of light to what’s going on.
Unfortunately we’re stuck with liquor-expanding Bobko for three more years, short of recall, but real concern now lies with rookie councilman Fishman’s willingness to find reason, no matter how flimsy, to intensify liquor dispensing in Hermosa’s liquor-saturated downtown.
Howard Longacre
Hermosa Beach
Gene Dreher and what other morons?
Great article, Jeff.
Great observations about the Gris from Oregon! Try pairing a creamy clam chowder with a Gris that has acidity, plus enough rounded mouthfeel to compliment. It’s one of my favorite pairings ever. Cheers!
Dear Jeannine and Stephen, We are so sad to hear the news. The Rajun Cajun has been a great part of the community for a long time. The atmosphere is warm, the service is friendly and the food is excellent. It offers hometown hospitably that is difficult to come by. We have shared many fun times at the Cajun and it will be greatly missed. We are hopeful the Rajun Cajun will find a new home close by so that we can continue great Cajun memories with y’all. We wish you all the best and we know whatever happens you will succeed in all you do.
Sincerely~ The Meyer Family
Fortunately, a violation appears to be merely an infraction punishable by a $100 fine.
12.28.190 — Violation — Infraction.
All violations of the provisions of this chapter shall be infractions. (Prior code § 22-19 (part))
12.28.030 — Park regulations generally.
Within the limits of any public park or playground, no person shall:
2. Carry or discharge any firearms, firecrackers, rockets, torpedoes or any other fireworks, or air gun or slingshot;
1.04. 030 Infractions.
Penalties. Any person violating any provision or failing to comply with any mandatory requirement of this Code expressly stated by this Code to be an infraction shall be guilty of an infraction. Except as otherwise provided in this Code, any person convicted of an infraction shall be punishable by:
A fine not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100.00) for a first violation;
A fine not exceeding two hundred dollars ($200.00) for a second violation of the same provision of the Code within one year;
A fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each additional violation of the same provision of the Code within one year.
No counsel for infractions at public expense.An infraction is not punishable by imprisonment. A person charged with an infraction shall not be entitled to have the public defender or other counsel appointed at public expense to represent him or her unless he or she is arrested and not released on his or her written promise to appear, on his or her own recognizance, or on a deposit of bail.
Fine remembrance of john stevenson. Indeed he had done good service to baseball
Mr. Critic, I agree with you for the most part. But Mr. Potato Head became Mr. TORTILLA head, not Tostada – get your Mexican foods straight, man! And didn’t the trash sequence have vague allusions to cremation..? Ewww, creepy!
Dave Fratello did all MB homeowners, including myself a big favor when it came to buying and subsequently selling my MB home. His analysis was balanced and fact-based, unlike the biased, “everything is wonderful” bs regularly spewed by the “old guard” south bay real estate elite. Any Realtor offended by Dave’s blog is showing his or her true colors; that they’re thin-skinned & corrupt (only care about their 6-8% commission so they can furnish their lavish lifestyle while putting the screws to sellers, buyers and bankers). Many factors led to the housing demise in the South Bay (with the worst to come). Part of this was caused by some integrity-deficient Realtors, the same one’s who continue to spread the big lie that housing is going up and the time to buy was yesterday. Nothing could be further from the truth! If you’re currently in the market to purchase a home in any the beach cities (Hermosa, Manhattan, Redondo & ES) do yourself a favor and take advantage of the free one-week trial membership on RealtyTrac.com (this is what the government and realtors use in addition to MLS). You will see for yourself that there is an abundance of bank-owned, forclosured, autioned and pre-forclosured properties, along with the PRICE-RANGE of what the property is actually worth. You will be shocked! Good luck.
Hi Scott,
I’ve been living in AZ for the past 1.5 years and was just thinking, “Gosh! I wish I could get as good a haircut as what Scott gives here, which is absolutely IMPOSSIBLE!” Love, love, love this article about you!! Had no idea about so much of it! Very impressive – but what’s most impressive is your amazing ability to cut hair well!! Kudos! I’ll be passing through LA on my way to Nevada City, where I’m moving. I’d love a haircut while I’m there. I have your # so I’ll give you a call.
And by the way, I’m absolutely DEEEEEEEEEEEELIGHTED that you’re happily married!!! Its about time!!!
Lots and lots of love, Zahn
I told everyone that this business-condo project wasn’t feasible, but nope, greed got the best of some. Mr. Fulcher should do us all a favor and research and print the names of the investors (I’m willing to bet it’s some of our elitist local Realtors and Politicians) in this ill-conceived real estate fiasco. Why do that you say? Because inevitably taxpayers will be on the $$ hook for the damage done by this “Confederacy of Greed”! Just more blight and empty store fronts being added to what is beginning to look like a ghost-town in our once quaint downtown Hermosa Beach.
In the article about the problems with the school finding a developer for its excess property, it is apparent that Dr. Keller, Councilman Aspel and former Councilman Parsons use the interview as political posturing without regard for facts.
In his ongoing vendetta against Measure DD, Councilman Aspel cries that the City Council could not stop the rezoning of school property in a residential neighborhood for a supermarket “if we wanted to”. He obviously forgot that the City Council must approve a rezoning before Measure DD even kicks in. The Council can say “no” to whatever they want. Measure DD only puts an additional check and balance on large upzonign the Council approves.
Former Councilman Parsons states that developers will not come to Redondo. Well, he seems to forget all the development going on in Redondo since Measure DD passed. We have the Shade Hotel project, revitalization of the Sunrise Hotel, discussions on the Harbor Triton site, a developer that wants to convert school property to a grocery store, three new office/retail condo projects along PCH, a retail condo development proposed on Catalina, the Decron plan, two hotels and an RV parking lot on Marine, plans to develop mixed use at the Bristol Farms prperty… seems like lots of development to me …and all after DD qualified for the ballot.
Dr. Keller whines how DD impacts his ability to increase revenue for the school district. It seems Keller would approve development soley based on school revenues regardless of its impact on surrounding neighborhoods. Keller’s approach is more akin to “Damn the residents, full steam ahead!” It is this disdain for the public that started DD in the first place.
Sadly, in his greed Keller may have shot himself in the foot…the City now plans to move out of the Knob Hill site next year. One thing most of us learned in school – don’t give up a bird in the hand for two in the bush. Seems like Dr. Keller needs some elementary education.
I would love to see more of your artwork. I am chronically ill with nervous system disorders and physical disabilities. I would love to put a painting in my office and hope someday that he will come to realize that sometimes we must deal with change.Do you have a catalog that is available to find a suitable painting and do you also have prints besides the originals? My name is Wendy and the address given is my mailing address. Please contact me on pricing, along with my questions. Your art intrigues me, thanks.
I am truly saddened by this, as Ragin Cajun has become my “home away from home”, the place I go to get my Cajun food fix, and noone else can compare! The ambience is perfectly Cajun, from Stevens good ole’ accent to Jeannine’s Southern charm. The food always hits the spot, and I am pretty sure hundreds of locals would agree…they will be missed 🙁
Tiger Makin was so much a part of my memories growing up in Hermosa. I was just up there visiting and had thought about him! I am so glad he is doing well. I also saw on this website, the name of Davey Holliday…I remember his parents house in detail- all of these memories are so fun!
I thought Councilman DiVirglio and Chief Savelli were going to put a stop to this childess madness? At least that’s what they said at the last council meeting and in the newspaper. Typical politicians, all talk and no action. DiVirglio and Savelli’s not living up to their word says it all and goes to show we don’t need a highly paid chief who doesn’t live in the city or a councilman with an eastcoast mentality who cares only about his ego.
Again thank you to Mark Mark McDermott for the great story about Sean Ambriz my son. He touch on some very interesting subjects with Sean. I know Sean enjoys talking about somethings and his writtings bring it all out perfectly. I am very proud of my son and all of our soldiers that have fought and are still frighting today for all of our FREEDOM.
And trying to make a better place for the Afghanistan people. Sean although humbled by his stories is a true hero to me his father. Thank you again, Mark and The Easy Reader.
Joseph Ambriz
The Ironman has been around 36 years. That is a lifetime for many Hermosa residents. It has outlasted City Councils and buzz killing opponents of what is healthy harmless fun.
Kudos to a true visionary, Robert Benz.
All hail Burgie!
The 2010 Ironman was the best yet! Nothing got broken, no mess was left behind, nobody got hurt and everyone had a great time. I haven’t heard one complaint from a business or homeowner that it caused them any grief. So to the Police Chief, HBPD and those City Council members trying to close Ironman down; YOU WERE WRONG! Paul says it best, HB’s Ironman will be 37 years young next year and has outlasted many Chiefs, Councilmen and cops over the years and it will outlast you and your negativity too. And to All Talk No Action; I agree with your feelings about DiVirglio and Savelli but you need to come down to the beach on 7-4-2011 and see for yourself that Ironman is nothing but pure clean fun!
I have to ask who paid for the horses these cops rode? Is there a secret horse stable in Hermosa Beach that none of us taxpayers knows about? Can I board my horse there since my taxes are paying for it? This was a big waste of money! It’s funny how the Hermosa City Council says they’ve got no money for schools and have to lay off teachers, but somehow have money to let miss gulch and adolph pretend they’re on the carousel at Santa Monica Pier. No doubt Hermosa Beach taxpayers paid to rent the horses and paid some minnion to walk behind them to pick up the manure left on The Strand and beach. Scheid and Brunn should have walked or are their police car driving records so bad they can’t? Hit and run with a horse is just as dangerous as hit and run with a police car you know!
