Redondo Beach News 

Summit explores economic opportunities

By Peter B. Matuszak

Every city faces similar questions regarding how much development is necessary to preserve the quality of living their residents expect and demand. As costs for city services rise and neighboring cities develop new attractions to lure away tourism revenue, city officials find themselves pulled in many directions and courted by all sorts of economic development projects from private partners. In Redondo Beach, inevitably these interests focus on the waterfront.

It was fitting then that the second annual Redondo Beach Economic Development Summit took place at the Portofino Hotel in the Bayview conference room where attendees could gaze through picture windows at the marina and pier to the south.

On Nov. 2, more than 100 business leaders and government officials attended the morninglong program. The theme for the event printed on the programs and espoused from the podium was “Setting the Stage for Economic Development,” another title for the event might have read “The Status Quo: an Endangered Species.”

“Homeowners have a vested interest in the status quo, you have to respect that, but at the same time your town is going to change,” explained keynote speaker William Fulton. “The question is not, is your town going to change, the real question is, how is your town going to change.'”

Fulton, a New York Times best-selling author on urban planning and a City Council member in Ventura, Calif., presented a picture full of nuance and complication regarding urban planning. When discussing large revitalization plans to create new taxed revenue, Fulton warned that these victories are frequently temporary.

“These days you are not buying tax revenue, you are just renting,” said Fulton, referring to the common perspective that redevelopment to attract new tourism revenue is tantamount to buying new sales tax revenue. Fulton's speech encouraged the group to temper their ambitions with what he described as a “precious balance” between the need to generate more revenue in the city and preserving residents' cherished characteristics of their small towns.

His talk balanced out a day of presentations regarding the next steps for revitalizing Redondo Beach's waterfront assets such as the Pier and the Marina as well as developing a more salient brand for the city's image.

“When you look at our community, we have some great amenities, but there is always more you can do,” said Mayor Michael Gin in his opening remarks, “What are the ways we can make more of this jewel of our city?”

This led well into City Manager Bill Workman's introduction of the first panel, the Harbor Visioning group.

The panel consisted of Alex Banderman, Redondo Harbor commissioner, George Caravalho; Dana Point Harbor Development director; and Stan Wisniewski; Los Angeles County Beaches & Harbors director.

Banderman, also a member of the city's Water Quality Task Force, began by explaining long-term goals and immediate needs for cleaning up the shore as a first step to improving conditions in and around the harbor and pier.

“The entirety of Redondo Beach ends up right here, in the harbor,” said Banderman, referring to runoff water from the city that drains to the shore. The task force listed expanding street sweeping as well as patching leaky trash trucks and dumpsters as some of the immediate needs for improving water quality on the beaches and around the harbor. The water quality investigation also pointed to new methods of tracking red tides and simple aeration of the harbor to avoid the fish kills that wash tons of carcasses into the marina and onto the beaches.

Banderman then moved on to the findings from the Harbor and Pier Revitalization Working Group, which has met on a weekly basis for the past year. Among the group's recommendations were better branding, construction of a public access boat ramp, securing a visitor's center to serve the hospitality business, and completion of the Catalina Avenue/Torrance Boulevard landscaping projects.

Wisniewski and Caravalho then detailed L.A. County's ongoing redevelopment in Marina del Rey and the complete overhaul of Dana Point's marina respectively. Both projects began with taking back leases as they expired from private partners who managed the boat slips, restaurant and retail locations in their harbors. This enabled municipal organizations to expedite redevelopment. Both provided practical advice for pushing forward harbor revitalization and made obvious the competitive landscape in Southern California when it comes to attracting tourists.

“You're either getting better or you are getting worse, there's no status quo,” added Workman, as he moderated the panel.

Due to the length of the outstanding leases on Redondo Beach's marina and harbor areas, the city government will have to depend on private initiatives to catalyze any revitalization plans.

Not coincidentally, Alan Mackenzie, president of Mar Ventures, the private company that holds the lease on the marina, also presented initial plans that his firm has been preparing over the last five years for waterfront revitalization.

“The community needs to be proud of what's down here,” stated Mackenzie. “ We are working on a modern twist on the heyday of Redondo.”

The centerpiece of the Mar Venture plans would be a boutique hotel, time-share condominiums and a conference center that could accommodate meetings of up to 500 people. The plans also include various public amenities aligned with the working group's recommendations such as a public access boat ramp and central meeting space.

Mackenzie showed initial renderings of the space and described how there were several planning options for limiting the height of the new buildings so not to disturb the view of the surrounding residents. None of the plans have been approved by the city. Mar Ventures will introduce initial plans and hold public hearings on the potential development next summer, which pushes their estimated time to apply for actual construction permits until December of 2007.

Despite the current momentum of the project, Mackenzie also warned that it all could come to a screeching halt if the approval processes were to change.

“No major investors will spend money to process these plans if it still needs to go to the voters,” stated Mackenzie. “ If the petition passes, we will cease planning until the outcome is known.” Mackenzie made this statement in reference to the current petition being circulated by the Building a Better Redondo group to put all major land use changes to a public vote. The estimated cost for the project would be in the area of $175 million and 90 percent of the funds would come from the private sector.

Also unveiled was a preliminary version of a new branding motto for the city. The statement compiled through surveys of residents and input from the Redondo Beach Roundtable by marketing consultant Lauren Schlau intended to form a unified message to appeal to visitors from outside Los Angeles County.

The proposed branding statement read as such:

“Redondo Beach is Los Angeles' authentic, refreshing, friendly, casual, laid back, and intimate beach escape. Set on scenic South Bay peninsula and providing panoramic views, visitors experience an accessible and complete seaside destination, with an array of fun restorative activities, from ocean wonders to cultural arts and shopping, all part of a genuine Southern California experience.”

This is still a first draft and needs to be approved by the City Council before it would become the official motto of Redondo Beach. To that effect, the paragraph was edited by group input shortly after its first reading. Members of the audience questioned the use of the word “peninsula” as misleading and unclear. Schlau agreed to remove it and to solicit more input through the Chamber of Commerce Web site.

Schlau also made clear that a branding statement such as this was not a tag line but rather a stakeholder-driven strategy.

“Developing your brand and developing your destination go hand in hand. Your brand is your destination, this is a very long and expensive process, I'm not going to lie to you,” said Schlau.

Les Guthrie, primary owner and operator of King Harbor, also attended the meeting but did not present to the group on any of the panels. He found the plans for the added public facilities encouraging but reserved some skepticism.

“We've tried for over 30 years to accomplish this and for some reason or another it's never happened,” said Guthrie. “We're a little cynical about it but maybe this time the right forces are aligned and great things can happen.”

Hermosa Beach News

Officials consider changes to PCH and Aviation

By Chris Yang

Stung by the recent defeat of the Pier Avenue striping project, local officials took a different approach when considering changes to another of the city's main thoroughfares, Pacific Coast Highway.

