Posts by Kevin Cody
Hermosa Beach Mayor rotation has heads spinning
by Kevin Cody Minutes before 1 a.m., eight hours into the Tuesday, September 12 Hermosa Beach City Council meeting, Councilmember Dean Francois asked, “Are other council members interested in taking a look at the mayor rotation policy?” A long silence followed, finally broken by Mayor Raymond Jackson asking, “Anyone interested? Seeing none…. Meeting adjourned at…
Read MoreHermosa Mayor Jackson State of the City a celebration of the city
Story and photos by Kevin Cody State of the City addresses typically resemble wonky workshops featuring power point presentations about the previous year’s council legislation and capital improvements. Hermosa Beach Mayor Raymond Jackson’s State of the City Thursday night, September 14, took its cue from Porky Pig’s classic, 1942 Loony Toons, “Who’s Who in the…
Read MoreHermosa Beach Pier brawl video fuels fear loud ‘bang’ was gunshot
by Kevin Cody Video by multiple passersby of a brawl on Pier Plaza in Hermosa Beach early Sunday morning, September 3, includes what Hermosa Police describe in a post on the department’s Facebook page as “a loud bang.” The police post states “plaza patrons react as if they heard a gunshot,” but adds, “Other than…
Read MoreLos Angeles County Lifeguards assist in kidnap child’s return for second time in a year
by Kevin Cody A four-year-old boy abducted from his grandfather’s Hawthorne home Tuesday evening was located by a Los Angeles County Lifeguard about 9 a.m. Wednesday morning on the beach, at Second Street in Hermosa Beach. Lifeguard Battalion Chief AJ Lester said lifeguards had received a bulletin from Hawthorne Police asking local public safety agencies…
Read MoreClassic stories from the toughest ever Catalina Classic paddleboard race
by Kevin Cody After viewing the Channel Island weather buoy reports Saturday afternoon, Catalina Classic Paddleboard Race director Gene Rink prepared what he’d tell paddlers to expect Sunday morning. “I decided to say the conditions will improve through the morning, after you reach the R10,” he said. He would avoid mention of the first…
Read MoreLast CA 101 public art show opens Friday
by Garth Meyer The tenth and final CA 101 art show holds its opening night Friday at the Redondo Beach Historic Library. Artists checked in Aug. 18, aided by a group of 10 volunteers and the show’s founder and curator, Nina Zak Laddon. The next day she decided placement for each piece, making adjustments…
Read MoreRain doesn’t dampen AVP Manhattan Beach Open for Crabb/Sanders, Flint/Scoles
Hermosa to deploy software to identify estimated 200 illegal short term rentals [UPDATE]
by Kevin Cody Hermosa Beach had 247 short term vacation rentals (STVRs) in July, averaging $329 a night, according to the STVR analysis site AirDNA. Short term vacation rentals, of under 30 days, are illegal in Hermosa Beach, except in some commercial districts, where Hermosa has issued 14 STVR permits. City fines for STVRs in…
Read MoreSophia Marie to perform at Sainte Rock showcase
Singer and songwriter Sophia Marie belts out “Venice Beach to DC” during her performance at Pedone’s in Hermosa Beach on Aug. 11. The lyrics touch on her experiences as a carefree California girl attending college back East. “Everyone here has politician speak, but I’ve got the Legally Blonde in me,” she sang. Her song “Narcissist”…
Read MoreTested by fire: From Manhattan Beach to Lahaina
A Manhattan Beach family sets aside concerns about the loss of their vacation home in the Lahaina fire to help people who lost even more
Read MoreMatthews Real Estate interns dress for success
Realtor breakfasts at Martha’s Hermosa Beach are common. Coats and ties aren’t. But not even the 90 degree weather dissuaded Matthews Real Estate interns from dressing for success during a Martha’s breakfast meeting last Thursday. Interns pictured are (left to right) Drew Quail, Harold Baxter, Ben Sklar, sales associate John Gremer, Hunter Randolph, Samuel Monroy,…
Read More‘High Bacteria’ warnings at Beach City beaches, and Palos Verdes
Yellow “High Bacteria” warning signs greeted beachgoers in the three beach cities, and in Palos Verdes Friday morning. A press release issued by the Los Angeles County Health Department advised local beach goers “to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters… because Ocean water bacteria level exceeds state standards and may cause illness.” The…
Read MoreDon Guild’s gilded life as businessman, benefactor, sportsman
Guild Drug, and Antique Guild owner Don Guild maintained a low profile while having a large impact on hometown of Hermosa Beach.
Read MoreBeachLife’s Sanford is Redondo Beach Mayor’s Person of the Year
by Kevin Cody During his introduction of Allen Sanford as the 2023 Mayor’s Person of the Year, Redondo Beach Mayor Bill Brand recalled the day in 2017 when Sanford pitched him an idea for breathing new vitality into the slumbering Redondo waterfront. Sanford wanted to drain Seaside Lagoon, and build a temporary stage there. He…
Read MoreTorrance well digger brings cable tool drill rig to the beach
Mike Stelter, of Torrance, brought his turn-of-the-20-Century, hand cranked, cable tool drill rig to Hermosa Beach Friday afternoon, towed behind his 1951 Willys M38 Jeep. The retired flight attendant collects old equipment, and often exhibits it at the car show held Friday evenings in the old Ruby’s parking lot in King Harbor.
Read MoreClausen, Hunter rein over South Bay Paddleboard race
Photos by Fabien Castro by Kevin Cody The Fifth Annual South Bay Paddle on Saturday was a repeat duel between the two winners of the past two Catalina Classic Paddleboard races. Last year, recurrent Los Angeles County Lifeguard Max First, of Manhattan Beach won the Catalina Classic for a record fifth time. In 2021, First…
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