Hallejluah!
Congratulations Kenny! Your parents are so PROUD of you. Still remember those fishy smelling clothes I used to wash and the window sill covered with “fish hooks” of the large variety hanging on the edge. It has been a long journey. Wish we were there to go for a ride but North Carolina is a bit far away. We sure miss the fresh lobster!
That’s rich! Here are the last lines of the letter to the editor about guns in Hermosa Beach:
“I proudly stand by my opinions and think I speak for many in this community, but you’ll have to sign me,
Fearful in Hermosa
Name withheld by request”
That is, by definition, a contradiction in terms. While I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment, I am sorely disappointed in the lack of courage by the writer to identify himself/herself. Perhaps it’s a testament to the perceived thug mentality of gun owners that permeates much of this debate. Or maybe not. Either way, I wish people of all stripes would have the strength of their convictions and confront this head-on.
Sign me,
Todd Koerner
It’s quite OUTRAGEOUS. 90% salary for police retirees for LIFE?
No wonder we are broke.
Time to reform the police unions. They are worse than organized crime for this tax payer shakedown.
SICK!
Mr. Wibberley used to play his violin from time to time for the students at Our Lady of Guadalupe. Mrs Wibberly was a great teacher. They were a blessing to many!
Amazing, with all of the negative comments I’ve read in the local press I thought there would have been at least one protester to show up. None did. It was just those of us in the press and the South Bay Open Carry Movement.
As I was leaving the event, one woman stopped and asked me if they were going onto the beach. I mentioned that there was a city ordinance and a $100 fine to carry a firearm onto the beach.
That surprised her more than people carrying guns.
I beginning to wonder if “Fearful in Hermosa” and the Daily Breeze’s “Richard A. Knight” and Neil Profit aren’t all the same person.
I mean really, “Richard A. Knight” is about as contrived a name as “U.N. Owen” And who is Neil? Kevin Spacey’s fictional character Mel Profit’s illegitimate child?
http://www.examiner.com/x-26553-LA-History-Examiner~y2010m7d10-Guns-in-Hermosa–Just-another-day-at-the-beach–Part-1
Thanks for the Wild Things article, Easy Reader and Carolyn Kraft.
I was at Catalina scuba diving at Eagles Nest last weekend and we were fortunate enough to see one of the Bald Eagles cruise around the nest a bit and hop over to an adjacent peak. I’ve seen them many times over the years at Catalina from the East end up Avalon’s canyon, to Cat Harbor where a pair of Bald Eagles were harassing a Cormorant sunning itself on a rock, to West End. Probably the most memorable time was in 1997 – we had spent a week at Isthmus on a sailboat and were headed back to Marina Del Rey. We cruised west up the island to see West End and also to scatter some of my father-in-laws ashes. He loved wild things, the outdoors, and was a sailor himself. When we got to about Eagle’s Nest, we turned on a northerly heading, read a few passages from the bible, said our goodbyes to dad and scattered his ashes. Just about the time we were finishing up our little ceremony, a Bald Eagle came out from the island and soared effortlessly over us, made a few circles and then headed off. We were pretty certain dad had come out to say goodbye.
Thanks again for the Wild Things articles!
This story brought me to tears! Thank you to the Manassero family for your love for the Haitian people. Thank you for stepping out in complete faith in the LORD. Thank you for being Jesus to the orphans.
In Christ,
Joanna White
Isn’t there a better way to celebrate what our flag, constitution and national anthem mean to our country. It was a very pathetic video and frankly an embarrassment to the communities of both Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach. I am not an uptight conservative type, but watch that video from outside the fishbowl and I think you will agree that a bunch of overly drunk middle-aged men partying with university student aged fraternity types is a new low for the the Fouth of July as well as the Iron Man. And I disagree it is not pure clean fun. I am not sure what your idea of pure clean fun is? How about this for the Iron Man-Instead of drinking, give the participants a test of American History related to events surrounding our Indepedence. Wrong answers are deducted from total times. As Thomas Jefferson remarked in what would be his famous last words…”Is this the Fourth?”…So, I call upon the citizens of both communities, not to cancel the Iron Man, but to create an event that is more appropriate and one that better reflects the high character of the citizens in those communities. Or simply do not ever uploaded videos of that event again, it makes our community look like a bunch of stupid, ignorant, drunken morons.
I can’t believe that Ragin Cajun is being forced out like this. We will follow Ragin Cajun wherever it goes and I WILL NEVER step foot in the spoiled son’s gastropub (does HB really need ANOTHER pub??) Ragin Cajun is a unique place, friendly with delicious food. Such a shame Mr. Bredesen is pathetic with his half-truths and excuses. Shame on him. So sad. So sad. But Rajin Cajun will prosper with its loyal following, wherever it goes. Now I will never need to go to Pier Ave again.
I hear a Hermosa cop from PV mighta rented out the horses at a low price. Yes there’s better ways to spend tax money but sometimes our little boys & girls in blue need to have a way to blow off steam. I did feel bad for the guy having to bag the manure. There was supposed to be better video of Scheid & Brunn doing jumps and tricks with their horses but somebody covered the police car video camera lens with tape.
I’m making a “Shop Local! :)” plant stake for my newly planted DeepRoots herb garden, but wish I’d thought to pick up a memento from your store to add some flair to my little sign.
Thanks for the great service and all the input on Kelloggs/Dr.Earth products.
Glad to hear of this. I remember riding that boat quite a few times as a kid in the 70s in-between games of pinball at the Fun Factory. Nice to know it’s still there, even though I have moved away…
An unbiased, objective news article for a change.
Well, done.
Good People, Good Food
BOYCOTT the whole dam thing. Don’t go, City will go broke and beg for it to come back.
Hey bikers, this is the new destination stop that everyone has been talking about. It’s awesome and right on the beach! Loved the Mahi Mahi fish taco and the smoothie was very refreshing. Service was great, friendly and pleasant. I will definitely come back again.
I dont think these guys even believe the hype. $700,000 for 320 sq ft is comical in todays market, even in Manhattan beach. Look at all the properties available for that that are much larger, and yes, even nicer. We will see massive price slashes on these units before its over and possibly bank ownership of the project. Its whats happened to every other similar project.
Bob makes a few good points about the balance that should be required in every land use decision, although he fails to mention that the new harbor rezoning hardly acheives this balance. However,his characterization that Aspel’s ranting tirade makes a council meeting “bearable” is way off the mark.
Aspel’s ranting tirade was delivered purely with the intent to intimidate and insult those who oppose his view of harbor rezoning. The attack was unprofessional and uncalled for. It is this type of insulting attack that intimidates the public from expressing their views openly to the Council.
And I am sorry, but jokingly saying someone is a “pain in the butt” is one thing, but a loud mouthed rant delivered by a red-faced angry Councilman denigrating his opponents as “more toxic than the cancer in my rectum”, is quite another.
If Aspel wants to sway the public to support his zoning, why not show us that the development allowed by the zoning won’t cause gridlock, show us where the zoning specifically shows how big a “view corridor” must be, show us that three story timeshares are not allowed in front of Seaside Lagoon and north. The problem is, he can’t… so intimidation seems to be his only tactic.
Awesome! I back this 100%. I think its great men with small penises have a way to express themselves freely.
I like so much your family for many things DAVID did for my family.
I’m rwandan ,a student in NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF RWANDA aged 21 years
i used to hear you in history because DAVID was a teacher of my grand father so never give up
I’m happy to join you ,i think this is the beginning
Letter-to-editor submission
July 17, 2010
Dear ER:
Hermosa councilman Michael DiVirgilio has sat on council for only 2.7 years while councilman Patrick “Kit” Bobko has been there just shy of 4 years. Incredibly, lawyer Bobko falsely claimed in the July 13 meeting of being on council 6 years after earlier in that meeting having made a self-deprecating statement of not being good at math, perhaps using an old lawyer ruse to set up opportunities to twist numerical facts, such as his years on council. Whatever Bobko may be, it’s unlikely he’s poor at simple math.
Bobko and DiVirgilio are using Hermosa’s council dais more and more as a political platform to promote themselves. DiVirgilio while being ceremonial mayor has turned the beginning of virtually every meeting into a time-consuming photo-op session for himself, much as accomplished by Los Angeles county’s supervisors, they being the all time champions of such self-promotion at county taxpayer expense.
Of more importance is how these two flimflam artists, Bobko and DiVirgilio, endlessly “talk the talk” regarding controlling alcohol and paving residential streets, but how they are virtually never about “walking the walk”. Having no roots, and owning no home or business in city, both appear to have a hideous contempt for residential property in Hermosa Beach.
Last year, along with x-councilman Michael Keegan, they attempted to convert the beach itself into an alcohol venue under the guise of using the family oriented Sunset Concerts as the reason to legalize drinking at other beach events. At the time they also passed a law giving every restaurant closing by 10 PM the free right to serve beer and wine with no city public hearing. At their last meeting they were strangely upset that they couldn’t get a third councilman to vote for extending that generous free alcohol-serving right to an even later hour, citywide.
Several meetings ago, Bobko and DiVirgilio unnecessarily voted to increase the live entertainment hours of a Pier Plaza “restaurant” without even specifying what type of live entertainment would be conducive to ensuring that the “restaurant” really was about dining, and without even considering that there was an operating hostel above the place. Instead they chose to ease the “restaurant” into being just another late evening drinking facility.