Public Works Director Rick Morgan appeared last Wednesday night before the Public Works Commission to offer ideas and solicit comments about a proposal to answer a “Call for Projects” issued by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Morgan's presentation included four main “improvements” for the busy intersection located at PCH and Aviation Boulevard:

*  installing a double left-turn lane for southbound traffic from PCH to Aviation

* installing a traffic signal control for northbound traffic turning right from PCH to Aviation

* increasing northbound traffic on PCH from two to three lanes, and

* increasing eastbound traffic from one to two lanes on Aviation Boulevard

During his comments, Morgan raised several other options, including slicing off a portion of the park so that westbound traffic could more easily turn right onto PCH and eliminating an entrance to the shopping center located at Aviation Boulevard.

But despite the seemingly inclusive and cautious approach adopted by local officials, the five residents attending last Wednesday's meeting declined to support any of the proposed suggestions. Objections ranged from an increase of traffic along Prospect Avenue to the looming development occurring in El Segundo to the South Bay Council of Governments.

Commissioner Michael Divirgilio also raised the possibility of traffic flowing from Aviation Boulevard onto Prospect Avenue, stating “I think that will be the biggest concern from this project.” Morgan stated an increase in traffic along Prospect Avenue had not occurred to him, but that it was a logical conclusion given that Aviation veers north shortly after running east for several blocks.

In another defeat, the commission agreed with residents and opted to recommend making no changes at the current time. “Basically the commission recommended that we don't make the changes,” said Commissioner Janice Brittain. “We all said ‘no, leave it alone,' except for the southbound left-turn lane.” In that lane, Brittain stated that “sometimes people decide not to turn left into Starbucks and go straight to turn left onto Aviation.” She suggested placing plastic cones between the two turning points to prevent people from continuing to do so.

Morgan once again conceded defeat, acknowledging that he considered the exchange part of having an “open government” and that the commission would continue to act as a “sounding board” for his ideas.

It was Commissioner Robert Beste though, who may have produced the most newsworthy item of the meeting. According to Beste, Caltrans may be considering eliminating the parking lane along northbound and southbound Pacific Coast Highway in an attempt to improve the flow of traffic during rush hour. Morgan stated such a move would cause a “war” and that he would “fight” any attempt to decrease the amount of parking within city limits.

A spokesperson with Caltrans would neither confirm nor deny Beste's statement, but did offer comments on Morgan's potential proposal. “We understand the suggestions for these improvements have not been approved at this time, however if a consensus were reached in the future, Caltrans would continue to support any effort to improve mobility in the corridor,” said Public Information Officer Jeanne Bonfilio.

Hermosa Beach News

Change to zoning code to help Sharkeez owners to rebuild

By Chris Yang

A plan by Mayor Sam Edgerton to help the proprietors of Aloha Sharkeez eschew paying a sizable amount of the city's parking fees cleared a significant hurdle Tuesday night after the Planning Commission voted unanimously to proceed with amending the city's zoning code.

The text amendment, if approved, would effectively allow the bar's owners Greg and Ron Newman, to rebuild their business without conforming to the city's current code standards (height, setbacks, parking, etc.).

The issue of whether or not the rebuilt structure conforms to current code standards has stalled the reconstruction of the fire-damaged property primarily because of the city's parking requirements, which call for property owners to submit funds “in-lieu” of providing parking. The city imposes fees, which were recently raised from $12,500 to $28,500 per parking space, based upon a building's location and square footage.

Both Ron and Greg Newman appeared to speak in favor of passing the amendment Tuesday night, and sat through several hours of presentations and testimony before the commission considered the issue.

“Ever since I woke up that morning, it's like I've been in a nightmare,” said Ron Newman. “Then we received a letter from the city telling us ‘you've lost your rights.' Instead of the city helping us to rebuild, they've done just the opposite.”

Addressing the city's 50-percent rule, which allows an owner to rebuild without conforming if less than 50 percent of the structure is damaged, Newman stated, “We have 60 percent left.” He added that regulations in Hermosa Beach are the “worst” compared with other cities. Newman cited both Newport Beach (which carries a 90-percent rule on its books) and Manhattan Beach (also 50 percent) as an example of why the current code is “totally unfair” and “needs to be changed.”

Several other speakers rose to support the Newmans, including the owner of the Comedy and Magic Club Mike Lacey, Public Works Commissioner Janice Brittain and Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Carla Merriman.

The commission ultimately agreed, voting to proceed by directing staff to return with a resolution that includes the amendment for approval.

“The intent of the ordinance is to maintain the current character of the city,” said Commissioner Ron Pizer.

Pizer then added two subparagraphs to the amendment, one to ensure the rebuilt structure maintains its existing parking plan prior to the calamity and two, to require additional parking requirements if the rebuilt structure is more expansive then the previous building. Both were included into the potential amendment, which is expected to return to the commission in November for approval.

Though the motion to proceed eventually passed, one minor discrepancy was not addressed Tuesday night. The city's staff report asserted that the City Council “felt that it was fair to apply the exemption provisions of the nonconforming ordinance currently applicable to residential property to commercial property.” But the council did no such thing. At its meeting on Sept. 12, Edgerton called for the council to place an item on a future agenda to “discuss and fully analyze” exempting owners of nonconforming commercial properties that are the “victim of a fire that occurs at their business.” The council did not officially weigh in on the question of whether nonconforming commercial properties should be “grandfathered” into the exemption clause in the case of a fire “which is not their own fault” or “their own doing.”

Hermosa Beach News

HB Police withdraw charges in controversial case

By Chris Yang

The Hermosa Beach Police Department all but acknowledged the arrest of a local mortgage broker was a mistake when it issued a press release last week indicating that no charges were filed in the case.

The press release was sent via e-mail on Friday, Sept. 29, the same day local resident Enrique Coello received a notice from the Los Angeles County Superior Court informing him that he no longer needed to appear in court because his case was dismissed.

The statement, which listed the chief of police as the contact person, is a tacit admission that department leaders do not agree with a decision by Officer Gaetano Lobue to place Coello under arrest on the morning of Saturday, Sept. 16. Lobue was responding to a noise complaint that was phoned in by one of Coello's neighbors.

According to the press release, a “management review” of Coello's arrest was conducted Monday, Sept. 18. The department subsequently determined that “the facts of this case did not include all of the necessary elements of the crimes alleged.” As a result, Police Chief Greg Savelli “directed” the report be sent to the city prosecutor with a recommendation that the case not be filed.

In addition, the department initiated an “administrative internal investigation” due to the submission of a personnel complaint by Coello's attorney, Thomas Beck. No indication was given when the investigation might be completed or whether the results would be made public. The statement added that “the investigation is a personnel matter and cannot be discussed at this time.”

In the complaint, Beck alleges that Lobue “falsified his arrest report to meet the elements of 647(f) knowing these details to be untrue.” The number 647(f) refers to a section of the Penal Code pertaining to public intoxication. According to the complaint, though Coello was arrested at his home, the police report filed by Lobue may have indicated otherwise. Beck writes that such a discrepancy “would constitute a felony violation” by the arresting officer. The complaint also points out that a recording of the incident may exist.

