City forging into future on multiple fronts, Mayor declares
by Kevin Cody Hermosa Beach Mayor Justin Massey extolled the city’s progress in addressing affordable housing, homelessness, and e-bike enforcement during a wide ranging State of the City address Friday night, July 12, in the city council chambers. His most notable news was the approval, that day, of the general plan housing element by the […]
Road to Mayoral Transition a bumpy one for Francois
by Kevin Cody Hermosa’s traditionally celebratory mayoral rotation began on an acrimonious note Monday night, July 15, but ended with a conciliatory 4 to 1 council vote to appoint Mayor pro tem Dean Francois as Mayor. Francois was in line to succeed Justin Massey, whose 9.6 month mayoral term ended Monday. Hermosa’s Mayor conducts meetings, […]
Letters to the Editor 7-18-24
Bard street Dear ER: There are growing concerns about the efforts Hermosa Beach Mayor Justin Massey is making to stifle public comment on council business. This comes at a time when Massey and City Manager Suja Lowenthal are warning council members not to talk to the press unless they follow officially approved city talking points. […]
MCHS: Olympian Lelei Fonoimoana
by Kevin Cody Lelei Fonoimoana-Moore competed in the Montreal Olympics in 1976, the same year she graduated from Mira Costa High. She brought home a silver medal from Montreal, after swimming the butterfly for the U.S. 4×100 Medley. And she finished seventh in the individual 100 meter butterfly. Her youngest brother Eric credits watching his […]
MCHS: Olympian Mike Bright
by Kevin Cody Mike “Bones” Bright was the first Olympian to have graduated Mira Costa High School, where he was an All American basketball player, and a star volleyball player. Bright graduated in 1955, five years after the high school opened. Bright competed on the USA National Indoor Volleyball team at the 1964 Olympics In […]
MCHS: Olympian Lelei Fonoimoana
by Kevin Cody Lelei Fonoimoana-Moore competed in the Montreal Olympics in 1976, the same year she graduated from Mira Costa High. She brought home a silver medal from Montreal, after swimming the butterfly for the U.S. 4×100 Medley. And she finished seventh in the individual 100 meter butterfly. Her youngest brother Eric credits watching his […]
MCHS: 2024 Olympic Triathlete Taylor Spivey
Olympic triathlete Taylor Spivey traces success to JGs by Kevin Cody Among the most heartwarming congratulatory notes Taylor Spivey received after qualifying for the 2024 U.S. Triathlon Olympic Team last month were from her former Junior Lifeguard instructors, and the Junior Lifeguards she taught after she became a Los Angeles County Lifeguard. Spivey credits her […]
Letters to the Editor 7-11-24
Not so secret gift Dear ER: What an amazingly heartwarming (and heart breaking) article (“Mr. Hughes’ Secret Gift,” ER July 4, 2024). Although the writer said he didn’t attend the 3rd period service due to embarrassment, it was most likely due to shock, which is understandable for such a young person. This was a beautiful […]
Carol Lawson memorial
Former Kiwanian President Carol Lawson recently passed away at age 79 A memorial for former Hermosa Kiwanian President Carol Lawson will be held Saturday, July 13 at the Kiwanis Hall, at 2515 Valley Drive from noon to 3 p.m. Lawson was an avid beach volleyball player and skier and a long time member of the […]
Crispin brings music, marketing experience to chamber position
Michelle Crispin’s first event as the newly appointed president and CEO of the Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce will be the 75th anniversary celebration of the legendary Lighthouse Cafe on Monday, July 15. The event is consistent with the chamber’s recent efforts to support Hermosa’s cultural, as well as business interests, and with Crispin’s music […]
Search ends on Greek island for Hermosan Albert Calibet
by Kevin Cody The search on the Greek island of Amorgos for Hermosa Beach resident Albert Calibet, 59, has ended, his brother Oliver Calibet announced Monday July 1 on GoFundMe. The retired Los Angeles County Sheriff Deputy was reported missing on June 11, after embarking on what was expected to be a four hour hike. […]
Letters to the Editor 6-27-24
Bonds away Dear ER: After reading the new city wide bond proposals, I was wondering how the impact of the Redondo Beach Unified School District, Beach Cities Health District, and City of Redondo Fire Department bonds might have on our residents problem with affordable housing (“City moves toward fire stations, public safety bond,” ER June […]
Hermosa Mayor Massey advises council don’t talk to press about agenda items
by Kevin Cody Hermosa Beach Mayor Justin Massey advised fellow councilmembers, during a Saturday June 1 council retreat, not to talk to the press about upcoming council meeting agenda items, and not talk to the press about past council meeting agenda items. Prior to each council meeting, the city posts an agenda listing items to […]
Letters to the Editor 6-20-24
Say no more Dear ER: The e-bike enforcement in Hermosa Beach this past weekend was long overdue (“Police Beat: E-bike violations, ER June 13, 2024). The fact that 100 citations were issued is proof of just how bad the problem is. Hopefully enforcements will continue. Robert Aronoff Hermosa Beach The 3% solution Dear ER: […]
Skatepark celebration invites comparisons to today’s e-bikers
by Kevin Cody The evolution of skateboard culture, from outlaw sport, to city sanctioned skate parks and Chamber of Commerce art project, was on display Saturday, June 1 during the 25th anniversary celebration of the Hermosa Beach Skate Park. “When this park opened in 1999, it was the first city skate park in Los Angeles […]
Tight budget getting tighter, Hermosa Beach finance director tells council
by Kevin Cody Hermosa Beach Finance Director Viki Copeland presented what she described as a “tightly balanced” budget to the City Council at its Tuesday, June 11 meeting. General fund revenue for 2024-25 is projected to be $54.3 million, up three percent from the preceding fiscal year. Expenditures are projected to be $52.8 million, up […]