But if all that were not enough, Bobko and DiVirgilio evidently were supporting privately and encouraged the city manager to utilize staff time and slip onto council’s under-the-public-radar “consent” agenda, a detailed legal resolution that would have added breweries as a permitted right in the tiny Cypress Avenue “manufacturing” area, and thus permitting with no-public-noticing at all, 3060 barrel-per-year producing breweries to go into business right next to residences near South Park. Bobko and DiVirgilio’s twisted logic for that; well there’s some perhaps undesired manufacturing permitted there now, so what’s wrong with adding breweries without public notice to that small area next to residential and South Park.
If we are going to accept the synthetic self-promotions from Bobko and DiVirgilio, and listen to them “talk the talk”, then we would best take note of how they actually “walk the walk”, especially when it comes to alcohol and meaningful paving of crumbling residential streets.
Howard Longacre
Hermosa Beach
What a shame!!! Hey Mr. Bredesen, if you really want to be a “good family man” and father to your son, how about making him work like Steven did and build a company from the ground up, not on the back of a loyal tenant who has run a great and very respectable business for years and done nothing but improve your property value. Good luck with Junior continuing that tradition with his crappy “gastropub”.
I first started going to Steven’s in 1997 when my kids where 7 & 5…you couldn’t find a better family spot than the Ragin Cajun; we are still driving down from Ventura to eat there 13 years later. My son was a baseball fanatic, and Steven would always give him Dodger tickets to whatever home game he wanted to go to…doubt this will happen at Junior’s “nepotismpub” which I will very happily never set foot in.
This news is a real shame, virtually every restuarant on Pier that was there 13 years ago when we first started going to RC is GONE…what makes you think a “gastropub” will succeed?
This is not capitalism at work, or “taking care of family”, it is the very thing that has been destroying this country for the last 20 years…GREED, GREED, GREED…you can’t take your money with you Mr. Bredesen. My grandfather and father have always told me that a true man’s legacy is his integrity; that is the only thing in life that no one can take away from you…can you look yourself in the mirror everyday and say that your legacy will endure? Sad to say, doubtful…
Congratulations guys! I’m one of the volunteer Whale Watch Naturalists from Cabrillo Marine Aquarium/ACS. For the past 6 years, the Voyager has been my favorite boat to go out on with school groups and visitors from all over. We were so disappointed when the Voyager trips were canceled last season and its future was in limbo. I am looking forward to many more whale watch seasons on the Voyager!
Over the past five years I have worked as a naturalist on the Voyager countless times, know it’s story, and have always felt proud to be a part of its history.
It is good to know this venerable old boat will continue to help educate young people about the ocean and its inhabitants. I look forward to many more days on her decks.
Every establishment has its good and bad ratings and you can’t satify every customer, but after reviewing the Shellback Tavern and owner Bob Beverly, I can honestly give it a solid 10 star rating.
Respectfully,
7ony Stewart, author
Dillinger, The Hidden Truth – RELOADED
Discovery, History Channel or National Geographic.
Crime Wave – 18 months of Mayhem (History Channel).
The Dillinger Conspiracy (Discovery Channel).
Recently worked with 360 Production on a new 4-hour documentary entitled Gangsters – Need to Know , that will air this September. It was filmed in Chicago and the production did a great job.
I love the ideal and I feel that it would be great ideal for me toi be part of helping make this happen.
Many have seeing the love and passion I been bring to the south bay for a little over 10 years.
I would be honor to get envolve with all three beaches cities and BCHD in making a differrence for our communities here in the south bay.
Espousing being anything but an uptight conservative, G.T. Washerson vitriolic tirade against the Hermosa Beach Ironman would be humorous were it not his subsequent trashing of Jeffersonian ideals. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is not just some passing slogan to be dismissed within their fog of intolerance.
Great story Mark! This is great news too! Now I am really looking forward to gray whale watch season starting December 26th!
I live in Hermosa Beach to be in a place that values the environment and the sense of a safe community for my family. I brought my kids up here and I try to promote values to them that I want to instill in them including solving their problems with words and not weapons. Gun toting folks in my neighbor is the anthesis of this and I don’t appreciate it even if it is their legal right. The more folks like this that want to promote their weapons and wear them as a badge of courage, the more I feel obliged to help change the laws giving them the right to put them in our face. I don’t believe that anyone in my city feels their lives are threatened. Our community is safe and our police officers are just a few seconds from a call away. This is a promotion of “cool weapons” to impress our young and promote violence and I don’t approve or want it in my streets.
what a great idea
good luck with the new build out I hope you see the rewards
of your investment and keep having fun!
Liz misses the point. The US Supreme Court restored the right to carry weapons, guns included, for the purpose of self defense.
There are no laws “to change.” The cities and counties can continue to enforce the old laws but that just means they’ll get sued in Federal Court for civil rights violations costing the local governments and schools millions, and making the lawyers rich.
Openly carrying firearms is here to stay until Obama, or his successors, manage to put five justices on the Supreme Court willing to reverse the Heller/McDonald decisions.
That will be years from now. Justice Kennedy, the fifth vote, has already said he will not retire while Obama is President.
This literally made my day. I enjoy that these four very respected businessmen still take into consideration the importance of Spyder as a core, independent surf retailer and grovel in the little waves to prove it. No matter any “sold out” reputation, this event proves they still have soul. Kudos to Dennis and Dickie. Viva Spyder Surf.
Change can be difficult to accept, but we have to remember that this is now a certified Civil Rights movement. We’re seeing the rebirth of a portion of Civil Rights that was almost lost. This is really a time to rethink our positions on civil rights in general and whether we truly support them or not.
Charles, we need to be careful now that ad hominem attacks can be construed as hate speech. I think it’s important to accept what we’ve been given and learn to use these Supreme Court decisions for our own purposes.
I have no problem with people owning hand guns for self defense in their homes, or rifles for hunting. I do, however, feel that a ridiculous display of fire power in a non-threatening situation looks paranoid and pathetic. It appears that this little publicity stunt was really for this small group of people to feel momentarily powerful and knowledgeable about guns in public. It also gave a politician a moment on his soapbox. I think this whole silly display is more about ego than gun rights.
I think I understand… The point is not so much to open carry as it is to preserve the right to do so. I read that SBOC was formed in response to AB 1934, an attempt by politicians to take away lawful citizens’ right to carry like they do in nearly every other state in the US. (It’s illegal for criminals to carry any weapon in CA and the two safest states in America are VT and NH where open gun carry is a common everyday occurrence!) Most Californians have no idea this right exists. So, SBOC is educating us while they pick up trash. Community service activities are a great way to show they are ordinary, hard-working, tax-paying members of the community that care; responsible men and woman with the training, tools and knowledge to defend themselves and those around them if necessary. Because criminals illegally carry weapons wherever they go, I’m guessing the safest place in the City is probably wherever SBOC happens to be doing their trash pick up!
The picture shows a guy with a rifle strapped to his back. That can’t be comfortable. He’s obviously making a statement. In the real world, a holstered side-arm is much more reasonable.
I couldn’t find the rules for the video. nothing is posted on the Paul’s Photo contest rules but it is listed on the heading.
Is it on another section of the Easy Reader ? Do I have to deal with Easy Reader direct at the office ?
Thank You for your time.
John Baylis
it makes our community look like a bunch of stupid, ignorant, drunken morons.
Isn’t that Manhattan Beach to a tee?
I’m sorry, but I cannot sympathize with you about your boyfriend who is now in prison for using/dealing drugs.
Do you not get it that what he did is against the law – no matter that he was/is an upstanding citizen as you described in one of your columns. He made a choice to break the law and now he must pay the consequences. I am so sick of you and your peers who refuse to take any responsibility for your behaviour. Get over it and grow up.
I have to agree with Kris W. who said, “[I] feel that a ridiculous display of fire power in a non-threatening situation looks paranoid and pathetic”.
The rest of the nation (with the exception of Wisconsin and Illinois) have gone to concealed carry as a preferred solution to open carry. I think it’s time for California to abandon its puritanical prohibition and embrace “shall issue” instead.
Open carry has its place, and I think it’s important that California have compliance with the Supreme Court’s ruling in McDonald. That will require either shall issue concealed carry or open carry as the two choices. I echo Kris W.’s preference for concealed carry.
Exactly Charles, these two guys will never learn! Stoyke and Schaar burned investors to the tune of $16 million bucks due to the foreclosure of the same type of commercial property in Hermosa Beach. What is Bank of the West thinking? Stoyke and Schaar haven’t realized yet that the good old days of making quick money hand-over-fist in MB real estate are over, and won’t be coming back for a long, long time, if ever. Their thought process relative to what’s REALLY going on in south bay real estate (it is slowly collapsing) is irrational. As for any person seeking the “beach lifestyle” in Stoyke and Schaar’s 320 sq. ft. condos, be patient! You will be able to enjoy one of their luxury condos within the next 12-18 months at around $200-$250k.
MB (and soon HB) is now being legislated/forced to reduce their waste. First water regulations (The Drought is Over By the Way!) and now waste regulations and many more forced regulations to come.
very interesting… thanks Bob!
growing up in the RAT beach area of South Redondo, one thinks we’re not really in a zone that is actually quite vunerable.
great article. Gene
(in light of the comment from Mike and for what it’s worth – i’ve had recurrent dreams of a large sunami hitting the “avenues” area of torrrance/redondo – yahoo!)
