Posts by Ryan McDonald
Hermosa Beach About Town
‘Hearts’ preview Resin Gallery on Cypress Avenue will host a preview of the art available for auction at the Hearts of Hermosa Fundraiser this weekend. Hearts of Hermosa, which takes place this Saturday night in a pop-up tent at the Community Center, is the largest annual fundraiser for the Hermosa Beach Education Foundation. Along with…
Read MoreSuit over North School dismissed; district may seek attorney’s fees
A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge has dismissed a lawsuit against the Hermosa Beach City School District that sought to prevent the district from beginning construction on the North School campus. In a decision released Monday, Judge Holly Kendig ruled that both of the claims filed by resident Blair Smith against the district were…
Read MoreCouncil urges MHF ban for Torrance Refinery
The Hermosa Beach City Council voted Tuesday night to support an effort to phase out the use of modified hydrofluoric acid (MHF), a chemical used at the Torrance Refinery. Neighbors and scientists say the chemical poses a potentially deadly threat to communities throughout the South Bay. In a 3-1 vote, the council decided to send…
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City attorney firm merger Jenkins & Hogin, the law firm of longtime City Attorney Michael Jenkins, has merged with a larger law firm. Jenkins & Hogin merged with Best, Best & Krieger, last month. In a letter to the City Council last week, Jenkins wrote that the merger would free up him and fellow founding…
Read MoreHermosa Beach Police Beat
City agrees to ‘Barcycle’ ban Hermosa Beach will prohibit four-wheeled pedicabs from operating in the city, likely resulting in an end to the “Beach Barcycle” that occasionally transported revelers through the city’s downtown. City councilmembers tentatively agreed to a resolution Tuesday night changing the city’s municipal code to prohibit four-wheeled pedicabs. Three-wheeled pedicabs, which are…
Read MoreMira Costa grapples with free speech and student safety ahead of rally
The shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. that claimed the lives of 17 people last month inspired calls for a nationwide student walkout on Wednesday. Students in the South Bay will be participating, as districts attempt to reconcile respect for students’ freedom of speech with the obligation to protect them from…
Read MoreBrownies try to improve crossing safety
The average age of speakers in public comment periods at Hermosa Beach City Council meetings tilts more heavily toward retirees than students. But last Tuesday it drifted lower than normal after an entire Brownie troop addressed the council in sequence. Ten members of Brownie Troop 6025 addressed the council to ask for the council’s help…
Read MoreHermosa Brewing Company makes good beer, just not in Hermosa. Could the city someday host a new brewery?
The history of craft beer is being written, and then erased, every day, in multi-colored chalk. Like a Pittsburgh Steelers pennant or a rainbow flag, chalkboards have become a decoration that tells unfamiliar customers what kind of place they are entering. For a craft brewery, in which limited quantity and, for some styles, just-brewed…
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Talking education Hermosa Beach School Board President Maggie Bove LaMonica will host her monthly “Ed Talk,” an informal discussion of issues facing the school district, this Sunday. This week’s discussion will focus on school safety and will feature Superintendent Pat Escalante and members of the Hermosa Beach Police Department. The discussion will run from 9:30…
Read MoreJudge orders count of disputed votes in Homes Association suit
Votes for positions on the Board of Directors of the Palos Verdes Homes Association will be counted Saturday, setting the stage for potential changes at the body that controls the appearance of thousands of homes on the Peninsula. Los Angele County Superior Court Judge Ruth Kwan issued an order on Feb. 15 requiring that the…
Read MoreClueless’ opponent for former mayor in congressional race
‘ hb dash.jpg Stacey Dash appearing at the 2016 Conservative Political Action Conference. Dash announced earlier this week that she would challenge former Hermosa Beach City Councilmember Nanette Barragán for her seat in California’s 44th Congressional District. Photo by Gage Skidmore Will former Hermosa Beach mayor Nanette Barragán be running unopposed for re-election to…
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Hearts of Hermosa The Hermosa Beach Education Foundation will host Hearts of Hermosa, its largest annual fundraiser, on Saturday, March 24, in a tented pavilion next to the Community Center. Features include a live and silent auction, with entertainment provided by a live DJ. There will be an open bar, and food will be provided…
Read MoreRough road for Greenbelt path proposal
A proposal to build a path of stable material on the Greenbelt in Hermosa Beach, in order to improve access for those with mobility issues, faces an uncertain future after elected officials raised questions about the plan’s legality and consistency with the wishes of the city’s residents. The City Council unanimously voted Tuesday night to…
Read MoreHermosa Beach to host event for parenting in the era of legal cannabis
In November 2016, Hermosa Beach residents backed Proposition 64, which legalized recreational use of marijuana by adults in California, by a huge margin. But that doesn’t mean they necessarily want their teenagers lighting up. On Thursday evening, the city will host a “parent chat” devoted to the impacts of legalized marijuana on teenagers. The…
Read MoreYoga studio will host meditation ‘flash mob’ on pier this weekend
About a year ago, Suzy Nece noticed that she was attending more rallies and gatherings. She also noticed that almost all of them required driving somewhere. Nece is the owner of the Yoga Loft, a yoga studio near the Manhattan Beach Pier. Like people across the country, she experienced an increased interest in activism…
Read MoreStacks at the skatepark? City seeks input on library’s future
The Hermosa Beach branch of the County of Los Angeles Public Library has stood at 550 Pier Avenue since 1962, making it the fourth-oldest of the system’s 85 locations. But when a renovation of Hermosa’s library makes it the newest one in the system, it won’t necessarily have the same address. Next week, Hermosa will…
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