Despite the department's change of heart, Coello is not satisfied with recent developments. He considers the dismissal of his case a hollow victory and plans on pursuing legal action regardless of the outcome of the investigation.

“It's not over,” said Coello. “We need to do our own investigation. They are basically investigating themselves.”

Hermosa Beach – Crime Watch

VANDALISM. An individual allegedly entered the office of a restaurant in the 1300 block of Manhattan Avenue and urinated on a computer system. The incident allegedly occurred between 12:30 and 12:32 a.m. Oct. 14. An employee of the restaurant reportedly detained the individual until police could arrive. Upon being questioned by the police, the suspect allegedly stated, “I'd like to see the video of that.”

BURGLARY. Someone reportedly entered an apartment in the 1600 block of Ardmore Avenue between 11:15 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. Oct. 12 and removed various items from the building. The victim allegedly returned at 3:15 p.m. to find pry marks on the wooden doorframe along with several items missing. The unknown suspect allegedly took jewelry (worth $4,000), a Canon Powershot digital camera and a Sony viewfinder.

BURGLARY. Someone reportedly entered a residence located in the 1200 block of Bonnie Brae Street to remove several pieces of jewelry. The incident allegedly took place between 11:20 a.m. and 8:40 p.m. Oct. 11. The victim reportedly arrived at home to find the downstairs master bedroom had been ransacked and several items taken.

FORGERY. Someone reportedly attempted to withdraw funds from a bank account using inaccurate information. The incident allegedly occurred at a pier plaza bank Oct. 12 at 3:45 p.m. After presenting a check and requesting $1,700 in cash, a teller at the bank reportedly noticed that the signatures on a deposit slip and check did not match those on a California ID and Visa debit card. After contacting the police, the teller made copies of the documents. The individual allegedly began to get nervous and requested the documents back from the teller.

VANDALISM. A vehicle parked on Pine Street was allegedly vandalized between 1 p.m. Oct. 8 and 2:40 p.m. Oct. 9. The vehicle's owner returned to find the right-front quarter panel, passenger door and truck bed had been keyed.

Hermosa Beach – Crime Watch

VANDALISM. Unknown suspects reportedly removed the Seventh Street sign from the intersection of Seventh Street and Hermosa Avenue between 8:50 and 8:59 p.m. Sept. 29. Someone allegedly saw four juveniles take the sign.

CAR BURGLARY. Someone allegedly entered a resident's unlocked vehicle and removed several items from the car between 11 p.m. Sept. 30 and 7:30 a.m. Oct. 1. The incident occurred in the 1200 block of Sixth Place. A Sirius car stereo, traffic gauge and two ATM cards were reportedly stolen.

BATTERY. A resident was allegedly the victim of a battery on Sept. 28 at approximately 2 p.m. The victim allegedly was engaged in a verbal argument with his roommate when he was struck in the face several times with both fists. The incident allegedly occurred in the 400 block of Herondo Street.

VANDALISM. Someone reportedly vandalized a car in the 1000 block of Monterey Boulevard between 6 p.m. Sept. 29 and 2:50 p.m. Oct. 1. After parking his vehicle at the above location, the victim allegedly returned to discover his car had two flat tires. Both air stems were allegedly broken off.

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY. An unknown suspect allegedly gained entry into an apartment in the 400 block of Herondo Street between 1:30 and 4 p.m. Sept. 27. A resident reportedly left her apartment at approximately 1:30 p.m. When she returned, she allegedly discovered a pry mark near her front doorknob. A laptop computer and carrying case was reportedly taken from her apartment.

Hermosa Beach News

HB Police action draws fire

By Chris Yang

An incident on the morning of Saturday, Sept. 16, that resulted in the arrest of a mortgage broker is once again drawing attention to the conduct of the Hermosa Beach Police Department.

Enrique A. Coello lives in the 900 block of 18th Street in Hermosa Beach. While hosting several friends at his house late Friday night, police officers responding to a noise complaint appeared at Coello's residence and placed him under arrest at approximately 1:24 a.m. Despite being arrested at his residence, Coello was eventually charged with being drunk in public.

According to Coello, Officer Gaetano Lobue reportedly first approached his home through the rear entrance after unhooking a latched gate. Lobue then allegedly shined a flashlight through Coello's sliding glass door to get everyone's attention.

“There were five of us. He went through a latched gate and started flashing his light,” said Coello. Coello then allegedly instructed the officer to come around to the front door to have a discussion. “I opened the door, and he started yelling at us,” said Coello. “He would not leave. He was asking my guests to leave, so I called 9-1-1.” It was at this point that the officer allegedly placed Coello under arrest and subsequently transported him to the police station.

Lobue never indicated why he was being placed under arrest, said Coello. He also claims that while he was being transported to the police station, Lobue said, “No, you've lost your rights” and “I'm going to teach you to respect the cops.” While incarcerated, Coello alleges the officers “wouldn't even give me water” and did not give him an alcohol breath test.

Coello recently retained the counsel of attorney Thomas Beck, the same attorney who filed suit against the department on behalf of several other individuals (including an LAPD detective) who claimed civil rights violations. When reached for comment, Beck reiterated Coello's allegations. “His story is corroborated by four witnesses,” said Beck. “The cop felt his power was abused.” According to Beck, Coello and his friends were “in the pool” prior to Lobue's arrival. He plans on demanding the withdrawal of all criminal charges.

Not surprisingly, a press officer with the Hermosa Beach Police Department tells a much different story. “That was a case where one of our officers went to a loud party on the east end of town,” said Sgt. Paul Wolcott. “(After) contacting one of the residents, the officer felt he was intoxicated and needed to go to jail.” Wolcott added that the city prosecutor might already have settled the matter. “I've talked to my boss about it.”

If so, that would be news to Coello. He is scheduled to appear in court Oct. 18. “We are going to file a complaint,” said Coello. “It was complete humiliation.” Lobue was not available for comment.

In other matters, a sergeant with the Hermosa Beach Police Department may be facing misdemeanor criminal charges after an incident that occurred on Sept. 6. According to a report that appeared in the Daily Breeze Sept. 23, Sgt. Steve Endom “retaliated” against the son of a friend who had broken into Endom's home. Endom is accused of “vandalizing” the car of his friend's son while off duty.

When reached for comment on Tuesday, Torrance's Deputy City Attorney David Caceres stated that the matter is still pending. “As of right now, we're still waiting for the police report to come over so the case is still pending,” said Caceres.

Letters to the Editor

Thanks from committee

On behalf of the Centennial Committee, we would like to thank the community for embracing our fund-raising event and making a beautiful quilt of hands on the skate park wall this past Saturday.

Our centennial vision has always been to include the neighborhood and local organizations however we could to make Hermosa's birthday celebration a community effort. It was so much fun to see families, friends and neighbors come together and share in the festivities.

This is the first big community event in getting ready for Hermosa's 100th birthday and we have many people to thank who made this day such a success. The Kiwanis Club, Neighborhood MOMS, Hermosa Beach Neighborhood Watch, HBAF Supreme Paint, JOL Designs, the Hermosa Beach Police Department, all the volunteers who kept smiling, the Community Resources staff, and a special thanks to Mike Flaherty and his Public Works team who not only made sure our citizens were safe but the environment as well.