First off I hate Jacks. Secondly I hate every “surf shop” in the south bay but E.T. the only one that has remained a surf shop and looks like a surf shop not some trendy upscale vans store in a mall…so thank you to E.T. and don’t shop at Jacks but if you need that upscale chain store feeling at least go to beckers because at least they’re not based in Orange County.
Just as we are encouraged to prepare in the event of a major disaster to rely on ourselves and our neighbors because firefighters will be spread too thin, likewise, we must prepare in the event of a major disaster or unrest to rely on ourselves and neighbors because police officers will be spread too thin to respond.
Great Article. Thanks ER!
Craig, I want to congratulate you on doing what is in your heart and soul, and helping to keep this beautiful piece of history in Redondo. Your wonderful intention to bring kids back to the sea is timely and very very crucial to the survival of ALL species on our beloved planet Earth. Go for it! As a long-time friend of your mom’s, I am so proud of what her loving son has accomplished. Best of luck in this venture-it has good karma, for sure.
The police are already spread too thin. The average time for a 911 emergency police response in L.A. is around seven minutes. (If that’s the average, some people are waiting a lot longer!) Seven minutes is considered good by nationwide standards. Some cities have averages above 10 minutes!
eddie talbot after 7 yrs of hunting CONTENT & building up the web presense TOLD me shut it OFF, the interviews w/ theWORM , shady, GUMBy w/ his size 13’s & the computer template cutting. everyTHING. I thought he was pissed @ me, Daniel told me eddie isn’t pissed @ anyBODY. eddie IS old school when surfing was a passion NOT a sport NOT an industry. no BLACKberries OR iPHONE waterPROOF surf POCKETS @ et. THE internet is NOT required @ etSURF, no POSERS, good PRICES, U know what SPICOLI said b4 he became the ARTist known AS mR. madonna I mean SEAN penn
Have a great retirement Paul. You were an inspiration, mentor, and great friend to me in the early years of my career. I only hope that I can someday be half the civil servant that you have been all these years.
It is an honor to know you, and I still think back with fondness to those days on the rooftop, talking about life and whatever passed us by.
wow…. sounds pretty interesting.
The 16 year old boy in your story obviously was not getting the message. “It’s just fun. I don’t have a problem. I smoke weed every day,” he said with a laugh…He said he likes his substance abuse counselor. “We like talk about drugs, watch movies and stuff. Monica’s cool,” he said.
Having seen Encore Entertainers’ production of Les Miserables last weekend, I can tell you that you will find more on the stage of the Mira Costa auditorium than you would typically expect from a youth theater production–especially for a show as rich and complex as this one. More than once I have looked back over the program to confirm to myself the ages of the young actors who tackle the leading roles. At 16, Slater Ross is a wonder as he delivers the moving tale of Jean Valjean, touching on a range and depth of emotion far beyond his years. As Eponine, Alison Schiller–also 16–nails the heart-wrenching story of Eponine with extraordinary skill and vocals worthy of a Broadway level production. (Speaking of Broadway, one wonders if Ms. Duckers has ever seen a professional production of Les Miserables. Anyone who has would be quite familiar with the two scenes she mentions as being “overdone”. Each of these is staged as it was in the original Broadway/London productions.) The roles of Javert, Marius, Enjolras, the Thenardiers, little Cosette and Gavroche are all masterfully handled by the young actors who fill them–far exceeding expectation. For my part, I will be returning to Mira Costa this weekend with family in tow. I have long wanted to share my favorite musical with them, but I thought I was going to have to wait for the next professional tour to come to Los Angeles. Encore delivers a production worthy of the show’s illustrious name and reknown, and is on par with any touring company I have seen to date. Don’t be fooled into thinking that this is “just” youth theater. This is theater, period–and it is darn good theater too!! Don’t let the opportunity to see Les Miserables pass you by!
Boy! This photo just took my breath away! I am looking forward to seeing the production of Les Misérables this Friday. Kelly Lundin this is a great photo! Bravo!
The best part of the Kid Infinity article was left out of the hard paper copy. When reading the hard copy article I felt I missed something. I thought I was going to take a ride with the writer and experience the 3D event on paper, I was disappointed until I found the article in it’s entirety on your web-site. I feel others may have lost out on the 3D experience as well. Maybe you should have a disclaimer that reads…read article in its entirety at easyreader.com.
Thanks for letting me vent.
Well-written article
It’s about time Mira Costa H.S. got serious about addressing the drug and alcohol problem on campus. I remain somewhat skeptical though, as some of the punishments outlined in the article appear too lenient. Any kid caught with a quantity of drugs for sale should automatically be arrested & expelled from the MBUSD (let mommy and daddy pay to have him/her home schooled). Any kid found to be in possession of a quantity of drugs or liquor for personal use should be arrested (let him/her and their parents experience the pure joy of life at Inglewood Juvenile Court) and suspended for 10 days. MCHS drug counselors need to remind themselves that their job is to save kids from ruin, not necessarily to be their buddy or to appear “cool”. Speak the truth, show them examples and the kids will be respond in a positive way. The fact is that while dog searches and drug testing of MCHS students are good secondary measures to use to address the substance abuse problem, they will have little effect if Measure #1 is not achieved; Keeping Parents’ Feet to the Fire by Holding them Accountable for the Actions of Their Own Child! Achieving Measure #1 will take courage on the part of administrators, faculty & staff, as pressure (personnel complaints & threats of legal action) by a few parents (we all know who they are) will occur. Although this will be taxing on them personnally and professionally, educators must always keep in mind the end goal; the health & welfare our kids!
In the end, the onus is on parents to control and safeguard their own children. Parents must lock up their own prescription drugs where their kids cannot gain access to them. Seems like a no brainer but this is where the majority of kids get their drugs; mom and dad’s medicine cabinet.
An outstanding production. This is my favorite show and I was so ready for it to be a “youth” production in every sense of the word. I was so wrong. This is a Broadway ready show with outstanding preformances by Slater Ross as Jean Valjean, Alison Schiller as Eponine, and Guiry. Schiller’s preformance was praticularly stunning, and beautiful, and everything the character should be. It was by far a Broadway preformance.
This show-so moving-surpassed all my expectations, and I am going back. If you haven’t seen it yet, you will NOT want to miss it!
This is a well-written article and the references are great!! Thank you for writing about the show. So many volunteers have contributed hours and hours of time to make it possible and who also donated money to the organization. The young man who conceived of this concept, Jeff Cason, is a multi-talented musician, composer, director, and entrepreneur with great vision. Your article will hopefully draw people from the South Bay to come out and support the production.
Great article! Jeff Cason really went out on a limb to make this a very professional production. I was very impressed. Come on out before it ends. You will not be disappointed!
The pensions are FAR TOO RICH and RIDICULOUS AND UNSUSTAINABLE.
90% salary for the rest of their lives?
Where do we get that kind of GOLDEN PARACHUTE?
Re-inventing ones store means they needed to change. Good for Spyder. Jack’s will dominate the area as they have proven with their other locations.
People want good selection and decent prices. They really could care less if your shop is “hard core” or even “more hard core”
I believe it was Becker who thought he could take on Jack’s in H.B. but ended up closing his shop at sea cliff due to high rent and slow business. That was before the recession!
Looking how this weekend went, I am pretty sure the so-called competition felt their presence.
Jarvis’and Becker’s reason for disputing Jack’s super status is because they may be of middle eastern ancestry and have a certain number of members who surfor don’t, that really shows how strong one’s company really is and when thet can’t even slow these guys down.
You see while people throughout the last 30 plus years have ridiculed these guys for the above crap. They have stayed focused on succeeding and ignored all the noise. Now they are into their 60’s and have built a world reknown business while those who attempted to bring them down have failed themselves.
I hear there is a younger generation of family members who want to expand the business even more. They are involved in the business, surf, are hungry, and are ready for expansion.
Perhaps the best thing was for Jack’s to come to your town. That resulted in Jarvis’ re-inventing his store??? Hopefully his re-invention will finally give the customer’s what they really want and that is selection and pricing. If not I really don’t think Spyder will survive the next two years.
Dan, I hate to break the bad news but Becker was sold to Billabong about two years ago. Yes, Billabong is in based in Australia, therefore Becker’s headquaters are there.
I went to that website listed above titled “Keep Jack’s Surf Out of the South Bay”. It is no longer listed. It was as short lived I guess. Perhaps the “local” thing really does not exist when you really don’t have any other options.
Why did jacks move into hermosa. The city has no surf and is a straight up volleyball town. Should have stayed where the surf is good. Now they have to deal with all the hermosa kooks. That’s right kooks that should worry about just surfing and not business opening. Hope jacks shuts every kook store down there.Watch out Malibu people jacks coming soon.
A shooting in a gun free zone? How could that possibly have happened?
Oh that’s right, the gun free zone statutes don’t deter criminals willing to assault, rob, rape and commit other violent crimes. Gun free zones do disarm every law-abiding citizen within them and are thus victim disarmament zones.
The gun free zone is a sham sold to us by our lazy good-for-nothing legislators whom are too damn lazy to actually deal with crime problems. Let good citizens defend themselves and crime will drop.
I’m so bummed I missed this event this year. It’s one of my favorites of the International Surf Festival and it’s great to read such extensive coverage!
