Hermosa schools’ stoke attracted new superintendent
by Kevin Cody When Susan Wildes moved to Hermosa Beach with her husband Brad and young, twin daughters, Presley and Hattie, her prospects for a teaching job weren’t good. She had nearly two decades of classroom experience in Georgia and Northern California. But California was experiencing one of its cyclical financial crises and most districts […]
City forging into future on multiple fronts, Mayor declares
by Kevin Cody Hermosa Beach Mayor Justin Massey extolled the city’s progress in addressing affordable housing, homelessness, and e-bike enforcement during a wide ranging State of the City address Friday night, July 12, in the city council chambers. His most notable news was the approval, that day, of the general plan housing element by the […]
Road to Mayoral Transition a bumpy one for Francois
by Kevin Cody Hermosa’s traditionally celebratory mayoral rotation began on an acrimonious note Monday night, July 15, but ended with a conciliatory 4 to 1 council vote to appoint Mayor pro tem Dean Francois as Mayor. Francois was in line to succeed Justin Massey, whose 9.6 month mayoral term ended Monday. Hermosa’s Mayor conducts meetings, […]
MCHS: Olympian Lelei Fonoimoana
by Kevin Cody Lelei Fonoimoana-Moore competed in the Montreal Olympics in 1976, the same year she graduated from Mira Costa High. She brought home a silver medal from Montreal, after swimming the butterfly for the U.S. 4×100 Medley. And she finished seventh in the individual 100 meter butterfly. Her youngest brother Eric credits watching his […]
MCHS: Olympian Mike Bright
by Kevin Cody Mike “Bones” Bright was the first Olympian to have graduated Mira Costa High School, where he was an All American basketball player, and a star volleyball player. Bright graduated in 1955, five years after the high school opened. Bright competed on the USA National Indoor Volleyball team at the 1964 Olympics In […]
MCHS: Olympian Lelei Fonoimoana
by Kevin Cody Lelei Fonoimoana-Moore competed in the Montreal Olympics in 1976, the same year she graduated from Mira Costa High. She brought home a silver medal from Montreal, after swimming the butterfly for the U.S. 4×100 Medley. And she finished seventh in the individual 100 meter butterfly. Her youngest brother Eric credits watching his […]
Search ends on Greek island for Hermosan Albert Calibet
by Kevin Cody The search on the Greek island of Amorgos for Hermosa Beach resident Albert Calibet, 59, has ended, his brother Oliver Calibet announced Monday July 1 on GoFundMe. The retired Los Angeles County Sheriff Deputy was reported missing on June 11, after embarking on what was expected to be a four hour hike. […]
‘Holy Moly,’ Hermosa fireworks fines skyrocket up to $5 grand
by Kevin Cody Fines for possession of fireworks in Hermosa Beach were increased from $250 to $1,500 for the first violation, under an urgency ordinance approved by the City Council on a four to one vote Tuesday night, June 25. Fines for second, and third fireworks violations will escalate to $3,000 and $5,000, respectively. Property […]
Hermosa Mayor Massey advises council don’t talk to press about agenda items
by Kevin Cody Hermosa Beach Mayor Justin Massey advised fellow councilmembers, during a Saturday June 1 council retreat, not to talk to the press about upcoming council meeting agenda items, and not talk to the press about past council meeting agenda items. Prior to each council meeting, the city posts an agenda listing items to […]
Hermosa Beach’s Albert Calibet missing in Greece
by Kevin Cody Albert Calibet worked as a Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff for 20 years, until his retirement in 2018. He never moved up in rank. “I don’t want a desk job. I want to be in the field. I like the excitement.” the 58-year-old Basque immigrant told friends. Calibet was a tough Deputy. […]
First, Hunter repeat in South Paddleboard Race at Hermosa Beach Pier
by Kevin Cody After months of cold, snotty water, the ocean was welcoming to paddlers participating in the Sixth Annual South Bay Paddle on Saturday, June 8. The temperature was still an ice cream headachy 60 degrees, but the water was smooth as glass. The result was record times in both the men’s and women’s […]
Record times, record number of paddlers at SB Paddle
Photos by JP Cordero by Kevin Cody After months of cold, snotty water, the ocean was welcoming to paddlers participating in the Sixth Annual South Bay Paddle on Saturday, June 8. The temperature was still an ice cream headachy 60 degrees, but the water was smooth as glass. The result was record times in both […]
Hermosa deploys geofencing to slow e-bike rental speeders
by Kevin Cody E-bike rentals in Hermosa Beach must be equipped with geofencing devices that disable pedal assist motors when ridden on The Strand, Pier Plaza and the Greenbelt under an emergency ordinance unanimously approved by the Hermosa Beach City Council at their Tuesday, June 4 city council meeting. The ordinance leaves e-bikes legal on […]
Divided Hermosa Beach Council approves Civic Center outreach
by Kevin Cody Whether engaging a community outreach consultant is “putting the horse before cart,” as Councilmember Rob Saemann contended; or necessary to show residents the council has an open mind, as Mayor Justin Massey contended, was discussed for nearly two hours at the Tuesday, May 28 Hermosa Beach City Council meeting. The consultant outreach […]
Hermosa Beach Schools Superintendent Johnson leaves district with lasting legacy
by Kevin Cody “Don’t donate,” Hermosa Beach School Superintendent Jason Johnson pleaded with families of the 200 students lined up for the Eighth Annual Dolphin Dash last year. The run was $14,000 short of its $120,000 fundraising goal. Each year, Johnson agrees to take a pie in the face if the run’s fundraising goal is […]
Hermosa man mad as hell at rude, young e-bikers, not taking it anymore
by Kevin Cody Richard Roe is mad as hell at rude, young e-bikers. Twice, in recent weeks, the 83-year-old Hermosa Beach resident has been harassed by packs of teenage e-bikers as he bicycled home from American Junkie, on Pier Plaza, where he plays ping pong most afternoons. “I have a pacemaker. I have two knee […]