December 2010 Archives

 

 

The rain comes down Wednesday morning in Manhattan Beach (Photo by Brad Graverson/Staff Photographer)

 

 

A fast-moving storm is pounding the South Bay and Los Angeles Metropolitan area, and snow levels could fall as low as 2,000 feet, according to the the National Weather Service.

The storm is expected to move past the area by this afternoon and this evening is expected to be partly cloudy, with temperatures in the mid-40s.

We've already had about 9 inches of rain in December -- more than half the yearly average of 15 inches and the second-wettest since December 1898, when more than 15 inches fell. 

 

Amigos Sin Barreras/Friends Without Barriers, a Redondo Beach charity dedicated to care of low-income AIDS patients, has been nominated for a year-end giving campaign by MoveOn.org.

First, however, Amigos needs online votes. More than 4,000 nonprofits nonprofits were nominated for the giving campaign, and only a few will be chosen by the national organization. Voters are encouraged to choose organizations that are dedicated to helping people in these difficult economic times.

Amigos provides holistic health care to low-income AIDS/HIV patients, job training, along with a food pantry and activities for children.  

To vote, visit:

With the holidays nearing and the economy still sagging, organizers of an annual gift drive for homebound seniors were worried they would fall short on gifts.

After a story ran in the Daily Breeze on Dec. 5, the 7th annual Be a Santa to a Senior outreach effort netted over 600 donated gifts in the week before Christmas. Volunteers wrapped all the presents at a party on Dec. 16, and they were delivered before the holiday.

Organizers with Torrance Home Instead Senior Care said they were grateful for all those who donated, along with the 200 or so volunteers who came out to wrap gifts.

"I think folks instinctively understood that the economic downturn has created an even greater need for just the basics and they donated whatever they could," said Farrah Benedict, operations manager of the home care agency. 

Here was the saddest thing about this story: The gift requests made by seniors included such mundane things as toothbrushes, cat food and grocery story gift cards. Apparently, even the basics are becoming luxuries for those without means.

Thanks to the influx of donations, the seniors also received fun and festive items in addition to the items on their list. Organizers thank those who participated.  

The results from Sunday's Operation Jack Marathon and Half Marathon in Manhattan Beach are in.

As we reported yesterday, Hermosa Beach resident Christian Burke (Of Hermosa 24 fame) earned first place with a time of 3 hours and 6 minutes. Here are the official results, courtesy of Jake Rome:

Marathon winners:

Male

1. Christian Burke, 44 Hermosa Beach, 3:06:21
2. Adam Johnson, 30, Anchorage, AK 3:13:19
3. Sam Felsenfeld, 36, Foothill Ranch  3:18:43

Female

1. Rachel Fixsen, 23, Savage, MD  4:07:17
2. Michelle Duran, 43, Clearfield, UT  4:14:51
3. Teri Lovano, 49, 4:39:55

Half Marathon winners:

Male

1. Roger Schmidt, 19,  Safety Harbor, FL 1:26:16
2. Jake Courtney, 47, Hermosa Beach 1:27:21
3. John Hong, 29, Glendale 1:27:30

Female

1. Alison Atkinson, 43, Manhattan Beach 1:29:36
2. Lisa Hudson, 45, 1:38:11
3. Jamie Marvil, 16, Los Angeles 1:49:55

About 151 runners registered for the event, held Sunday at El Porto in Manhattan Beach. More than $20,000 was raised for local autism charities. An article about the Operation Jack Marathon appeared in Saturday's Daily Breeze. You can read more about the race and the effort to raise money for autism awareness by visiting Sam Felsenfeld's blog.

Full results from the race will be posted here later tonight.

Daily Breeze Staff Photographer Sean Hiller snapped these photos Tuesday on a break between assignments near Avenue A and Topaz Street in Redondo Beach. 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Hopefully, this is a sign of things to come. Surfline.com is calling for a new mix of Northwest wind and groundswell to hit the region by late Wednesday. 

A car crashed into a 7-Eleven in Hawthorne today. We'll get some more info later.

Here's what KTLA reported:

Christian Burke, the Hermosa Beach resident who recently set a world record by running for 24 hours along the Strand, won Sunday's marathon with a time of 3:06.

"It was a good day," Burke said Monday. "I couldn't think of a better reason to go out and run a marathon."

A story about Sam Felsenfeld and his effort to run 61 marathons in a year appeared in Saturday's Daily Breeze. Burke, who knows a few things about long-distance running, commended Felsenfeld for his year-long effort.

 

"The feat of running 61 marathons is a tall task," Burke said. "But doing that without real any significant injuries is really unbelievable. Sometimes people get into something and then get on a streak, and it may last a couple years. But the next thing you know, everything starts breaking, and you're nursing weird injuries. What Sam has done is very, very impressive."