To not like a surf shop because they don’t shape boards within its store is completely wrong. The boards I saw in Jack’s were by custom shapers at Stewart or Channel Islands. I am sure any of the boards were beyond dan benoits price or quality. Reminds me of he guys who drive a Caprice classic because it is cool and top of the line. Get real those boards are way better than any backyard scrap put together.
There must be a hole in the impenetrable gun free school zone barrier. There is no way that the fantasy of gun control could be false! For now lets make another law that puts honest, respectful, law abiding, tax paying, kind, educated, brave, loving Patriots (you know the ones that are too busy to rob a jewelry store because they are working two jobs in order to put food on the table) at risk while Frodo tries to destroy the magic ring, and bring us back to the Shire.
i fished the pier,the voyager and the barge
Reading the letter from a major Redondo Beach master leaseholder (who continually puts on a show of anger) reminds me again that the center of the harbor problem is due to this awkward structure of managing public land.
Since the harbor was built, this leaseholder has amassed millions and millions of dollars by forming unnecessary yet creative business arrangements and partnerships, and lucrative business dealings amongst family members. City auditors have been informed of these arrangements from creditable sources including sub-lessees and have done nothing to properly audit the books.
Millions have been made by the leaseholder because the harbor has traditionally been mismanaged by the city with inconsistent zoning and a climate that is exactly what the leaseholder complains about. All of this is done in order to lease out public land by the leaseholders in the most expensive way possible with sweetheart long-term leases with the city. And we the taxpayer have been footing the bill.
The result is the leaseholder runs a never-to-fail master leasehold for Redondo. This is a slam dunk “simple and fool-proof” way to make millions. The fact that many others could only hope to have this deal makes the value of the business artificially overpriced and exists only due to our tax dollars being wasted.
I received an email from the Torrance Police Department:
“Hello Mr. Nichols…
I hear Friday’s photo op was very successful for you and quite uneventful for us…which is a good thing. It truly pays off to work together with mutual respect. We accomplished what we set out to do…have a win-win situation!
Thanks again for working with the Torrance Police Department. Take care.”
As you can see, the difference in attitude between the Hermosa Beach, Torrance PD and the Redondo Beach PD is night and day. The first two cities obey the law, Redondo Beach makes it up as it pleases.
Thank you for the T-shirts! Delivered quickly, the quality of the fabric and tailoring is excellent.
Thank you for the T-shirts! My son liked it.
Thank you for your professional approach and quality work.
Very satisfied with the work of specialists! I ordered a mug for a gift.
Affordable price. Excellent quality!
Great paper quality and print!
If I ever order an individual design, then only from you!
Ordered for a gift. The husband was pleased.
Very satisfied! Excellent quality cap.
It\’s just a pleasure to wear such a cap!
Excellent quality and good price!
You guys continue to amaze me. Keep it up!
Where did my original comment go?? Totally vanished.
Time and effort for a thoughtful comment ha been deleted. Why?? Did it offend some thin-skinned council members?
In Redondo we are fortunate to have a Class 1 Fire Department, a Police Department that strives to engage with us and highly ranked schools allowing our children to graduate with advantages some can only dream about. BCHD has a consistent track record of making the South Bay one of the healthiest places to live. I was sad to see Rolf’s accusatory letter. Rachel, Byung, Raymur and Dan have worked so hard (as RBUSD board members) to build something great. It must be so annoying to deal with Rolf’s pathetic attempt to emerge as some hero that is so clearly untethered from reality. Perhaps that is why if you go to Case Summary – Online Services – LA Court and put in BC535201 you can find out exactly how making “everything a battle” can impede growth and ultimately cost one the opportunity to work with others. When I vote, I want to be part of the team that makes things better; I am voting “Yes” on BC, FP and S. Together we can do so much!
Ed Hart, thank you for the comprehensive commentary you provided in “What’s wrong with this downtown” regarding the self-sabotage and the lack of vision in Hermosa Beach. Ironically, carved into the side of the city’s Community Center is this saying:
“Where there is no vision, the people perish”
For the last 20 years, the city council has been made up of selfish, short-sighted, narcissistic and ignorant individuals who we’re only interested in their own selfish interests and couldn’t give a damn about the city’s residents or their well-being. They not only did nothing to improve life in Hermosa Beach over the last decade but, they intentionally and methodically made it worse for everyone at the beckoning of a few loud voices. Thankfully, Nanette Barragán and Stacey Armato are no longer on the council and Justin Massey will not be running again, the three most responsible for accelerating the backwards state of Hermosa Beach.Make no mistake, there were many others before them that contributed to the current state of the city.
Unfortunately, Justin Massey and Stacey Armato leave a legacy of installing Suja Lowenthal as city manager who doesn’t live in Hermosa and is ridiculously overpaid. She spends the majority of her time telecommuting from her residence that was first in Malibu and is currently in Palos Verdes. She is more interested in creating a top heavy bureaucracy of overpaid assistants and her a $100M+ Taj Mahal then in doing anything to actually help make the city or resident’s lives better.
Suja’s prior accomplishment before becoming the city manager of Hermosa Beach was leading the campaign to shut down the Santa Monica Airport – spearheading a selfish group of a few individuals sponsored by greedy developers who wanted to redevelop the airport land into high density commercial and residential property. She has absolutely no vision but, she knows how to tear down a city’s infrastructure rather than doing anything useful for the residents.
Suha has spent an absurd amount of money on outside consultants that have accomplished absolutely nothing to cover for her lack of qualifications. Now, she’s again asking for a 3/4% sales tax increase to continue funding her own selfish interests after the voters rejected the same increase just 2 years ago.
Unfortunately, two Justin Massey sycophants remain, Michael Detoy who, is up for re-election this November and Ray Jackson. Hopefully, Michael Detoy will not be re-elected since he has just been a rubber stamp for Justin Massey’s agenda and he barely lives in Hermosa Beach as it is, spending most of his time as a fire captain in the city of Riverside.
It remains to be seen if the current mayor, Dean Francois has the fortitude and vision to actually improve life for the city and its residents. Sadly, I don’t hold any hope out for any positive Improvement since nobody has any real vision and it seems to be the modus operandi of all involved and their supporters to just make everyone else around them as miserable as they are.
“Bredesen said…“By the way, it’s not my study….,” – that says it all. “ Bredeson hired another firm, GeoSoils, Inc., to study it as well.”. So it IS Bredeson’s study.
It references the voided CenterCal EIR which in turn referenced a 1990 Corps of Engineers study which included a table for the highest surge heights for the worst storm in 1 year, 10 years, 25 years, 50 years and 100 years. So the data referenced in Bredesen’s study is for the worst of the worst storms. A once a year occurrence at most. Those studies are invalid now because, based on the 1990 study, the Corps of Engineers strengthened and raised the height of our outer breakwall and extended the southern breakwall by 300 feet. There has been no surge coming over Mole B, C, or D since those changes to the breakwall.
Mr. Bredesen was fully aware of the intent to remove the old Samba’s building with the new boat ramp when he negotiated his SHORT TERM lease. The City did not demand the investment in the property that it has for new lessees with longer term leases. Where was Mr. Bredesen when all moles were explored for a required boat ramp? There was a workshop exploring all locations in 2016. There were two workshops in 2018. And there was a full public process as the Amenities Plan went through the Harbor Commission AND City Council. And anyone following the CenterCal debacle would know the boaters, the outrigger canoe clubs, the Harbor Patrol and Baywatch all opposed the Mole B location. The Coastal Commission unanimously found there were “significant issues” with the location as it violated the Coastal Act and our own Local Coastal Program. Where was Mr. Bredesen during these years and years of deliberation? It was not until AFTER Bredesen negotiated his lease for the old Samba’s Building that he started making noise. Sure seems he was dealing in bad faith. And it there is such a risk of devastating waves and surge there, isn’t his business at risk too?
I respect Mr. Bredesen as a restauranteer, but this attempt to thwart a boat ramp is both disingenuous and bad for the revitalization of our harbor.
Thanking Redondo Beach City Council, Mayor Light, and all city officials, that worked to protect our city’s right to decide land use and zoning issues.
Years ago the Burgie Live writers (if you will) concocted all sorts of nonsensical memes primarily in the quest for humor.
Years ago the Burgie Live writers (if you will) concocted all sorts of nonsensical memes primarily in the quest for humor – Zee Papers Bitte.
A very long time ago the writers for Burgie Live concocted nonsensical memes to highlight the humor is many of rather stupid grips folks may have had.
I live in Redondo Beach, but I met at Brenda years ago in a bunco group. It turned out we worked in the same industry. I wish we were lucky enough in Redondo to have Brenda run for city Council. She is a fierce advocate for children’s mental health. She’s intelligent, hard-working, and dedicated. Manhattan Beach is lucky to have her running! I strongly recommend voting for her as I wish we could have somebody like her in Redondo Beach.
If you live in Redondo, please imagine your life if RBUSD were subpar. How much value do our award-winning schools add to property values, and vitality young families bring to your street? Rolf Strutzenberg seems to have a consistent, long-term track record of making everything a battle. When Rolf went to the police, did he fantasize RBPD round up his fellow school board members? How awkward for RBPD. Like Rachel stating out loud to Rolf that no, Rolf is not a client of the law firm RBUSD uses even though Rolf seems to believe he is, I would like to let Rolf know that the majority of Redondo loves Rachel, Raymur, Dan and Byung. The only one Rolf is hurting by repeatedly trying to hurt his fellow school board members is Rolf.
