A FOOTFUL FIASCO:
MB WEEKLY READER POLL REVEALS 9% SUFFER FROM STINKY FEET
Surprisingly, the latest MB Weekly Reader Poll unveiled a surprising statistic: 9% of respondents admit to suffering from malodorous feet. Though not earth-shattering, this revelation highlights a common yet often overlooked issue. Foot odor, typically caused by bacteria breaking down sweat, affects a significant portion of the population. Experts suggest regular hygiene, breathable footwear, and moisture-wicking socks can help combat this pesky problem. The poll has sparked many discussions among readers, with many sharing tips and remedies. This quirky finding sheds light on personal hygiene habits and brings a humorous twist to the usually mundane realm of reader polls. As summer approaches, it’s a timely reminder to keep our feet fresh and clean.
MB WEEKLY:
The Faces of Manhattan Beach
Katja Newman (Managing Partner At La Cienega Vineyard)
Q: WHEN DID YOU FIRST ARRIVE IN MANHATTAN BEACH, AND WHY?
A: I moved with my husband Sam and oldest son Jakob to Manhattan Beach in September 2001 to be closer to family and get away from the Washington DC weather. We welcomed our second son Max in 2003.
Q: HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH LA CIENEGA VINEYARD?
A: My parents retired in 1994 and planted Cabernet Sauvignon vines on 43 acres in Alexander Valley, Sonoma in 1997. For 20 years they sold their grapes to premium winemakers in Napa and Sonoma. In 2015 Sam and I joined the business, and in 2018 we produced our own commercial label. With help from a group of South Bay friends, I created the Ladies Round Table advisory group, and we are now on our fifth vintage or award-winning wines.
Q: WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF RUNNING THE VINEYARD?
A: Farming is tough, and vineyards are no exception. Great wine is only made possible with quality grapes. We face obstacles every year – drought, fire, frost, heat waves, pests, not to mention changing market trends. Running a vineyard requires knowledge and experience in everything from soil to social media. Thankfully, it is a very collaborative industry. Neighboring farms help each other, winemakers share their wisdom, associations, shops, and restaurants promote our product, and most importantly, friends enjoy, celebrate, and share our wines.
Q: WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
A: I am first generation American (mom Danish, dad Austrian). I was born in Los Altos, CA, but moved to Quito, Ecuador, when I was 15. It was there that I fell in love with Latin America, and focused on the region in my studies and career. La Cienega Vineyard gets its name from a beautiful hacienda my family often visited outside Quito.
Q: WHAT’S YOUR ASTROLOGY SIGN?
A: Leo.
Q: WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE OF ALL TIME?
A: The Sound of Music.
Q: WHAT PROBLEM MOST CONCERNS YOU ABOUT MANHATTAN BEACH IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS?
A: I’m concerned about accessibility, and the growing disparity between those who can afford to live here and those who cannot. I think our community would be enriched by greater inclusivity. This is also true for the wine industry – we constantly seek to introduce our wines to a larger audience.
www.LaCienegaVineyard.com
Slay Italian Kitchen:
Crafted with passion, served with love.
Pizza night done right!
www.SlayItalianKitchen.com
MB WEEKLY:
The Faces of Manhattan Beach
Neighborhood Watch’s Charlotte Lesser
(Part One)
Q: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED IN THE MANHATTAN BEACH NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH?
A: As creator and director of MBNW I have been involved since 1980. But I alone could not have directed this nationally recognized program without the dedicated involvement of literally hundreds of citizen volunteers serving as executive members, Area Coordinators, block captains, and office volunteers, like Millie Newton and Sally Rendler. They along with the involvement of the men and women of our MB Police Department have made this program what it is today.
Q: WHAT MADE YOU INITIALLY GET INVOLVED?
A: I learned about Neighborhood Watch, a citizen run program to help reduce crime, while at a PTA conference. As a member of the LB Junior League, I had been trained in procedures to create projects using skills such as community organizing, facilitation, project structure etc. Our local press reported that our community was experiencing 100+ residential burglaries per month at the time. I worked with a small group of residents, three police reserve officers, members of the press and my city council husband to investigate and detail a program that would fit our community using the information provided by the Office of Criminal Justice Planning. At a packed house community meeting held at Joslyn Center in April of 1980, I detailed what the program would look like and asked for help from those present. Hundreds of people offered to give time and support to the MB Neighborhood Watch. The success of the program is attributed to both the three year effort by reserve officers to provide training and the willingness of citizens to host meetings where neighbors learned how to secure homes, watch out for suspicious persons, and be the eyes of the police on their blocks. It, along with the institution of the South Bay Burglary Team and a new Canine Officer, netted a significant reduction (averaging less than 20 per month) in residential burglaries by the third year of meetings. Today we rarely see residential burglaries of much significance.