About 120 people participated in the Operation Jack Marathon. The race was organized to benefit autism charities and was the final marathon of the year for Sam Felsenfeld, a

36-year-old Orange County resident. His Seven-year-old son Jack was diagnosed with a severe case of autism four years ago.

"I'm glad the race is done," Felsenfeld said Monday. "I was planning it and nervous whether

people would have a good time. But I got alot of positive feedback. It was a once-in-a- lifetime thing. Everybody was out there and supporting what I was doing."

With a group of supporters and news crews looking on, Felsenfeld crossed the finish line 3 hours and 18 minutes after he started, pushing Jack, 7, in a stroller.

Felsenfeld was then joined by his family and a group of supporters, including Burke, for an after-party at Four Daughters Kitchen in Manhattan Beach.

And even though he may be finished running a marathon (or two) a week, Felsenfeld won't rest for long. He has his eyes set on running the Boston Marathon in April. He'll spend the next few months training - mostly by running, of course. Felsenfeld often runs 16 miles before going to work each morning.

All said, Felsenfeld helped raise more than $80,000 for autism charities, including Train 4 Autism, a national non-profit.

Felsenfeld said he had no regrets about his 61-marathon effort.

"There is no way I'd look back and think its a mistake," Felsenfeld said. "I know it worth trying. And what's the risk in trying? My family and I were excited to do this together."

 

As for Burke, he'll be running in a 50-mile race on Catalina in January. And in June, he'll help organize another Hermosa 24. The race is expected to be held along the Strand in Hermosa

Beach on June 18 and 19. Earlier this year, you may remember, Burke set a world record by running 83.04 miles in sand over a 24-hour period.

 

Sam Felsenfeld pushes his son Jack near the finish line of Sunday's Operation Jack Marathon in Manhattan Beach (Photo courtesy of Sam Felsenfeld)

 

Here are some more photos from Sunday's marathon, courtesy of Doug Brenizer. You can check out more photos of the event on his website.

 

 

 

 

This may be old, but it certainly is memorable.

Check out Manhattan Beach City Councilman Mitch Ward in a Careerbuilder.com Super Bowl commercial that ran in 2009. (He has the ad posted on his website)

Ward's appeareance comes about 46 seconds in. Have a look:

The longtime Manhattan Beach resident has worked as a professional model and actor, including a stint with the Metropolitan Opera Company in New York. When he is not acting or helping craft city policy, he's running an information technology consulting company he owns. Impressed yet? You can join his fan club.

Ward, a former candidate for the 53^rd State Assembly seat, has formed an exploratory committee for a possible run at a vacant seat on the El Camino College Board of Trustees.

He will be termed out in March after eight years on the Manhattan Beach City Council.

Kaiser Permanente's Rose Parade float will again feature 10 young patients who have been praised for their resilience -- including an Inglewood teenager diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease.

Karly Jeter, 14, will join others from across Southern California on this year's float, titled "Purrfectly Healthy."

Jeter was diagnosed with the illness, a cancer of the lymphatic system, in December 2009. After numerous rounds of chemotherapy, bouts of sickness, hair loss and other side effects, Jeter has been in remission since last February.

The teenager is back in school, is volunteering and made the honor's list for good grades. She wants to be a surgeon somebody, in honor of the doctor who treated her.

Jeter said she wants most of all to help people, partly due to her mother's recent diagnosis with breast cancer.

The Kaiser float will be decorated with more than 20,000 roses for this year's parade in Pasadena on Jan. 1.  

 

The race for two open seats on the Manhattan Beach City Council could get much more crowded.

On Monday, David Lesser, a city planning commissioner, filed his nomination papers, confirming his candidacy for a seat on the City Council. Lesser joins candidates Kathleen Paralusz, vice chairwoman of the city's planning commission; Amy Howorth, vice president of the Manhattan Beach Unified school board; and Viet Ngo, an outspoken council critic.

Possibly joining them in the race are Robert G. "Bob" Beverly, Jr., son of former long-time state senator and Manhattan Beach mayor Bob Beverly; Keith F. Simpson, an attorney; and Christine Cronin-Hurst, a financial analyst and board member of the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation.

The potential candidates pulled papers to run Monday and have until 5 p.m. Wednesday to file them with the Manhattan Beach city clerk's office.

The election for the five-member council's two open seats will be March 8. Councilman Mitch Ward is termed out and Councilwoman Portia Cohen announced she would not be seeking re-election.

San Pedro sea urchin diver Bob Bertelli is the focus on a new multimedia story from KPCC on the implementation of the Marine Life Protection Act.