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the South Bay Parkland Conservancy for continuing the vision of Bill Brand when he led the creation of SBPC. Thanking all who have helped this vision become the reality we see now.
Bill’s vision was: The Dedication to the Restoration, Preservation and Public Use Of Coastal Land Resources In the South Bay Region.
He would have been amazed to see what has happened since 2004.
Starting with restoring the AES Wetland and creating its own park, we envision a brand new South Bay Green Belt and Bike Path continuing up the power corridor to Torrance’s Columbia Park. Connecting Manhattan and Hermosa Beach cities with Redondo Beach, then Torrance, will give our communities a world class linear park. It will have charming little rest and play areas, with native habitat along the way.
New York City, Boston, Atlanta, Chicago, and others, have already established theirs, and many more are being created. Trust For Public Land and Rails To Trails have played an enormous role in turning obsolete easements into beloved, connecting, linear urban parks.
The Beach Cities and Torrance will transform their communities when we have our own Green Belt.
Thank you, SBPC !
southbayparks.org
I was on the Planning Commission with Rolf for a brief period, and in that time, I found him to be pretentious, condescending and disrespectful. I felt he was blatantly rude to staff and consultants, especially after he was corrected. This behavior on the school board does not surprise me one bit.
Noticeably absent from this event are the neighbors who live in this area. At nehrenheim’s last community meeting, there was outrage over an incident at this facility where one of the residents threatened another and police were called. Apparently that resident was transported from the site and neighboring residents were concerned. What happened, and was that resident allowed to return to the project?
Noticeably absent from this event are the neighbors who live in this area. At nehrenheim’s last community meeting, there was outrage over an incident at this facility where one of the residents threatened another with a knife and police were called. Apparently that resident was transported from the site and neighboring residents were concerned. What happened, and was that resident allowed to return to the project?
it stuns that such brutality could go unnoticed for so very long in such a small, close, community town. how many eyes were averted? ears covered? comings and ‘no goings’ unseen? my heart to the families and friends of these young women. there are no words. may their memories be for a blessing….
it stuns that such brutality could go unnoticed for so very long in such a small, close, community town. how many eyes were averted? ears covered? comings and ‘no goings’ unseen? unquestioned? my heart to the families and friends of these young women. there are no words. may their memories be for a blessing….
bev morse
I hope the people in Redondo know what a gift Mike Webb has been to the city. Mike Webb, our elected city attorney, makes me so proud to live here. He is a true servant leader, always calm and patient. This is incredibly important and difficult work and he has done an amazing job. Thank you so much Mike Webb!
According to Redondo Beach Councilmember Obagi, BCHD and the AES developer both have the same law firm teed up to sue the City of Redondo Beach. That’s ugly. I guess Developers all bed down together.
$179,380 is not being spent “to gauge community support. ” It is bing spent to gaslight residents on the magantude of problems with our current City Hall and to sell us a new one. 70 years ago you might not need to refrigerated DNA, but you had 100’s of thousands of documents, pictures and other items taking up lots of space. Now those same materials fit on a thumb drive. In the last 70 years numerous stenographers, large typewriters and reams of paper have been replaced by laptop computers. 70 years ago every interactons with the City was in person. Now in person visits are seldom necessary and are being discouraged. That $179,380 would have been better spent address the needs of the building instead of the desires of the City Manager.
We are four “yes” votes for BC in our household! For less than $60 a year, we would love a new healthy living campus. Everyone in our family has benefited from all the wonderful services BCHD provides!! It would be absolutely wonderful to see more green space in Redondo. Yes on BC, the best value bond on the ballot.
BCHD has been a poor steward of District resident funds and cannot be allowed $30M more until it imposes a Resident Only policy for services. Only 2 programs require residency – home health care ($1M per year) and Bluezones restaurants ($100K per year). All the rest of BCHD programs use our taxes and land and buildings without restrictions. Until BCHD reforms to being a Residency Required operation, it cannot receive any bond measure funding. VOTE NO.
As an example of BCHD financial folly, BCHD accepted a $6.3M grant to construct an allcove building. BCHD underestimated the cost by $9M and now needs a bond. BCHD taxpayers are also required to provide allcove for 30 years, to a 1.4M population area of LA County. How inept can BCHD be that it accepted a $172M, 30-year cost of allcove in return for a $6.3M grant?
I support Measure BC. The services that BCHD provide to our Beach Cities far out weighs the cost of the bond. Supporting alcove and the proposed green space would be an asset to our community. The Youth Board at alcove has worked endlessly to ensure that the esthetics of their space and services provided are welcoming and adhering to the needs of those aged 12-25 years and that what they are proposing is environmentally responsible. The green space would provide all residents with access to fitness, mindfulness, and school based garden and nutritional programming. BCHD has revised original development plans after many meetings with the community. BCHD works collaboratively and makes programming decisions based on community feedback. Please support BCHD and vote YES on Measure BC!
Deepest gratitude to Al Muratsuchi for always doing what is right, moral, and ethical.
Best wishes for after his Assembly days are over.
Since BC was so small financially compared to the other bonds, the voters sent a message to BCHD that even if inexpensive, they disagreed with taxpayers funding allcove and tearing down the hospital building. I wonder if BCHD will bother to listen to the voters?
Steve, thanks for running for the bench, please run again if that’s your calling, would love to see you up there!
Jerry Pancake
While Measure BC failed, numerous residents supported BCHD by posting positive comments online (almost as many as we saw to keep RBFD local) and taking time to speak at city council meetings against a targeted FAR for BCHD. Even after BC failed, it is odd to me the same names keep pounding on BCHD. Where is this outrage when a new smoke shop opens up walking distance to elementary and middle schools?
I don’t believe the Southbay wants BCHD to go away while we see unregulated smoke shops open up with abandon. With FP and S on the ballot, it is reasonable BC failed; even as a supporter, I knew it was a long shot. I will remind those dancing on BC’s grave, BCHD’s (consistently) employed CEO Tom Bakaly was named “Man of the Year” by the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce in 2022; can any of the “Stop” people say the same? I know residents appreciate BCHD and I think BC failed because residents know that a public-private partnership could work to generate revenue and reduce the financial burden on residents.
Mark Nelson is a one-man crusade against BCHD, a disgruntled neighbor of the property who has devoted his entire existence to the destruction of this valuable community asset. He is obsessed, nobody can deny that. I stand proudly with the large majority of local residents who support BCHD and the value they bring to our area. If you agree, please make your voices heard. Support BCHD.
BCHD’s $600,ooo taxpayer-funded Measure BC needed a two-thirds majority to pass. If failed to even get 50%. The voters and the Daily Breeze Editorial Board have spoken. BCHD refuses to deal fairly with the surrounding neighborhood, and pouring more money into BCHD’s commercial development coffers won’t solve anything.
I would like to join with the Redondo Beach Teachers in expressing gratitude for our community passing the school improvement measure.
There is nothing more important in society than educating our young, nothing! There is no reason that our kids must languish in substandard campuses.
School funding in California needs fixing, and moved to the top priority in the state budget.
Thank you, Redondo voters!
BEACH CITIES HEALTH DISTRICT SPECIAL ELECTION – MEASURE BC
BEACH CITIES HEALTH DISTRICT COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS MEASURE: To complete construction of the …
YES 47.50% 29,945
NO 52.50% 33,102
I disagree with M. Wuerker’s cartoon.
I believe the election of Trump to the White House endorsed all matters of indecency.
Trump calls people with ethics, “fools” and “losers” when they try to do the right thing.
Biden discarded his former pledge to not pardon his son. He knew that anything goes now, in government, so he pardoned him for “the crimes” that no other person would have been charged with.
Trump has yet to be held accountable for the horrific crimes that he did actually commit.
So why not pardon ?
Everything changed with Trump’s election.Ethics in government is gone in this sad country.
Great article. Thanks for bringing back that interview. Sorry he’s gone.
Looks like the only loser in Redondo Beach elections was BCHD that spent about $600,000 of our tax money – so I guess taxpayers are the real losers. BCHD was told no taxpayer funding for the an allcove building or demolition of the failed South Bay Hospital.
It’s an incredible Moment of Nature to see these waves come in and the awesome surfers that ride them. But, calling it the “Breakwall”? It’s the “Breakwater” to me and lots of others (including Lifeguards and South Bay Locals) and will always be that !!! Great shots Mike !!! Cawabunga !!!
It’s going to be so awesome, again !!! Can’t wait !!! Thanks to Allen and the founders, backers, the artists, vendors, set up folks and the volunteers. See you there !!! SO STOKED !!!
Thank you RBFD
I am grateful to Michael Lee-Chang for stepping up to be the change we wish to see in California.
It will be the young people who will provide the moral compass that government has mostly lost.
Thank you for sharing this sad news. RSVP’s are appreciated to help with planning. Invitation link: http://pp.events/aaew4Vqq .
Residents of Redondo will be getting a ballot in the mail for a very important March election.
I strongly encourage D1 residents to vote for Brad Waller. He is legitimately endorsed by over 25 community leaders, including every current RBUSD school board member. He is a successful business owner who has earned these numerous endorsements through hard work, cooperation and servant leadership. You can trust Brad to cooperate with fellow city council members. Redondo needs a transparent, competent, and honest leader on the Council, and that choice is clearly Brad Waller.