The community will have more opportunities to contribute their handprints to the wall. Please look for the Centennial Corner in the paper as well as reference our Web site, www.Hermosa100.com, for updates on all programs and events.

Maureen Ferguson, Laura Raymond, Co-Chairs, Centennial Committee, Hermosa Beach

Homeowners exemptions

Are you a Hermosa Beach resident utility bill payer, either renter or homeowner, and at least 62 years old? If so, you are not supposed to be paying the city's 6 percent utility tax on your phone, cable, fiber-optic, gas, electric or water bills. A one-time application to be removed from this tax can be made to the city finance department. You can amend this application later if a utility is added, etc.

Also, if you are a homeowner, at least 62 years old, you can apply annually for a refund of a portion of the street lighting assessment on your property tax bill.

The above have nothing to do with your financial state and apply only to your principal Hermosa Beach residence.

These savings are also available for those younger than 62 years of age who are permanently disabled and have a total household income of less than $9,000 per year.

Call the city's finance office Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at (310) 318-0225 for the simple procedure to follow for any of the above. Save yourself perhaps $100 or more per year and if you feel the city needs your money, by all means donate the savings to your favorite city charity or school. However, don't pay taxes you are not supposed to be paying.

Make a note to save this money or a reminder if you are nearing 62 years of age.

Howard Longacre, Hermosa Beach

Inspiration

Over the last few weeks, our city has lost giants: Roger Creighton and Jack Belasco. They both served as mayors and council members but, more, they each made contribution to our city a lifelong passion. There is no way anyone can properly memorialize these men and I will leave that impossible task to this publication, the readers and, most importantly, to all those blessed to know them.

One reason why I was inspired to serve was the example of those who served in office before me. Both Creighton and Belasco leave legacies that can be measured in tangible works all around our city but the most valuable one to me was that they gave generously of themselves and, by their lifetime of service, inspired all others to do the same.

Our city was made far better for their contributions and their lasting example.

Art Yoon, Hermosa Beach

Hermosa Beach News

HB Local becomes city's first female firefighter

By Chris Yang

The Hermosa Beach Fire Department hired two new firefighters this week, including the organization's first female firefighter. Aushley Baker-Wilhite and Scott Durkin, both Hermosa Beach residents, will be sworn in Thursday morning at a ceremony held at the Fire Department's Pier Avenue location.

Fire Chief Russell Tingley praised the new hires in a phone conversation earlier this week.

“There's a few things about these individuals that make them special for us,” said Tingley. “We hired them from our firefighter reserve program instead of hiring them from outside (the department), which is new to us.” He added, “Both are Hermosa Beach residents. They both graduated from the local El Camino College Fire Academy - and of course Aushley is our first full-time female firefighter.”

The new hires will then enroll in paramedic school, a process that lasts approximately six months, said Tingley. He added that the new firefighters filled vacancies and do not represent new positions within the Fire Department.

Baker-Wilhite previously served as a reserve firefighter and emergency medical technician in the Santa Paula Fire Department in Ventura County. In March, she was named the Female Emergency Responder of the Year by the American Red Cross Society of Ventura County.

Baker-Wilhite graduated from Redondo Union High School and later received her associate degree from El Camino College. She then attended El Camino's Fire Academy, a 10-week program. The new position is her first full-time job as a firefighter. Her first shift with the Fire Department was Wednesday. Durkin's first official day of work fell on the fifth anniversary of Sept. 11.

The swearing-in ceremony will be held at 9 a.m. on the “apparatus floor” of the Fire Department's Pier Avenue headquarters.

Crime Watch – Hermosa Beach

VANDALISM. A woman allegedly entered a business in the 1100 block of Hermosa Avenue Sept. 9 at 6:19 p.m. After entering the bathroom, she allegedly could not open the door and kicked it open to get out. The owner of the business informed her she would have to pay for the damages. The woman then provided the owner with the phone number of another person who refused to comply with the owner's request.

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY. A couple living on 34th Street allegedly returned to their home after a morning jog to find several of their possessions missing. The incident reportedly occurred Sept. 9 between 6:45 and 7:30 a.m. The victims informed police that they regularly left their house unlocked during the morning hours when jogging.

BIKE THEFT. A resident in the 100 block of Lyndon Street allegedly discovered two bicycles were missing from his garage. The incident allegedly occurred Sept. 9 at approximately 8:30 p.m.

MAIL THEFT. Unknown persons allegedly pried open a locked mailbox in the 200 block of Manhattan Avenue and removed an unknown amount of mail. The incident allegedly occurred between 7:30 a.m. Sept. 5 and 12:30 a.m. Sept. 6.

Letters to the Editor

Thanks for apprehending thief

I just wanted to send a note of thanks to the Hermosa Beach Police Department and a Hermosa Beach citizen for apprehending the person who broke into our vehicle and stole the stereo. Not only was the thief caught, but the goods were returned as well. Officer Bill Charles did a great job in terms of explaining what happened and how the thief was apprehended, mainly due to an alert citizen who heard the thief breaking into another car in another part of town and the subsequent quick response of the HBPD. This just reinforces the notion that a combination of good citizen awareness working with the local emergency response teams is the best way to reduce the problem's ultimate effect, whether it is manifested by man or nature.

Paul Pease, Hermosa Beach

Hermosa Beach News

St. Cross readies for 100th anniversary

By Chris Yang

To commemorate its 100-year anniversary, Hermosa Beach's oldest church is hosting two events on the second weekend of September to celebrate the milestone.

Known as St. Cross by-the-Sea, the church's origins date back to the year 1906, when local residents held the area's first nondenominational service at what used to be the town's old post office on the northwest corner of Hermosa and Pier avenues.

Over the next six months, local postmistress Sarah Alice Beane and Father Charles DeGarmo, vicar of the Christ Episcopal Church in Redondo Beach, continued to hold gatherings every Sunday until the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles established St. Cross by-the-Sea on Sept. 13, 1906.

Pamela Barnes is a member of the St. Cross History Committee and provided details about the church's history in a phone conversation earlier this week.

“The first church was built in 1909,” said Barnes. “It was at 14th Street and Manhattan Avenue.”

According to Barnes, it opened July 11, 1909, and served the congregation until the church's current location was built on Monterey Boulevard in the 1950s. The building on Monterey Boulevard was completed on March 16, 1952, said Barnes.

“The first service there was on Christmas Eve. Three bishops officiated the service of dedication on Jan. 25, 1953 - Francis Eric Boy, Donald J. Campbell and Robert B. Gooden.”

Barnes also paid homage to Beane and DeGarmo, whom she referred to as the church's “founders.”

“Sarah Alice Beane was a Presbyterian, but that didn't really matter,” said Barnes. “She just wanted a place where the children could attend Sunday school and learn the Bible.”

Carol Reznichek is a member of St. Cross' centennial committee and provided more details about the festivities planned for later this month.

