Surfer Walk of Fame plaques plagued by bronze thieves
by Kevin Cody Three bronze commemorative plaques are missing from the Hermosa Beach Pier Surfer Walk of Fame. Two were damaged and have been removed by the City Public Works Department, Public Works Director Joseph San Clemente said in an email from Hermosa public information officer Ryan Walker. The missing plaques commemorates Bob Hogan, a […]
Hermosa Beach Bank of America closes. Future use of century old bank building unknown
by Kevin Cody What appeared to be graffiti artists tagging the downtown Hermosa Beach Bank of America Wednesday morning were actually Sunset Sign workers hired to remove the bank’s signs. Their black spray can paint was meant to cover up all vestiges of the Bank of America name, a worker said. The building, which has […]
Dodgers chill at Manhattan Beach Polar Bear Swim [Updated]
Photos by Steve Zaw by Kevin Cody A new Manhattan Beach community signature event, and a new Los Angeles Dodgers team building exercise were introduced Sunday morning, February 3, at the Manhattan pier with the advent of the First Annual CT3 Foundation Polar Bear Swim. Nearly two dozen Dodgers players, and coaches, participated in the […]
Hermosa Person of the Year presented posthumously to Kevin Sousa
by Kevin Cody This year’s Hermosa Beach Person of the Year Award, for the first time since the Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce created the award in 1959, was awarded posthumously. The award was accepted by psychologist and Shock Boxx Gallery owner Mike Collins on behalf of Hermosa therapist Kevin Sousa. In addition to a […]
Hermosa Mayor warns of AI election
by Kevin Cody Hermosa Beach Mayor Justin Massey participated in a confidential briefing with mayors from across the nation, but without the press, on election disinformation. The briefing took place last week during the annual United States Conference of Mayors in Washington D.C. In New Hampshire, ahead of that state’s Republican Primary election, AI (Artificial […]
HB City manager raise, bonus approved by City Council
by Kevin Cody An $18,000 bonus for Hermosa Beach City Manager Suja Lowenthal was unamiously approved by the Hermosa Beach City Council at its Tuesday, January 23 meeting. The city manager’s contract allows for a bonus equal to 10 percent of her annualy salary. The council also approved a 3% salary increase for the city […]
Vince Ray shared the surfing stoke with over 12,000 kids as coach, and even more as Surfing Santa
by Kevin Cody Vince Ray brought the joy of surfing to over 12,000 kids, as director of the Chevron Hermosa Surf Camp, and holiday joy to even more kids as Easy Reader’s Surfing Santa. Ray passed away Wednesday morning, January 3, at age 66, after a year-long fight with pancreatic cancer. Ray was a special […]
Hermosa Beach 2023: ‘A’ Option BIDS ADU to RHNA of alphabet LVR soup
by Kevin Cody Hermosa Beach housing laws, in 2023, were put through a blender of State mandated legislation, whose alphabet soup of acronyms, and ambitions rival those of the New Deal, where the term alphabet soup was introduced. Whether chopped liver, or liver pate will be the result will depend on the public/private partnerships Hermosa’s […]
Hermosa Beach PD 2023: Something old, something new for Hermosa blue ‘force multipliers’
by Kevin Cody Twice last April, Hermosa Beach police deployed drones to find a lost child. A missing grandchild was found at the ocean’s edge. A special needs child was found on the Greenbelt. “If the community sees our drones flying overhead, it doesn’t necessarily mean a crime is in progress,” Chief Paul Lebaron said […]
Dodgers’ Ohtani, Kings’ Doughty and Brown get the mural treatment in Hermosa Beach
by Kevin Cody Gustavo Zermeno Jr. was rushing to complete his mural of Dodgers Shohei Ohtani, and Kings Drew Doughty, and Dustin Brown Tuesday afternoon before the rain came. But it wasn’t easy because every few minutes passersby would stop him for selfies, which the affable artist never said no to. Zermeno had been working […]
Hermosa Beach Council sets fees for market-priced residential development in commercial districts
by Kevin Cody Pier Avenue, from Monterey Boulevard to Valley Drive, will be lined with market rate and moderate to low income homes and apartments if a program approved by the Hermosa Beach City Council at its Tuesday, December 12 meeting is successful. The program, known as Land Value Recapture, involves rezoning upper Pier Avenue, […]
Hermosa Beach Council tightens ban on short term vacation rentals in residential neighborhoods
by Kevin Cody Despite short term vacation rentals (STVRs) in residential neighborhoods being illegal in Hermosa Beach, approximately 150 are presently advertised on STVR websites, Hermosa Beach Community Development Director Carrie Tai told the city council at its Tuesday, December 12 meeting. (STVRs are defined as rentals of fewer than 30 days.) Advertising and operating […]
Hermosa Beach Sister City student exchange celebrates 48th year
Photos by Kevin Cody Hermosa Beach Sister City president Liz Ramirez (front row, left) joins students from Loreto Mexico, and Hermosa’s host students during a break from playing soccer at Valley Park on Wednesday. The students also met with firefighter/paramedic Jason Kokenge (left, talking to the students), Battalion Chief Ramon Valdoria, Engineer Kevin Halverson, and […]
Your guide to classical music? Jim Eninger
South Bay’s Music Man Jim Eninger is the go-to source for classical music throughout Los Angeles This past October, Jim Eninger was among the recipients of the Excellence in Arts Awards, an annual event presented by the City of Torrance Cultural Art Commission. If the name doesn’t ring the bells of familiarity that’s because Eninger […]