Additionally, the clear choice for City Attorney is Joy Ford. Redondo Beach is a leader in firmly and compassionately helping our homeless community, and Joy has been a large part of that incredibly successful effort. Like Brad, she has numerous legitimate endorsements, which she has earned by working with Mike Webb protecting residents in Redondo for the last decade.
Keep Redondo safe and solvent by voting for Brad Waller and Joy Ford!
Finally, kudos to Michael Lee-Chang, who has consistently participated in local government. You have 4 votes in the Puterbaugh household.
I’d like to see more discussion as to the costs involved with each option.
Thank you Easy Reader for bring us this good news.
As Jim Light says, this could be the start of the “green belt to the sea,” connecting with Hermosa and Manhattan Beach, then all the way up the power line corridor into Columbia Park in Torrance.
Imagine all the neighborhoods connected some day, with bike paths, urban trails, delightful play and rest areas, and healthy green space.
So many other cities in America already have done this in former rail and other easements.
Great cities have great parks. We can too.
So, the residents get no input? I guess that’s a thing of the past with Jim Light at the helm. He’s the guy who sues the City, and while residents are still paying for those lawsuits, he wants us to fund a park at the AES plant to realize his one and only “vision” for the City. No doubt his friend Varvarigos, will get the contract to landscape the park with City money that goes through South Bay Parkland Conservancy (Jim Light founder and President). When you see behind the curtain, it is all very self-serving.
Congratulations to ALL, especially Shellback Tavern and those other 50+ businesses. Two longstanding businesses are missing however: Ercoles Tavern on Manhattan Ave. and El Sombrero on Manhattan Avenue, which has been in MB longer than El Sombrero #2.
Maggie – thanks for the compliment, but the design was done long before I was Mayor. And SCE has constraints on what you can do under their wires. So other than the plant palette and how the path meandered (to meet ADA requirements) the city had little say. SBPC will not get the construction contract. This will require a lot of grading, a huge irrigation system, and drainage. SBPC does not do that. The city will be putting out an RFP for a contractor who can do it all.
I have much more of a vision than a Greenbelt to the Sea, though I am not sure why you would dislike that one. Read the Wilderness Park Master Plan. Read the harbor Amenities Plan. Read the Pier and Harbor Commercial Plan. And look at my platform on http://www.jimlightformayor.com.
I hope that any new leadership and for that matter old leadership, takes some real leadership to solve the out of control illegal truck traffic traversing Palos Verdes Blvd. and Prospect Ave. totally impacting hundreds of residence Quality of Life.
It has been my personal experience that current Mayor James Light really does not have the best interest of us residence in mind.
In my view he is not qualified to be the Mayor of Redondo Beach and I personally suggested that he resign months ago.
Jim Light’s view of the Redondo Beach Pier is taking form. In a conversation Wednesday, Jim expressed to me that he wants to see a new Arcade built in place of the old arcade.
The Pier needs exciting venues, restaurants and retail that the residents want and will visit. Not another arcade.
Nostalgia for the past is not going to create a vibrant, attractive pier.
This article was both informative and thought-provoking.
My favorite, & very special person,..an extraordinary realtor. All the continued success for you.
It seems some folks from Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach have finally discovered the impact of the growing number of state housing mandates. Complaining to city officials will have no impact, their hands are tied and communities face even more draconian state overreach if their City Councils blatantly defy these state mandates. The problem is not our city governments. The problem lies in the state legislature that is imposing these mandates on our cities, and it is out of control. Residents need to complain to our state legislators.
There is another avenue that may be far more effective in the long run. Our Neighborhood Voices is working to submit a statewide initiative aimed at preserving local control and preventing broad brush mandates that are contrary to good planning practices and that fail to produce any meaningful amount of affordable housing anyway. Residents should donate to and volunteer for Our Neighborhood Voices – it will likely be far more effective than complaining to our local state legislators.
Imposing a large fine on a property owner in Hermosa Beach for using his property as a short term rental is serious. Hermosa did this previously, and attorney Frank Angel was successful in getting the fines removed. He was successful in challenging Manhattan Beach’s similar conduct. With similar cases, and with the same lawyer representing similarly situated property owners, why would Hermosa Beach allow a hearing officer with no legal training or law license to preside over the hearing ? It makes no sense.
Kudos to Joy Ford and Brad Waller for a deserved win!
Kevin, If at all possible, Please include this letter in this weeks ER, Thx, Rick
GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) HB Parade
I want to thank The Hermosa Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the City of Hermosa Beach and Bell Events for bringing this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade to fruition. For almost 30 years it has been my honor to assist as a stage announcer. Our parade has always been a locally orientated treat for thousands of spectators and participants alike. Many of the participants that I acknowledged off the script have been friends of mine for decades. This year was even more special and I am not sure exactly why. The weather, the vibe, the crowd whatever it was. Let’s just call it the ‘je ne sais quoi”(a quality that cannot be described easily). My friends and neighbors have gone out of their way to share with me what a wonderful experience it was for them this year above and beyond past years being the reason I felt compelled to shout out Kudos to all the parties involved. On top of everything else, it was a real pleasure working with a real professional like Rick Dickert as his co-announcer. Whatever it takes, let’s make sure our parade returns every year. Rick Koenig – Longtime Hermosanite
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Testing comment!
Worked.
Redondo parents ARE UPSET with Coach Morris bringing in transfers once again. Many current parents were unaware that this was the reason for his departure. Meanwhile, it’s the school that appears to be more focused on Redondo’s wins than on ensuring local kids have a fair opportunity. Just look at how well Mira Costa performed this season when they have very few transfers. As a result of this situation, many local Redondo students are either transferring to other schools, bypassing Redondo entirely, or leaving the program once they realize they aren’t being given the same opportunities as the incoming transfers. It’s a real shame.
So, our school district knowingly recruits out-of-district athletes, forcing IN DISTRICT athletes to go out-of-district to have opportunities to play sports? And this is the second go-round with the coach who did this before that angered so many? Seems it’s time to get an out-of-district Superintendent who pays attention to important things like this. What a travesty, all the way around.
Yes, unfortunately, this is happening. Many of these transfers are coming from the coach’s club program, which seems like a conflict of interest to me. I believe there were approximately 12 transfers between JV and Varsity this year, and it was clear they were treated differently from the rest. It truly IS a travesty.
Developers have taken over our Sacramento Legislature and Governor’s Office.
The new housing laws will trash the entire state, especially with the “Builder’s Remedy. This is the part that allows builders to build where they want, as tall as they want, even in single family neighborhoods. They are brazenly ignoring California Coastal Act protections.
Join me in fighting back against this hostile take-over by our state government.
Join:
ourneighborhoodvoices.com
Impressive track facility catered for a wealthy person/family to experience the excitement of driving fast. And have to your own personal residence on site too.
So does this finally mean that the incompetent city manager will get sacked for failing to get the plans in early enough to be approved timely? Come on – do it!
Let’s hope so. It’s time for a change, that’s for sure.
My digital easy reader will no longer allow me to read articles. When I click on the read more link, I am just sent to the comments and not to the article.
Same here
Same for me until today (3/26) when I was finally able to access the article. There is also the e-zine edition that I was able to access since last Friday. Try again and good luck.
The same thing happened to me until today (3/26), and I was finally able to read the article and see all of the photos. Before today I was able to access the article on the e-zine edition and also picked up a newspaper copy last Friday at The Copper Pot restaurant in SRB. Try again and good luck.
I can’t seem to login –
Please put my subscription BACK / no one ha bad used my name
UGH
In regard to Hermosa Beach’s conversation about “Builders’ Remedy,” the very term, “Builder’s Remedy,” says it all.
The Builders have won.
The public has lost its rights.
That is the “Remedy” that developers have dreamed of.
Join
ourneighborhoodvoices.com
Sounds promising.
Why not remove all the AES industrial materials? Both sides of the table want it gone: the community to remove the eye soar and the developers in hopes to develop a mix use property. Whatever the outcome, it will take years and if the community is lucky to have more greenery then we will have to pay for it. So why not pay to clear the ugliness now instead of living with it?
I love the article, the pictures, and the caused.
What are the “caused”?
Great article! Thanks for letting us know about this!
I’m glad this event was covered, including pictures. It’s important that we know what’s happening in our community.
We have an apartment in our house that we used to rent out. We don’t rent it as a STR, but we don’t rent it out long term either anymore because I don’t think that California laws provide any protection for us if our tenant doesn’t pay. We had an apartment in the SD area too, and when tenants didn’t pay, we would just work something out and, if they didn’t come through again, we asked them to leave and they did. Now, I’m afraid, we’d be taken to court and things would drag out forever. So there’s that.
Ray,
Guess state law is state law. Here in RPV we had this same STR crisis. Council banned them and our Commision came out with sheriff badges reading ‘Rancho Palos Verdes – Bordello Inspector.’ Only 17 were made but each is treasured by it’s recipient!. HB might do the same
The Serenaders have a place in our hearts as they were the band at my wedding back in 92. It was great fun and the best way that us two MB kids could have partied that day.
Thanks for such an insightful post! Your expertise really shines through.
Choosing the right health plan is crucial for young adults aiming to prioritize both wellness and budget. In Frisco, many also explore aesthetic treatments like under eye filler frisco to combat early signs of aging or fatigue, pairing smart healthcare choices with confidence-boosting self-care.