As a member of the regional stakeholder group that drew the boundaries of a series of proposed fishing closures, Bob is a familiar face to those who have followed the longrunning MLPA process. I reached him yesterday on his boat; he said he wasn't sure he'd be able to make "the big vote" at the Fish and Game Commission meeting in Santa Barbara Wednesday.

In a nice story from KPCC's Molly Peterson, Bob is an example of a fishermen who is somewhat skeptical of the science behind marine protected areas, which are intended to protect habitat and marine ecosystems. Like many watermen, he thinks the potential socioeconomic impact of fishing closures has been vastly understated.

KPCC also visited kelp beds off Rocky Point with representatives from Santa Monica Baykeeper and Heal the Bay, two of a number of environmental groups that are disappointed that the pristine, productive northern Palos Verdes area was not protected.

On Monday, KPCC had a story highlighting Fish and Game Commissioner Mike Sutton, who flew Petersen over the coast from Torrance Airport to take a look at some of the areas that will be protected.

Torrance fire Capt. Steve Deuel took these photos Monday of a couple of fires.

One fire gutted a detached garage behind a Torrance house after it ignited about 11:35 a.m. in the 2100 block of 237th Street.
 
Dark smoke and flames spewed from the garage, Deuel said.

Passersby noticed the smoke and called for help.

Firefighters knocked down the blaze in 10 minutes. The owner was not home.
The cause was under investigation. A damage estimate was not available.

"The garage was pretty much a total loss," Deuel said.

Nobody was hurt.

In a separate fire Monday in Torrance, firefighters doused a small blaze in a wood-shingled
facade on the exterior or a condominium in the 2500 block of 235th Street.

No one was hurt.

There's a few new names to add to the list of candidates who filed to run in the March 8 election for seats on the Los Angeles school board and the community college board.

• Just to be clear, in the race for the LAUSD Board District 7 seat, perennial Carson-based candidate Roye Love does intend to face off against incumbent Richard Vladovic and UTLA-backed Jesus Escandon. Love filed papers on Wednesday, Dec. 8.
• In the LACCD race for Seat No. 1, Derrick Mims has been deemed qualified. He's on the L.A. Workforce Investment Board and is a former district director for South Bay Rep. Maxine Waters. That makes five candidates in that field, including Mona Field, who current holds Seat No. 3
• Lydia Gutierrez, a Long Beach teacher who lives in San Pedro, filed papers to run for LACCD Seat. No. 5. A Harbor College grad, Gutierrez ran this year in the primary for state superintendent.
• Octavio Pescador, who lists himself as a university professor, has qualified to run for LACCD Seat No. 5. That makes five candidates qualified for the race for that seat, plus two more who have filed papers. The seat is being vacated by current board member Georgia Mercer.
  

These are new since our story on the filings ran on Thursday. Signatures were due 5 p.m. last Wednesday, Dec. 8.

The Election Division has until Saturday to issue a list of certified candidates. Here's a link to the most recent filing report (from mid-day Friday).

*Tuesday update ... still waiting on the verdict on a few more petitions:

• Roye Love has qualified for the BD7 race in LAUSD.
• It's a free-for-all in the seven-way race for LACCD Seat No. 3. Two more candidates are deemed qualified: Lydia Gutierrez and Manuel "Manny" Aldana Jr.
  

If you want to learn more about the Lloyd Wright-designed home in Palos Verdes Estates -- the one known as the "Moore House" that preservationists are rallying around -- the city's environmental report is online.

I had a short story about today being the last day for comments on that report.

The Los Angeles Conservancy has encouraged fans of modern architecture to write letters to the city to get the home saved. But it's not clear that local residents want the out-of-place home to remain as-is on Paseo Del Mar.

A portion of lower Pier Avenue will be transformed Saturday into a hill of snow.

It'll all be a part of Snow Fest, an inaugural event sponsored by Spyder Surfboards featuring free beginner snowboarding lessons, an outdoor movie screening, live music and a tree lighting ceremony.

The event will be held from 3 to 9 p.m. 

The stretch of Pier Avenue from Manhattan Avenue to Hermosa Avenue will close at 10 a.m. for construction of the snow hill and re-open at midnight. More than 30 tons of snow for the event will be made from ice, and will be melted before going into the city's storm drain system.

The Hermosa Beach City Council approved the event in November, nearly five months after voting to cut spending for city-funded special events.

Here's more in a press release from Spyder:

Using a snow-covered scaffolding and an assortment of snowboard rails and fun boxes from Mammoth Mountain, the snow will be shaped and sculpted into a snowboard terrain park for pro and amateur riders to demonstrate their best tricks.  