“It's our 100th birthday, (so) we're having events,” said Reznichek.

The first event is being held Friday, Sept. 15, from 7 to 10 p.m. A flier posted on the St. Cross Web site describes the “Centennial Soiree” as an “adult evening” of “food, entertainment and fellowship.”

“We're going to have a Cirque de Soleil-type act, and then we're going to have steel-drum sounds, kind of like down in Belize,” said Reznichek (St. Cross has a sister church in Selena, Belize). “On the 17th, which is traditionally Holy Cross day, we're going to do a festival Eucharist.”

Following the Sunday services, St. Cross is holding the second event, a “Family BBQ Bash,” from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Titled ? Years of Ministry,” the events are the second centennial celebration this year for the church. In March, approximately 100 people gathered at the Hermosa Pier to honor the first gathering that took place 100 years earlier.

A $20 donation is suggested for the Centennial Soiree. Tickets are being sold for the barbecue at $5 per person or $10 per family. For more information or to make reservations, call (310) 376-8989.

Hermosa Beach News

Former councilman, activist Roger Creighton, 1938-2006

By Chris Yang

Activist, longtime Hermosa Beach resident and former city councilman Roger Creighton died last week at the age of 68.

Creighton took his own life sometime last week and was found at his home late Thursday night by his son Dane. News of Creighton's suicide spread quickly through the city after details of the incident were made public.

Creighton was known as a passionate figure who cared greatly about residents' quality of life. He was diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer and was scheduled to undergo surgery on Aug. 17, the day he was found. Some suspect his suicide was brought about by an unwillingness to go through a similar experience as his father, who succumbed to the same disease in the 1960s.

According to Creighton's son Bill, his father didn't want to see Hermosa Beach lose its small-town feel and was generally opposed to problems associated with high-density developments. “He was a champion of open spaces,” said Bill Creighton.

While partaking in many battles, one that was dear to his heart involved the potential reconstruction of the Biltmore Hotel.

“What got him elected to council in the first place was an initiative to stop the builder rebuilding the Biltmore Hotel,” said Creighton. “He did that by taking a picture of himself on top of the old Fox Theater in Hermosa with a wooden pole. Somebody got down on Pier Avenue and took a picture, somehow, of him holding a pole that was the length of the building proposed. It disproved the fact that the building wasn't going to be much larger then the old Fox Theater.”

Gary Brutsch served as city treasurer during Creighton's term on the council and interacted with him on a regular basis. “Whatever he tried to do, he tried to make the quality of life better for Hermosa Beach,” said Brutsch. “You can't fault passion, and Roger had a lot of passion.”

The two would later join forces with another resident to craft an initiative to prevent the city's parking needs from encroaching on the beach. According to a story that appeared in The Beach Reporter on June 24, 2004, their proposal attempted to change the zoning of the beach to “O-S-1” or “Restricted Open Space.” He added, “The circulators of the petition want to require a vote of the people before that parking can be developed just like we want to require a public vote before any changes can happen on the beach.” The proposal, known as Measure “E,” was ultimately defeated at the polls last year, but by only 612 votes.

Creighton was first elected to the City Council in 1987 and served until 1991. He did not run for re-election but remained active in local politics.

Joe Di Monda worked previously as Creighton's attorney and later became friends with the former councilman. “He was concerned that everybody followed the law, especially elected and appointed officials whom we place a lot of trust in,” said Di Monda. “He had little tolerance for people who saw themselves above the law.”

Though he served on the City Council, Di Monda did not characterize Creighton as a politician. “Roger wouldn't get involved in the wheeling and dealing and compromising.” He added, “The other thing that was really amazing about this guy was, he would come into my office and use my law library. He knew more about the law then most lawyers.”

One of his defining traits during his tenure as a councilman was the fact that he always attended council meetings dressed in a suit and tie. “The guy owned one suit in his life,” said Di Monda. “I teased him one time. His response was, ‘I have an obligation to respect the office Š part of respecting the office requires dressing appropriately'.”

Bob Essertier served alongside Creighton on the City Council for two years and discovered the councilman to be a unique individual. “Roger was a most unusual character,” said Essertier. “He was very principled and honest, but also very cunning. He had a disdain for hypocrisy and arrogance.”

Essertier spent two years on the council with Creighton before the latter's term expired in 1991.

Creighton was born in 1938 and attended Redondo Union High School. He was married once but divorced in the latter part of the 1960s. He did not remarry and is survived by his two sons, Dane and William. Creighton's son added that a memorial service is being planned for later this month, with more specific details to be announced at a later time.  

Hermosa Beach News

H.B. schools maintain strong STAR numbers

By Chris Yang

The California Department of Education recently released results for its annual Standardized Testing and Reporting Program, also known as STAR. Based on results compiled from the Department of Education's Web site, students in the Hermosa Beach School District continued to exceed the statewide average across every subject tested, with large majorities scoring in the “at and above proficient” levels.

Superintendent Sharon McClain was pleased with this year's results and praised the achievements of Hermosa's students and teachers.

“Basically the district has stayed about the same overall, (there were) little ups and little downs here and there,” said McClain. “What the grade level teachers will do and the department teachers will do, in the middle school is take a look at their scores and compare them with last year and see how that goes. We'll also be comparing cohort groups, like the second-graders moving into third grade Š how did that group do?” She added, “So, overall I'm very pleased with the scores. I think it shows the strong educational experience that students in Hermosa get. Overall, most of our children are proficient or advanced in both math and language arts.”

While the STAR program consists of four “components,” Hermosa Beach students were primarily tested with the California Standards Test. Results for the CSTs are reported using five performance levels: advanced, proficient, basic, below basic and far below basic. Scores generally range from 150 to 600. Those between 300 and 349 fall under the basic performance level, while scores of 350 or higher are at or above the proficient level.

Depending on the child's grade level, Hermosa Beach students were required to take CSTs in the following subjects: English-language arts, mathematics, science (fifth and eighth grade), and history-social science (eighth grade).

According to results compiled for the Hermosa Beach School District, 795 students were tested in 2005 and 772 students were tested in 2006.

With respect to Hermosa View Elementary School, 107 students were tested in this year's program, all in the second grade. The results for View Elementary are as follows:

Of the 107 students who took the English-language arts test, approximately 93 scored at and above proficient.

Of the 107 students who took the mathematics test, approximately 93 scored at and above proficient.

With respect to Hermosa Valley Elementary School, 665 students were tested in this year's program, at every grade level. The results for Valley Elementary are as follows:

Of the 660 students who took the English-language arts test, approximately 530 scored at and above proficient.

Of the 541 students who took the mathematics test, approximately 434 scored at and above proficient.

Of the 62 students who took the general mathematics test, approximately 47 scored at and above proficient.

Of the 57 students who took the algebra I test, approximately 55 scored at and above proficient.

Of the 119 students who took the history/social science test, approximately 89 students scored at and above proficient.

Of the 207 students who took the science test, approximately 148 scored at and above proficient.