Q: WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF RUNNING THE MANHATTAN BEACH NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH?
A: Honestly, the program has been well received, actively supported, and heavily involved by our community for most of these 45 years. Recently, post Covid and with many new families moving into town with homes that are equipped with Ring Doorbells, cameras, and movement activated lights, there has been a greater need for MBNW to reach out and educate the community that the benefit of involvement is in the connection with neighbors and the willingness to support one another when it comes to crime prevention.
Q: WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST GRATIFYING ASPECT?
A: I think the most gratifying aspect is that IT WORKS! Additionally, I have met and worked with some of the most dedicated volunteers and members of the MBPD who have become good friends and whom I would never have known had it not been for our mutual involvement in MBNW.
[Neighborhood Watch Liaison Mirna Puma… mbnw@manhattanbeach.gov]
Fast food is getting expensive in Manhattan Beach.
Manhattan Beach Has Its First City-Sponsored Juneteenth Celebration With Two Days Of Events:
This Juneteenth, Manhattan Beach will have a ceremony to commemorate the day the last Black Americans heard slavery had ended and a more significant festival the following weekend to honor Black history and culture. This is Manhattan Beach’s first city-sponsored Juneteenth event, and the city agreed to hold them through 2026, with an anonymous contribution funding part of each year. Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865, when the last Black Americans were emancipated. Two years after the Emancipation Proclamation gave formerly enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, freedom, they heard the news. After George Floyd’s murder by Minneapolis police in 2020 caused a countrywide racial awakening, Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021. Kavon Ward’s 2020 Juneteenth gathering at Bruce’s Beach revived its racial heritage.
MB WEEKLY – COMMENTARY:
by Fred Taylor (Community Activist & 48-year Resident of Manhattan Beach)
Have you noticed a difference in town lately? First of all, thank Mayor Joe and the City Council for posting American flags all over the city in honor of Memorial Day. We all too often are quick to focus on segments of our community and overlook the amazing nation we live in. Thank you. I’ve appreciated the refreshing air of comity Mayor Joe has brought to the city. It’s starting to feel more like M.B. should feel. The post-Floyd years followed by the nasty pandemic bought a level of “snark” and discord as we recall the press for Bruce’s Beach amends and the imposition of a D.E.I. [Didn’t Earn It] agenda into the Council. Thankfully, Joe Franklin has ushered in a fondness for M.B. that is most welcomed. I asked him recently for the three pressing issues facing the city: Public safety – Defeating Gascon & passing AB 2309, allowing us to prosecute misdemeanors; Homelessness – our protocol is effective, but needs full support along with neighboring city cooperation; Sacramento overreach – autonomy fighting high-density projects – great foresight on the Mayor’s part. Joe is simply a Manhattan Beach-loving resident, a faithful family man who delights in embracing and serving our city. His common sense approach is most welcome as we return to a more gracious beach city.
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MB WEEKLY – VIDEO SHORTS:
by Mori Biener
Join The Party … Mori Makes Short MB Weekly Videos
Fiesta Hermosa 2024
https://youtu.be/JEk5DH1d4Vs
MB WEEKLY – RESTAURANT REVIEW:
by Darby Winston
O-Sho Sushi
O-Sho Sushi on Sepulveda Blvd. in Manhattan Beach is a longstanding local favorite, serving patrons for the past 32 years. Respected for its fresh fish and traditional Japanese dishes, the restaurant offers a family-friendly atmosphere that keeps customers returning. Since May 2017, the quality has remained good under the new ownership of Hiro Kamiya. Hiro’s dedication is evident as he selects the freshest fish from the market several times a week, ensuring excellent quality and fair pricing. With 15 years of experience and a family history in the restaurant business, Hiro brings a personal touch to O-Sho Sushi. While the service feels impersonal, the consistently good food attempts to make up for it. O-Sho Sushi is a solid choice for those seeking authentic Japanese cuisine in Manhattan Beach at a reasonable price.
Food: B+ • Service: C(barely) • Atmosphere: B
www.O-ShoSushi.com
Lido Bakery:
Home of the Most Extraordinary Wedding Cakes
Lido Bakery first opened its doors in 2003. Ernesto Valenzuela started Lido Bakery with his mother, Evelinda, with the dream of bringing back what had become a rarity: the neighborhood bakery. Inspired by a sense of commitment to our community, Lido Bakery offers a full range of baked goods – each carefully crafted with the finest natural ingredients. “We also bake in a little bit of love with every bite!”
www.LidoBakery.com
CRIME IN MANHATTAN BEACH:
** On May 21, a shoplifter was arrested for stealing items from the Old Navy store. About 40 minutes after being released from the Manhattan Beach Police Department jail, the same shoplifter was re-arrested for stealing items from the Vons store. The suspect was given a citation, and the stolen items were returned to Vons.
