About Town
Greener belt
Jeff Duclos, who spearheaded the establishment of an herbicide-free stretch of the town’s greenbelt, appeared to be taken by surprise when his City Council colleagues readily agreed to extend the ban on herbicides and pesticides to the rest of the greenbelt and the city parks.
At Tuesday’s council meeting, Duclos said with a shrug that it was unlikely his colleagues would agree to spend $10,000 a year to extend hand weeding throughout the town, and then moments later, with little comment, they voted to do just that.
Closing time
The City Council denied a request for later closing times for Waterman’s restaurant on the Pier Plaza, although some council members praised co-owner Jeff Bellandi for converting the former Dragon establishment into a community-friendly restaurant. Waterman’s was singled out for praise in this year’s State of the City address by Mayor Michael DiVirgilio.
On Tuesday, council members said they want to avoid increased alcohol serving in the downtown, and some council members said the former Dragon has only been Waterman’s for four months, and they want to see a longer period of good behavior.
Bike valet
More than 2,000 bicyclists took advantage of a special bike valet at the Fiesta Hermosa street fair over the Memorial Day weekend, announced South Bay Bicycle Coalition founder Todd Dipaola.
School skate
Third grader Sebastian Kuhr holds his fourth annual Skate for the Schools fundraiser at the city skate park 3:30 p.m. Thursday, June 10. Last year he raised about $1,600 from friends and neighbors for the Hermosa Beach Education Foundation. He has raised more than $6,000 with the pledged-based event, which he began as a kindergartner.
The city school district faces deepening state budget cuts, and for several years volunteer fundraisers have covered about one tenth of the district’s operating budget. For more on fundraising efforts see HBEF.org.
Purse snatch
A man snatched a woman’s purse, slapping her face when she struggled, shortly before 3 a.m. Saturday, as she was walking alone near the intersection of 11th Street and Valley Drive. A vehicle drove up, the man hopped inside, and the vehicle drove away heading southbound on Valley Drive. ER