Generally speaking, these results remained well above the statewide average for each subject while keeping roughly consistent with scores from previous years. Of particular note were increases in the number of students scoring at the “advanced” level, including students in the second and sixth grades who took the English-language arts test, and students in the fourth grade who took the Mathematics test.

According to the Department of Education's Web site, results may be compared “for the same grade and subject across years within a school, between schools, or between a school and its district, county, or the state.” The site goes on to state “the reviewer should consider comparing the percentage of students scoring proficient and advanced, since the state target is for all students to score at or above proficient.”

Official reports for the Hermosa Beach School District are available at the California Department of Education's STAR Web site: http://star.cde.ca.gov.

Manhattan Beach News

MB Police receive grant to help combat underage drinking

By Dawnya Pring

With grant money from the Department of Alcohol Beverage Control, the Manhattan Beach police plan to focus on underage drinking.

The Manhattan Beach Police Department received $29,188 of approximately $400,000 in grant money given to Los Angeles County law enforcement agencies from the ABC. This money is part of $3 million allocated by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to 41 agencies throughout the state to fight underage drinking, penalize intoxicated patrons, and cut back on the illegal solicitations of alcohol and drugs.

In the past, police have conducted undercover operations to crack down on minors imbibing, sometimes using “minor decoys” to catch those participating in illegal activity. In the sting operations, minors, who are volunteers and usually recruited from police Explorer Scout programs, are sent to liquor stores to see if clerks will let them purchase alcohol without proper identification. In other incidents, a minor might stand outside a liquor store and ask adults heading into the store if they would purchase alcohol for them, said Sgt. Chris Vargas, who authored the grant application.

Minors and bar or store employees are given citations, sometimes administrative and sometimes criminal, depending on the situation, Vargas said.

The first activity funded by the grant is a training seminar for anyone with a license to sell alcohol in the beginning of September; the different education and law enforcement activities will run through June 30, 2007.

According to the Police Department, there are 116 bars, restaurants and retail stores in the city that are allowed to sell alcohol.

“The Manhattan Beach Police Department is committed to enhancing its current levels of education and enforcement regarding ABC licensed establishments and problems associated with alcohol sales and consumption,” stated Vargas.

“The Police Department has created a close working relationship with ABC investigators and together, Manhattan Beach Police officers and ABC investigators will provide training to ABC licensed establishments, conduct briefing training to patrol officers, and conduct sting operations to determine if licensed establishments are abiding by state laws and local operating permits.”

Since 1995, the ABC's Grant Assistance Program has allocated $17.5 million to local law enforcement agencies.

“We work with the zoning, the planning people, we work with licensing. At the end of the grant, it's successful if we've developed an ongoing relationship,” said ABC Director Jerry Jolly.

Other Los Angeles County agencies that received grant money include the Los Angeles Police Department, which received $125,000; the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department which received approximately $185,000 for its Lakewood and Lancaster stations; the Azusa Police Department, which was awarded $26,259; and the Downey Police Department, which received $45,317.

In 2005, the city of Redondo Beach received an ABC grant.

- City News Service contributed to this report

Hermosa Beach News

City benefactor Schumacher leaves lasting legacy in H.B.

By Chris Yang

One of Hermosa Beach's leading figures died last week, leaving behind strong ties to the community and a lasting legacy that includes one of the city's main landmarks being named in his family's honor.

Longtime Hermosa Beach resident David T. Schumacher died July 26 at the age of 86. He is most widely known for his work as an author, real estate magnate and philanthropist. His donation of $1 million to the city of Hermosa Beach helped fund the reconstruction of the Hermosa Beach Pier, which opened last November. In return, the city subsequently named the entrance to the pier “Schumacher Plaza” in honor of his brother, Paul. He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Margaret Schumacher.

The Schumacher twins were born Aug. 23, 1919. They lived in a suburb of Bakersfield known as Taft, where their father owned and operated a creamery business. During the summer, Schumacher's family rented a vacation home in Hermosa Beach. He would later tell the Daily Breeze that he spent much of his time at the beach, going to the movies and riding the Red Car throughout Los Angeles.

In 1945, Schumacher took a job with Marshall and Stevens, a company that specializes in appraisal and valuation services. He would go on to work with the company for 20 years, holding the titles of appraiser, district manager, and vice president in charge of training and research. He specialized in complex real estate matters, and is said to have appraised more than 3,000 buildings. In 1956, Schumacher made his first foray into real estate, investing in a four-unit apartment building in Hollywood. Since that time, Schumacher amassed a sizable number of properties across the South Bay and in Orange County.

In 1971, Schumacher's brother, Paul, died of a migratory brain tumor. He would later go on to dedicate Schumacher Plaza to the memory of his brother. In 1977, Schumacher married his wife, whom he had met two years earlier while on a cruise through the Caribbean. The couple would go on to travel the world.

Pamela Wichman has known the Schumachers for more then seven years. She worked for the couple and remains close friends with Margaret Schumacher. “I worked for them and they treated me like a daughter,” said Wichman. “Both he and his wife have been just a huge inspiration to me.” She added, “He was a loving, caring and decent person who claimed that he had traveled all around the world but would not want to live anywhere but Hermosa Beach.”

In addition to his real estate holdings, Schumacher also authored two books: “Buy & Hold: 7 Steps to a Real Estate Fortune” and “Chopped Liver for the American Spirit.” In “Buy & HoldŠ” Schumacher included a list of 113 axioms that he believed would help others achieve success in the real estate field. Here are three of Schumacher's axioms:

“There's no way in the world you can succeed without taking a chance. A turtle never gets anywhere until it sticks its neck out.”

“Never overextend yourself. If you are not able to control your finances, you are not able to control your destiny.”

“The down payment and terms of sale are more important than the purchase price.”

After suffering a stroke and the loss of his eyesight from a disorder known as progressive myopia, Schumacher moved with his wife in 2004 to the Covington Retirement Community, a retirement facility in Orange County. Neither the move nor his health prevented Schumacher from attending the inauguration ceremony of the Hermosa Beach Pier, one of his proudest achievements.

According to Mayor Pete Tucker, Schumacher's donation was instrumental in helping to complete the city's new pier. “Once we got the million, it put us over the top,” said Tucker. “It kind of gave us the inspiration to get the job done. As a private citizen, that's probably the biggest donation to the city in modern times.”

At the Surfers' Walk of Fame induction ceremony (held at Schumacher Plaza), Tucker began the event by asking the audience to join in a moment of silence for Schumacher and another South Bay hero, Bill Meistrell, who died July 25.

A funeral service is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 5, at 10 a.m. The service will be held at the All Saints Episcopal Church, located at 132 N. Euclid Ave. in Pasadena. Those wishing to see Schumacher may attend an open-casket viewing preceding the service from 9 to 10 a.m. inside the church. The casket will remain closed during and after the service.

In addition to the morning service, family and friends may attend a graveside service later that day at 3 p.m., held at the Forest Lawn Mortuary in Glendale. Forest Lawn is located at 1712 S. Glendale Ave. The service will be held at Lot 1176, in the “Whispering Pines” section of the mortuary.

