Posts by Special Contributor
Manhattan Beach The storied El Tarasco
The north Manhattan institution celebrates its 50th year, unchanged Story and photos The story of El Tarasco can be found on the back of its menu, whose recipes were created by Celia Palomo when she and husband Moises opened the Rosecrans Avenue restaurant in 1969, two blocks up from the beach in El Porto. Their…
Read MoreManhattan Beach Salvatore’s on Highland: The little shop that could
How a shoe repairman changed with the times and his neighborhood i On Highland Avenue between 35th and 36th street, just south of El Porto, sits a quaint little shoe and handbag repair shop called Salvatore’s. The shop has been in business since 1979 and is currently under the ownership of Harry Ashikian. He took…
Read MoreRedondo Beach Benches make space for friends
The slogan of Torrance’s Joseph Arnold Elementary School is “if you can be anything, be a friend,” something that Buddy Benches embody entirely. Buddy Benches are meant to serve as an emotional space for children on school playgrounds. The idea is that when a child is feeling sad, left out, or just needs someone to…
Read MoreRedondo Beach Bullock repeats Redondo Swim the Avenues victory
Ryan Bullock, 35, of Hermosa Beach, continued his dominance of local open ocean swims on Sunday by winning the Second Annual Redondo Beach Swim the Avenues. Bullock finished the one-mile race from Torrance Beach to Avenue F in a time of 22:52, one minute slower than his winning time in last July’s, inaugural Swim the…
Read MoreManhattan Beach For local band The Lucky Ones, it’s a family affair
by Will Riordan Adam Lawson, lead singer of South Bay rock-reggae band The Lucky Ones, says that for the group, “The South Bay will always be home.” Daniel Vos, the Lucky Ones’ lead guitarist, did grow up in the South Bay. But it was not Lawson’s first home: He grew up in Cambridge, England and…
Read MoreRedondo Beach runner Harwell wins Village Runner Fourth of July 5K
Over 2,000 runners, many dressed in red, white and blue, participated in the 26th Annual Village Runner Fourth of July 5K. Stewart Harwell, 35, of Redondo Beach, finished first in a time of 15:42. The former UC Santa Barbara cross country runner won the Manhattan 10K in 2017 and again in 2018. Harwell said the…
Read MoreWarm water, overcast skies welcome Triathletes
by Nelson Jennings Jose Gabriel, 29, of Woodland Hills, was the first finisher in the 20th Annual Hermosa Beach Triathlon, on Sunday. His time of 51:45 was just over last year’s winning time of 51:05, by Dylan Efron, of Manhattan Beach. Efron was the top local finisher. He placed fifth in 52:47. Grace Catena, 19,…
Read MoreSouth Bay’s sole cheese store is ‘Curd nerd’s’ passion project
Solange Comer’s Cultured Slice is the only cheese shop in the South Bay. Solange and her wife opened the European-style shop on Pacific Coast Highway in Hermosa Beach almost two years ago. Cultured Slice offers cheeses to accommodate all food preferences, including vegan and gluten-free. The also offer sandwiches and catering. Comer and inventory manager…
Read MoreState Senate approves Allen’s single-use plastic bottle ban
A bill authored by state Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) that would phase out the manufacture and sale of single-use plastics in California by 2030 was passed by the State Senate and is now under review by the State Assembly. If approved by the Assembly, it will go to Governor Gavin Newson for his signature.…
Read MoreDear Cassy: Listening helps
It is difficult to understand how to help someone struggling with depression or anxiety, especially if we haven’t struggled with depression or anxiety ourselves. As a friend or family member, it’s important to remember that we don’t have to have all the answers. We only need to be supportive. Here are some ways to do…
Read MorePartying with the president, George H.W. Bush
At his 90th birthday party
Read MoreBeach sports – Opening day South Bay
So far, so good
Read MoreJunior Lifeguards Surf racing program launched for Jr. Guards by Kyra Williams
by Kyra Williams As summer comes to a close the school year starts up, and the popular Los Angeles County Junior Lifeguard program shuts down. But this summer, the Junior Guard program is keeping it going, rolling out a new Surf Racing Team program for 16 and 17-year-olds. JGs initially applied in February and…
Read More‘Housecatures’ draw interest from Realtors, homeowners worldwide
Linda Wenzel creates “housecatures,” paintings of houses that are designed to artistically capture their unique personalities. Sometimes she paints onsite. Other times she paints from photos. “I enjoy both. However, at the house, you can fill in details that aren’t easy to see from photos,” the Redondo Beach resident said. Wenzel began doing housecatures in…
Read MoreCyberCamp students test internet skills in CyberPatriot competition
Local sixth through 12th graders studied computer sciences and cybersecurity last month at “CyberCamp,” a program hosted by AT&T and the Air Force Association at AT&T’s El Segundo office. “With kids on social media all the time, they need to understand that what they put on the Internet is always going to be there,”…
Read MoreAmateurs and pros, santa hats and neck ties: the 6 Man is back
by Megan Garringer The famously competitive, high-spirited Charlie Saikley 6-Man Beach Volleyball Tournament returned to Manhattan Beach this weekend for its 57th year. Nearly 100 teams competed in four divisions: Men’s Open, Women’s Open, Men’s Master’s, and Women’s Master’s. From Friday morning at 8 a.m. until Saturday evening, the beach near the Manhattan pier looked…
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