As with Surf Fest, all the top snow industry brands and technical reps will be on the snow hill educating the masses on their product, hosting free games and joining in the snow sliding fun.  And, so everyone can join in the fun, mid-way through the festivities the snow hill will be open to the public, for a once in a lifetime Hermosa Beach sledding experience.

Snow Fest will be located on the stretch of Pier Ave, between Manhattan Avenue and Hermosa Avenue. The Snowboarding Demonstration will begin at 3:00pm and carry right on through the evening until 8:00pm.  The Public Sledding Session will be around 6:30pm.  By 9:00 the HB Fire Dept will bring out their hoses to wash the snow slope away. 

At 6:00pm, at the foot of the Hermosa Pier, the traditional Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place.  Santa will arrive onto Pier Plaza via HB Fire Engine and the City Council and Mayor will officially light the Hermosa Beach Christmas Tree.  The ceremony will also feature music from local acts and school groups, as well as booths with children's activities, hot chocolate and seasonal baked goods.

For the last three years, Spyder Surfboards has sponsored Surf Fest, a popular event held in April in Pier Plaza that features live music and vendor displays.  For more information about the events, visit www.spydersurf.com.

 

 

 

Portia Cohen, a former Manhattan Beach planning commissioner who was elected to the City Council in 2007, has announced she will not be seeking re-election.

Cohen, 47, was an advocate of environmental protection and public school issues during her four years on the City Council and said she would no be seeking reelection for personal and professional reasons. Cohen, who is an attorney, did not elaborate.

"This was such a difficult decision for me," Cohen said Wednesday. "It was bitter sweet. There is so much about this position that I have enjoyed. I felt extremely privileged to be a city council member and a mayor and to work with my colleagues and staff who I all respect so much."

Cohen said she had been mulling the big decision for about six months. She consulted with her husband, friends and colleagues before announcing at Tuesday's City Council meeting she would not run for re-election. Cohen served as the city's mayor in 2009 and said she will refrain from endorsing a candidate for her open seat.

There are two seats open on the city's five-member governing body. Councilman Mitch Ward, who was re-elected to a second term in 2007 and recently-completed a one year stint as mayor, is termed out.

Running for the two open seats are:

Amy Howorth, vice president of the Manhattan Beach Unified District School Board.

 

Kathleen Paralusz, vice chairman of the city's planning commission.

David Lesser, a city planning commissioner

Viet Ngo, an outspoken critic of the City Council and  a regular presence at each council meeting.  

 

The deadline to file nomination papers and candidate statements with the city's clerk office is 5 p.m. Dec. 10, although non-incumbents may file by 5 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 15.

We'll be closely following the race and have much more election coverage as voting day - March 8, 2011 - nears.

Holding signs reading "Freedom" and "Aloha," friends and colleagues said goodbye Tuesday to Jane Grace, a longtime Manhattan Beach employee.

Grace, an executive secretary in the city's park and recreation department, will be retiring after 29 years working for the city.

At Tuesday night's city council meeting, Grace was acknowledged by Mayor Richard Montgomery for her years of service.

"I always thought that Jane was the face of the parks and recreation department," said Montgomery, who first met Grace in 1987 when he walked into the department to sign up for a volleyball class. "She'd pick up the phone and give you an honest answer and tell you how it is, which is rare in today's world."

"We'll miss you," Montgomery added. "We'll find someone to take your spot, but you'll never be replaced."

The crowd that had gathered in city council chambers broke out in cheers as the mayor handed her a city proclamation and pin.

"I'll miss you all," Grace said, "but how could I not come back and see all these wonderful people."

Grace will be moving to Hawaii, where she'll spend her retirement.

The annual Daily Breeze Ball drive is going strong, but there's still a need for more toys to help out children who are served by the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor, as well as the Interfaith Shelter and Rainbow Shelter.

Balls of any kind can now be dropped off at two places. Of course, you can bring them to the the Daily Breeze lobby at 21250 Hawthorne Blvd., Suite 170, in Torrance, just south of the Borders bookstore.

And if you're in the Harbor Area, feel free to take them to the Boys & Girls Club of Wilmington. Their hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 1444 W. Q St.

We know the drill: Balls trickle in for a few days. Then, as the deadline approaches, more and more start showing up. But why wait? You'll have plenty of things on your plate as the holidays approach, so get this thing out of the way before time catches up with you.

Since the drive started 11 years ago, the Breeze has helped collect about 8,000 balls. (We know because we count them each and every one of them) That's a lot of happy faces. And the credit for that goes to the thousands of people who took the time to buy the balls and deliver them.

Thanks in advance for helping make this Christmas a special one for some kids who might not otherwise have much to celebrate.