** Another theft occurred at the Vons on May 25 – a grand theft. A suspect stole medications with a price tag of about $1,400. The suspect told the Vons employee, “Have a blessed day,” and left the store.
** MBPD officers responded to a report of persons on the top of the 8th Street water tower on May 26. Two juveniles were already climbing from the tower when MBPD officers arrived and fled the scene. One of the juveniles was cited and released to a parent. The other got away. But MBPD impounded the two’s e-bikes for safekeeping.
** There were 39 crime reports taken in Manhattan Beach from May 23 to May 29, including one for assault, seven for theft, one for residential burglary, and five for vandalism.
MB WEEKLY – READER COMMENT:
“MB Weekly does an extraordinary job of living up to its great motto! –Once A Week But Never Weakly.” —- Oscar O., Manhattan Beach
MB WEEKLY – COMMENTARY:
by Mark Burton (Former Mayor of Manhattan Beach)
Bob Holmes
As a Manhattan Beach resident, I want to commend our former Mayor and Councilmember, Mr. Bob Holmes, for his distinguished record of public service. Bob served as a Captain in the Army during the Vietnam War. Bob has assisted our MBUSD in employment matters over the years. Bob has served several terms on our City Council as Mayor and Councilmember. Bob has served the Republican Party at the regional and local level, including many years serving the South Bay Republicans. Most importantly, Bob loves our community.
Please share your comment: MBWeekly@TimeWire.net (Maximum 100 words)
SOUTH BAY AWARD-WINNING DOG WALKER:
Silvia Zambon
Experience – Care – Kindness
310-714-9877
AlohaMyDogs@gmail.com
MB WEEKLY – CARTOON:
“Even on the beach, there’s no way to opt out of messages in an election season in Manhattan Beach.”
MB WEEKLY – COMMENTARY:
by Clay Tobias
Thomas L. Friedman’s recent appearance at the Distinguished Speaker Series at the Redondo Art Center was nothing short of mesmerizing. With his unparalleled intellect and gift for clarity, Friedman effortlessly decoded complex ideas, leaving the audience in awe of his extraordinary genius. His ability to make the seemingly inscrutable understandable and fascinating is a testament to his remarkable talent. Throughout the event, Friedman’s insights illuminated the intricacies of our world, offering profound perspectives on pressing global issues. His dynamic presentation style and engaging demeanor further enhanced the experience, captivating the audience from start to finish. In an age where complexity often obscures understanding, Friedman’s brilliance shines as a guiding light, illuminating the path forward with clarity and insight. The Distinguished Speaker Series, created in Manhattan Beach, continues to be an extraordinary gift to our community.
Please share your comment: MBWeekly@TimeWire.net (Maximum 100 words)
MB WEEKLY – READER QUESTION:
DO YOU REGULARLY WATCH “WHEEL OF FORTUNE”?
Please share your comment with thousands and thousands of your neighbors in Manhattan Beach and surrounding South Bay communities.
Send Your reply To: MBWeekly@TimeWire.net (Maximum 100 words)
Russ Lesser
(Dive N’ Surf)
Q: WHAT IS YOUR BEST HABIT AND YOUR WORST ONE?
A: My best habit is the ability to analyze a situation and make a good decision most of the time. My worst habit is my total lack of patience.
Q: WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST INDULGENCE?
A: As far as physical things, it would be the three vacation homes we own in Mammoth, Palm Springs and Hawaii. As far as behavior it would be traveling.
Q: WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE CREATIVELY STUCK?
A: I have found that my creative mind works best while exercising. When walking or running my mind focuses out everything else and becomes more creative. I used to carry a small tape recorder with me and record ideas as they came to me.
Q: HOW DO YOU EXERCISE?
A: For many years I ran four or more miles each morning and did sixteen marathons. We also ski and scuba dive. Now at age 83 I walk or bike every day. I have walked or run more than sixty thousand miles in the past fifty years. Most people say they don’t know which is dumber, running that much or keeping track of it.
Q: HOW DO YOU UNPLUG?
A: I go to the beach, practice music as I play in a band with my two sons, three grandkids and some friends, and read crummy novels.
Q: IS THERE A BOOK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND TO EVERYONE?
A: When I was one year old, my aunt gave me a book titled “Make Way For Ducklings.” It was the first book my parents read to me. When we have friends or relatives who have a new baby we give them a copy of this book, with the instructions to read it to their child. It helped give me a love for reading and hopefully will do the same for their child.
Q: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUR YOUNGER SELF?
A: I started out college as an engineering major, hated it from day one, and dropped out after two years. I went back to college and became an accounting major and had a great career as CPA before becoming president of Body Glove. My advice to my younger me is don’t waste two years in a major you hate.
Q: DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PODCAST?