Let’s spread the love! Tag a friend who would appreciate this post as much as you did.
I live in Lawndale, and we opposed this extension down the ROW because it will eliminate between 3,000 and 5,000 homes. Metro does not care. We told them to go down Hawthorne Blvd., which was built to support a light rail system. Metro does not care. Money is the motivating factor. All the properties affected by building on the ROW will see a massive drop in equity. This will make it easier for developers to come in and offer below-market offers so they can build tenement housing we see in Chicago and New York. We are losing our single-family neighborhoods to these robber barons. Hawthorne Blvd. would be the perfect place to build an elevated system that would be accessible to all and build up the flagging small businesses along Hawthorne Blvd. in the affected cities.
Few public servants receive the recognition they truly deserve. In today’s social media-driven world, government officials—often unable to respond due to legal constraints—are frequently at a disadvantage in the court of public opinion.
Despite this, Mike Webb has consistently led with integrity and honor, even in the face of controversy. For thirty-one years, Redondo Beach was fortunate to have a public servant whose leadership stood head and shoulders above the rest. His influence extended beyond city limits, shaping the direction of the entire South Bay.
I hope he takes pride in his legacy as he sees the continued success of the programs and initiatives he helped create.
Nice article (as usual) by Bondo on another South Bay artist. Looking forward to seeing Fei’s works at the Easy Reader show.
Hi Beach Reporter, please don’t use the description e-bike when these are clearly e-motorcyles. We’ve all seen these kids ripping around town at speeds way faster than an e-bike can go, and gives legal e-bikes a bad name. Thank you.
Why does anyone need an e-motorbike on a flat surface like the Strand?
You’ve really captured the essence of this topic.
Another fine article by Mark McDermott!
i am so glad – these photos are happy people handling this miserable situation like adults – neighbors – americans – protesting the horrors of this sociopath’s second (!) presidency – when images of his supporters are so filled with anger and hate – what a difference today’s Hands Off gatheriing – protesting hate together – neighbors and strangers – families! – no hang the vp, where’s nancy, stabbing policed officers, desecrating the capitol… what a difference each one of can make – Chris – your photos captured the people – people who want us/a to succeed – not hurt others in order to. but to succeed – together – these people today heartened us all – thank you for catching and capturing it, chris – way to go, easy reader – south bay: you rock!
Thanks for your wonderful comment, Bev!
judol303
I’m thinking Baron, wandering, towering over more than just most; The Second Trump.
Bob Pinzler knew about Obagi’s legal issues during the recall campaign against Obagi, and Bob was so concerned about these legal issues he gave Obagi 500 dollars in campaign donations. (It’s in the 460s, look it up)
And anyone who paid attention knows it was so Bill Brand could have his third vote. Remember the “team” ? What a phony Pinzler is.
It’s clear that sometimes the blood doesn’t get to the cranium. Did you want the pot guy to win? That’s what we were fighting against.
What are the days and times to view the exhibit?
Obagi loved to say the allegations by his former client, that Obagi took $500,000.00 from him, weren’t true. People believed the lie, until the truth came out and the State Bar trial began. Many Redondo residents wrote letters in support of Obagi and submitted them to the Judge. The 41 page State Bar decision included all the misdeeds of Obagi, and recommended his 3 year suspension and probation. What Pinzler’s article failed to mention is that not once has Webb or Joy Ford criticized Obagi for his misdeeds and his State Bar suspension. In fact, Joy Ford took a $1,000.00 campaign contribution from Obagi on December 7, 2024 knowing he was suspended from practicing law, and knowing that the U.S. Attorney’s office was pursuing multiple criminal wire fraud charges against Obagi. In Council District 4, Obagi and Ford’s campaign signs appeared side-by-side during their campaigns. On February 11, 2025, at 11:36 a.m. the U.S Attorney’s criminal complaint against Obagi was emailed to City Attorney Mike Webb and City Manager, Mike Witzansky. At that evening’s council meeting, Obagi amended a motion to receive and file the court filed document, and not a single word by Ford, Webb, or Witzansky was said to inform the public of the criminal charges against Obagi, the deferred prosecution agreement, or what was being received into the record in violation of the Brown Act.
The city of Redondo Beach maintains it’s historical museum in Dominguez Park, located in Central Redondo at 302 Flagler Lane. Parking is free and just steps away from the museum. Admission is free and the museum is open on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. The museum is surrounded by the beautiful Heritage Court. Both the museum and adjacent Morrell House are historical structures which were moved to their current locations in the 1990s.
Born, raised, surfed in Hermosa. Very connected, unique place, between MB and RB; a special “hangout”…
Condolences to all of Greg’s family and friends here in the South Bay and beyond. I knew Greg only recently when we participated in a promo film for the South Bay Boardrider’s upcoming documentary. I also ran into him at a Beachlife Festival and at Eat at Joe’s in RB. But, his acceptance speech at his induction to the HB Surfer’s Walk of Fame was most touching and remarkable and will never be forgotten. Now riding light waves in Heaven, Mr. Greg Browning. Rest in Peace.
Greg was a huge asset to surf culture and epitomized Hermosa surfing. My condolences to Greg’s family, he was a wonderful guy. We shared a few tall tales over breakfast and remembrances growing up here on the beach, he was always grateful for this life and his connection to the ocean. He was a wonderful guy. You will be missed bro.
Seems like the solution is at Aviation & Marine – the old government building sitting there empty for at least a decade now – it has lots of square footage, parking and green space. It would convert nicely to apartments and be a lot less costly than building new from the ground up –
Redondo has voted and overwhelmingly elected Joy Ford, who was endorsed by Mike Webb. I don’t anticipate the new City Council advocating for an appointed City Attorney. Given Joy’s tremendous win, it wasn’t even close, it looks like Redondo is happy the freedom to choose.
Being a sports fan doesn’t depend on whether a person is a Democrat or a Republican, a liberal or a conservative. Most sportswriters, recognizing that fact, focus their attention on baseball, football, basketball, and the like. A sports writer who can’t resist incorporating his personal political viewpoint into his sports reporting and commentary needlessly angers those whose political viewpoints differ from his own. That adversely affects him, his reporting, and the newspaper that prints what he writes.
Congrats Jim! However not quite accurate. Jim Light, hope you will correct
I love how this blog covers a variety of topics, making it appeal to a diverse audience There is something for everyone here!
Love this appreciation for great content
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being a source of positivity and light in this sometimes dark and overwhelming world
This is so helpful! I’ve been searching for this info everywhere.
I was diagnosed with Bulbar ALS. I had weakness in my arms legs and hands. I lost all of my strength. I had to keep pliers and wrenches scattered around to open things. I couldn’t walk very far and I lost my balance easily. I had trouble swallowing and drool sometimes. It impacted all my voluntary moves. My hands shake when I eat or write. this year my family doctor decided I try alternative treatment as Riluzole caused severe side effects I started on ALS/MND protocol from uine health centre which has made my coordination issues go away. That was the biggest thing that convinced me I was on the right track. Everything before that was just small improvements and was up and down at times. I have gained strength in all muscle, but my right wrist and left shoulder are the slowest to improve. My left wrist is almost back to 100%. we got the treatment from uinehealthcentre. com This is a game changer for people with ALS.
Thank you for always creating such informative and useful content.
You’ve done something really nice here.
Parker indeed was relentless in his fight for open space at 14th Street and The Strand in Hermosa Beach. I was honored (with many others) to help him for most of a decade on that endeavor. There will always be a park there, and Parker’s determination and incentive will always be remembered for making that so. Thank You Parker. Rest in Peace.
This made my day better, thank you! Thank you for being amazing!
I admire the passion behind this post. Your efforts do not go unnoticed.
This made my day better, thank you! Thank you for being amazing!
Das macht richtig Freude beim Lesen!
Ein echter Lichtblick!
This lifted my spirits.
This really stands out.
Sending Love and Light to Greg Brwning and all who love him. He was an inspiration to all in how he lived. My sister’s husband had just passed away from ALS when I first learned about Greg. I was so moved by the courage he had throughout his life and ALS. He will live forever in the hearts of those he touched.
…are you all playing with yourself?
Danke für diese Bereicherung! Sehr wertvoll.
Bin begeistert von deiner Sichtweise!
Your posts are always so well-researched. I learn something new every time!
You’ve provided so much value in this post—thank you for the effort!
Total losers. Anyone spendin their time doing this is a total 100 percent loser at life.
Thanks so much!
It takes a village.
Your blog is a testament to your passion for your subject matter. Your enthusiasm is infectious, and it’s clear that you put your heart and soul into every post. Keep up the fantastic work!
This feels so warm.
I am glad that this event explained the value of having a community leader work with the students in a teachable moment for their future . But did anyone make it resolved and healed for the woman that was disrespected? I hope there is some outreach to her.
Beautiful! I so enjoyed talking to you at Ranch Market Malaga Cove! You have an incredible smile, a great sense of humor and a beautiful wife!
Hermoa Beach is turning into a dystopian hell hole. Focus on why the Pier is rotting full of empty non successful building and businesses, skyscraper level homes being built against code, the fact that there’s basically no green grid and the crime is at an all time high. Pretty interesting they’d target one of the FEW women on staff as well when they have a LAUNDRY list of to dos they SHOULD be spending their time on. How about focusing on how to get the police department paid more?? Just a thought. LOL!!!