Anyone interested in donating money is encouraged to send funds to UCLA's Jules Stein Eye Institute. Checks should be made payable to “UC Regents,” and sent to 100 Stein Plaza, Development Office 1-124, Los Angeles, CA 90095. Please include “In memory of David Schumacher” on any submissions.

Hermosa Beach News

Latest Walk of Fame inductees honored

By Chris Yang

The induction ceremony for the Surfers' Walk of Fame took place last Sunday, drawing more than 80 people to the Hermosa Beach Pier to witness the city officially recognize some of the South Bay's most notable watermen.

Along with the inductees, the event attracted a diverse assortment of figures ranging from the inductees' friends and family members to well-wishers from the general public. Several city leaders were also present at the event that day, including City Manager Steve Burrell and four members of the Hermosa Beach City Council - Sam Edgerton, Michael Keegan, J.R. Reviczky and Mayor Pete Tucker.

After a member of the audience sang the national anthem, Tucker started the ceremony by asking everyone to join in a moment of silence for David Schumacher and Bill Meistrell, two of the area's leading figures who had recently died.

Tucker was followed at the podium by Steve Cannella, a member of the Parks, Recreation and Community Resources Advisory Commission. Cannella thanked the other individuals who submitted applications but were not chosen as inductees. He then turned the microphone over to the Walk of Fame's originator, Roger Bacon, who along with Tucker issued the plaques to each inductee and provided a long narrative about each individual along the way. One honorary pioneer, John Dominis, who flew in from New York for the ceremony, accepted several plaques on behalf of the inductees who were not present.

After the plaques and certificates were bestowed upon the inductees, the crowd walked along the pier to read the names of the Walk of Fame's new members, and to throw flowers into the ocean in honor of those who recently died.

At a press conference held earlier that day, the inductees gathered with friends and family at the Beach House Hotel's Pacific Room to hear details about the upcoming ceremony. Bacon began the press conference shortly after 3 p.m., telling several stories for the audience. He thanked several city officials and the manager of the Beach House Hotel for the use of its facilities. Prior to the event, the hotel granted Bacon the use of its Pacific Room at no charge, as well as a complimentary room to Walk of Fame inductee Mike “Bones” Bright.

Aside from one minor miscue in which a Redondo Union High student did not appear promptly at 5 p.m. to sing the national anthem, the event went off with nary a hitch. Apparently, she thought the event was still being held at a different location and came upon the audience near the end of the ceremony. Bacon, still hoping to hear her sing, called her up to the podium as she walked away with her family. She more then redeemed herself though, captivating the audience with a song about her faith in a higher power.

Hermosa Beach News

Popular clothing store packs up for R.B.

By Chris Yang

This Saturday will mark the last day members of the public may patronize one of Hermosa Beach's longest running businesses before it moves to its new home in a neighboring city. The vintage clothing store Aaardvarks, which has operated for more than 30 years at its location on the corner of Eighth Street and Hermosa Avenue, is moving to its new home in Redondo Beach early next week.

The store's owners, Jon and Donna McCormack, were notified to vacate the premises by the owner of the property earlier this year. According to a recent published report, the new owner purchased the property for $880,000. Despite renting the property for 34 years from the previous owner, McCormack was unable to secure an agreement with the new owner. “Whoever bought it intends to use it for their purposes,” said McCormack.

The McCormacks worked for the previous owner of the building, Joseph Stromei, who ran several other Aaardvarks stores across Los Angeles. He later agreed to sell the business to the McCormacks in 1974. Despite taking over the store from Stromei, the couple decided not to change the name of the business. “The owner at that time lived up in Hollywood, and we built the business down here. It was really Donna who was responsible for the success of Aaardvarks,” said Jon McCormack. “She's really more the store then I am, quite frankly. I was here from time to time, and Donna was here managing this store for the original owner. She was running the store here, making it what it was.”

Aaardvarks will tentatively open its doors at its new building located at 2621 Artesia Blvd. on Tuesday, Aug. 8. The McCormacks are planning to hold a grand opening later this month, though no date has been officially set yet. For more information, visit www.aaardvarks.com/

Hermosa Beach News

Officials propose $25 million budget

By Dave Eisenstadt

Hermosa Beach city officials propose to spend almost $25 million during the next year on salaries, renovations and a host of projects with well more than one-fourth of the budget slated for the Police Department, an increase of about 11 percent.

Officials released their budget blueprint earlier this month. The compendium represents the monetary wishes and expectations of the city employees and their leaders. By law, the Hermosa Beach City Council is required to adopt an annual budget by June 30.

According to the budget blueprint, officials propose to spend $24.7 million to run and improve the city. Officials are asking taxpayers to foot an increase of $1.2 million from last year, an increase of 5.3 percent.

In terms of percentage increase, officials plan to bestow the largest on salaries and other administrative costs related to the Public Works Department. Officials have asked for $713,145 for that, an increase of some $72,000 or 11.25 percent.

The general fund and officials' planned expenditures show a steady increase since 2004. That year, the general fund amounted to a bit more than $19 million.

Last year, the fund climbed to $23.4 million. If passed by council as is, this year's $24.7 million budget is up by $1.2 million - an increase of 5.3 percent.

Public safety - Police and Fire departments - will continue to eat up most of the city's money. Officials are seeking to spend 49 percent of the budget on public safety.

Capital renovations make up the next largest share. Officials are seeking to spend 18 percent of the budget there. Public works projects and salaries take up 16 percent of the requested funds.

The city's management and support budget is estimated to take up about 7 percent of the budget, community development about 5 percent, recreation less than 4 percent and legislative matters less than 3 percent.

City Council members, though part-time jobs, are asking for increases in overall budget and a host of benefits. The council is seeking to increase its budget from $194,600 this year to $202,562.

The bulk of the increase stems from benefit hikes. For instance, officials are seeking to increase employee benefits to $53,257 from $40,865 last year. A category called “other post employment benefits” is slated to increase from $985 to $1,297. Medicare benefits for members, however, are dropping slightly, from $1,024 last year to a proposed $999.

In terms of revenue, the property tax, as is usual, is expected to be the city's largest source of income. Officials expect to pull in 39 percent of the city's monies from residents in this manner.

Service charges and various fees make up the next largest source of revenue. They account for about 16 percent of the budget. Sales and other taxes make up the next biggest slice at about 15 percent. Federal, state and various government agencies contribute most of the rest.

Fines account for 6.5 percent of the city's expected revenue. The sales tax amounts to a bit more than 9 percent.

Hermosa Beach News

Restriping gets mostly thumbs down

By Dave Eisenstadt

The city's road test of an upper Pier Avenue with one less lane in each direction has conked out with scores of motorists yet received a bright green light from many businesses along the strip.

Last weekend's AVP Hermosa Open and an early summer rush of beachgoers attracted enough drivers - many seemingly unsure of how to proceed and find parking near the newly striped and narrower roadway. Congestion was such that Pier Avenue, Hermosa Avenue, the nearby numbered streets and the network of alleys had more than a passing resemblance to a huge grid of cars seemingly parked.