A: I don’t really watch podcasts and am not on Facebook or anything else. However, I am a regular reader of the Babylon Bee. First, I tend to agree with most of their political viewpoints, and second, am amazed at how they come up with the amazing satire on a daily basis.
Q: WHAT IS YOUR MANTRA?
A: I have two. First, I wake up each morning, look at my wife and say, “I am the luckiest man in the world to have Charlotte as my wife.” Second, “Learn to get the satisfaction of giving.” I believe if you are successful in our capitalistic economic system you have an obligation to give back, first with time and talent which is why I got involved in local politics and served as mayor and councilman in Manhattan Beach among other things, and with treasure, as in supporting worthy causes and charities.
1. ** From Darkness to Light: Share Your Triumph on Our Global Stage! Have you conquered the impossible? Our acclaimed TV conversation show, now in its 9th incredible year on YouTube, is seeking extraordinary individuals who have triumphed over homelessness, addiction, gang life, prostitution, incarceration, and more. We’re not here to sensationalize your story but to inspire hope through honest, open conversations. Be the beacon of hope that others need. Please send your details and contact information to our Associate Producer, Aurora DeRose, at Aurora411@TimeWire.net
2. ** Let’s hope the City ends the foolish effort for an Aquatics Center in Polliwog Park. Common sense would tell you that there is room for only one school pool in Polliwog Park. The City needs to leave Polliwog Park alone and focus on protecting and preserving this extraordinary natural habitat and open space park that our residents value. —- Mark B., Manhattan Beach
3. ** The burger at Tin Roof is A+ —- Howie S., Manhattan Beach
4. ** Kathy Griffin’s comedy tour cancelled on three dates due to terribly low ticket sales. —- Bruce M., Manhattan Beach
5. ** Many cars were broken into on our block. This is probably the third time this month. Call Hermosa Police if you notice anything. —- Hank Y., Hermosa Beach
6. ** If you have a student loan, it is YOUR responsibility to pay it back. Not mine. —- Virginia G., Manhattan Beach
7. ** Seventy-nine percent of adults arrested with illegal guns in D.C. get away without any felony conviction. Crazy Second Amendment hot take here, but how about we start by enforcing existing gun laws? —- Darcy C., Manhattan Beach
8. ** Teenagers on e-bikes and dirtbikes blocked traffic and threatened Aviation and Rosecrans drivers. About 12 12-16-year-olds. They dominated all lanes and drove dangerously. No police! —- Heather M., Hermosa Beach
9. ** Governor Kristi Noem is totally full of s—t! —- Hank Y., Manhattan Beach
10. ** A man was hospitalized after he was shot at a Redondo Beach Hotel late Tuesday night, police said. The Redondo Beach Police Department received a report of a shooting at the Redondo Pier Inn at about 11:17 p.m. When officers arrived, they found a man with a gunshot wound in his upper torso near the front of the hotel. —- Editor’s Note
11. ** A culture is defined and stabilized by its childrearing traditions. Tinkering with a culture’s childrearing traditions, as we have done over the last forty years, destabilizes both the family and the culture. For proof of this, look around you. —- Dr. John R., Manhattan Beach
12. ** The crazies can’t stop! For housing, backers of a half-cent sales tax in L.A. County seek a ballot measure. More money for the Homeless Industrial Complex! —- Damien C., Manhattan Beach
13. ** I wish the police could catch the Manhattan Beach car thieves as fast as they notice cars needing parking tickets. —- Kathy A., Manhattan Beach
14. ** Our Police Chief has a great sense of humor. —- Kim S., Manhattan Beach
15. ** A new poll has found that about three-quarters of renters and people under 35 have considered leaving L.A. despite wanting to buy a home here. The reason? High housing costs. Duh? —- Kate D., Manhattan Beach
16. ** Find YOUR Why? —- www.MichaelLevineConsulting.com
17. ** I’m not sympathetic to your complaint nor the fines incurred for illegal parking. All Southern California beach communities have the same parking issues. Living near Highland exasperates your problem. Renting a garage is an option? Renting 1/2 of a driveway? Drive around, and if the parking is a distance from your home, consider the walk exercise. Stop comparing yourself to others; you are blessed you can afford beach living. —- Gaye S., Manhattan Beach
18. ** I watched a group of lads on e-bikes wearing ski masks carelessly racing past stop signs and throwing a large firework at a group of older adults. It seemed like they were attempting to hurl it at another group of boys, but it’s still terrible. —- Linda T., Hermosa Beach
19. ** Steve Napolitano will make an excellent judge. —- Vince T., Manhattan Beach
20. ** California adopts one of the nation’s highest fixed-utility fees. For most people, the charge will be $24.15 per month, which is the cost of installing and maintaining the utilities’ equipment. Boo! Another rip-off. —- Didi H., Manhattan Beach
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