“I had numerous complaints when I was in the Post Office - some real choice comments,” said Mayor Peter Tucker. “We need to do something else, this isn't quite working.”

The mayor deadpanned that the redrawn street has a Devil's Triangle effect on some drivers.  “They inadvertently go into the mobile home park and never come out again,” Tucker said.

The city's Public Works Department has received dozens of complaints and a trickle of praise over the newly configured street, which officials have called a “test” and an “experiment in progress.”

The city about a week ago painted a new set of white stripes on upper Pier Avenue from Bard Street west to Hermosa Avenue. The move to repattern the street is a prelude to a Pier Avenue remodel intended to shift traffic and launch a $2 million renovation to the roadway that is the main entry to downtown for residents and tourists alike.

“We're kinda stuck with the width of the street. We're going to let it run for the whole summer and try to reconfigure it a bit to see if we can make it work,” said Tucker.

While resident drivers have trumpeted their anger, those who depend on foot, automobile and bike traffic downtown applaud the move. It's a downshift heading toward a quainter and quieter small business district, said Jed Sanford, owner of the Union Cattle Company restaurant.

Like other proprietors along the strip, Sanford said the complaints likely have more to do with a change to driving habits and civic growing pains than traffic flowing like wet cement. Businesses along Pier Avenue generally praise the move, speculating that it will draw more and different types of commerce.

Sanford's eatery is popular, usually jammed on weekends and some 50 yards from the section of Pier Avenue in question. Traffic will lighten once motorists again are familiar with the route, he said.

“I think it's to be expected initially,” he said. “I like the feel of a smaller town walkway - in the long term, it might make Hermosa a more attractive community.”

A county sales tax for transportation renovations called Proposition “C” is expected to pay for the new upper Pier. The stretch of Pier Avenue that carries cars is slated for paving, sidewalks, lights and greenery.

Hermosa Beach News

Bobko to take fifth seat on Hermosa council

By Dave Eisenstadt

The tightly contested battle for a City Council seat that pitted four candidates split into a two-way contest as ballots were counted late Tuesday with lawyer and astronaut's son Patrick “Kit” Bobko capturing the post over longtime Hermosa residents.

Bobko, perhaps the best campaigner of the group, won the vacant seat with 41 percent of the balloting, or 1,287 votes. Jeff Duclos, a public relations consultant, finished second with 36 percent, a tally of 1,145 votes.

“It feels good. I haven't had any bad victories,” said Bobko. “Jeff is such a well-known guy, I wouldn't have been surprised if the margin had been smaller.”

Educator Janice Brittain and executive Jeff Maxwell trailed Bobko and Duclos by a wide margin. Brittain received 439 votes or 14 percent while Maxwell netted 293 votes or 9 percent. The turnout for the elections was slimmer than usual even for midterm and local elections. Of Hermosa's almost 13,000 registered voters, fewer than 4,000 cast ballots Tuesday.

The election sent Hermosa voters to the polls for the second time in eight months. Howard Fishman won the council seat in the general election in November but stepped aside when his wife became ill.

When the council moved to appoint a successor, it deadlocked 2-2 over whether to name Duclos, the runner-up in November, to fill the empty seat.

The split revealed clear lines of support on the council: Councilman Sam Edgerton and Mayor Pete Tucker backed Duclos. Councilmen J.R. Reviczky and Michael Keegan dissented.

The unspoken message was that Bobko had strong support despite finishing behind Duclos in November. The stalemate forced Tuesday's special election.

Bobko, a lawyer, stressed that his legal expertise would benefit the city in resolving pressing court battles.

Janice Brittain, an educator, and limousine company owner Jeff Maxwell joined the contest, both candidates billing themselves as independent voices. Duclos, who works from home, also taught at UCLA. He is 61, and has lived in Hermosa for 27 years. Bobko, 36, is a municipal attorney and former Air Force captain. He is a six-year resident of Hermosa. Asked about his first steps as a councilman-elect, Bobko focused on immediate needs.

“The first thing I'm going to do is get some sleep,” he said.

Maxwell ran unsuccessfully in November. Brittain, a retired school administrator, was the contest's newcomer.

Hermosa Beach News

Three council candidates boycott forum

By Dave Eisenstadt

Three of the four candidates who battled for the City Council seat filled after Tuesday's voting touched off a pre-election day dustup when all but one skipped a televised political forum hours before it began.

The surprising move by a trio of political challengers - rejecting an election-eve appearance before voters - turned what was slated as a candidates' forum into a discussion between an office-seeker and the audience.

The Hermosa Beach Neighborhood Association organized the event, which was planned as the watchdog group's first political forum. Candidates Patrick “Kit” Bobko, who was declared the winner of Tuesday's election, Jeff Maxwell and Jeff Duclos told the association they would not attend via e-mails sent some six hours before the broadcast.

Janice Brittain, an education administrator, was the sole attendee.

Al Benson, head of the neighborhood association, said he was puzzled by the timing of the withdrawal - and that it wasn't one or two candidates skipping the event but three of four. Benson ran and lost for a council seat last November.

“They gave me six hours notice,” Benson said. “They have the right not to show up at the forum but if they really have problems, they could have given me a call.”

The neighborhood association is best known for its efforts to highlight what they see as problems resulting from a too-raucous lower Pier Avenue scene. The group contends crime, especially violent incidents, has shot up with the increasing popularity of the bar-laden strip.

The candidates, however, complained the event was less a political forum for those vying for office than a platform for the group.

Bobko said his schedule was just too packed on that day to attend the forum and downplayed the notion that the three candidates acted together to undercut the event.

“To be perfectly frank, that was not the case,” said Bobko. “As much fun as these forums are, I have other things to do and simply can't get to everything all the time.”

Bobko noted that he and the other candidates already participated in three similar forums. They were sponsored by the League of Women Voters, Leadership Hermosa and the Chamber of Commerce.

Still, Bobko, the two others who cancelled and Brittain briefly met the night before and discussed withdrawing from the forum. Bobko said the group discussed the matter but stressed that it was chitchat rather than guerilla political tactics.

“While it's clear we didn't show up, it wasn't a concerted effort,” Bobko said. “What we're talking about is someone taking personal offense.”

While Duclos declined to return telephone messages seeking comment, Brittain said weightier issues were at play.

“Bottom line, I gave my word and I live up to my word,” she said. “It's the integrity of it - as a council person you have to deal with all audiences.”

Brittain and others, however, said the group's material was freighted with its point of view and too detailed for the occasion.

“It was like a term paper,” she said.

Benson said the group misread his intent and short-shrifted pressing issues.

“I'm disappointed that they had this little powwow on this issue and made a collective decision behind my back,” he said. “I'm worried about crime - and they don't want to answer those questions.”

Of the candidates involved, Brittain was the only one on Tuesday's ballot who did not run last November.

The seat opened when the election's winner, Howard Fishman, declined the post when his wife became ill.

In that contest, Councilman J.R. Reviczky triumphed with Duclos finishing fourth, Bobko fifth and Maxwell seventh among a field of 10 candidates vying for three council seats.