What's Up In Seal Beach

Here’s a fly-over of “What’s Up’s” Favorite new Destroyer

Wilm — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:52:32 +0000

Much has been said..EVERYWHERE… of the U.S.S. Dewey. Here she is in all her beauty…and with that beauty comes power that will make the bad guys think about being good guys. This is the newest ship of its class and we will hear from her soon.

photo by J Rootlieb

Once upon a time we were competing with San Francisco for our name?

Wilm — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:15:14 +0000

photo by Stephanie Lees

Yes were only celebrating the City’s 95th Anniversary and we know it’s older than that…but that’s not the entire story.

In 1915 people were debating the issue of a new name and city incorporation for Bay City.

Philip Stanton, was the developer of “Bay City” . The California State Assemblyman was busy pushing for city
incorporation under a new name to avoid confusion with San Francisco’s nickname which was also Bay City.

He had also convinced Orange County to give us sewers, water lines and electricity if we did not annex to Long Beach. After the vote was counted, it was 86 -14 for Bay City to become Seal Beach and also to become a city. It was made official October 27, 1915.

A crowd of 500 people celebrated by sitting down to “a banquet from the sea” including local fresh fish, speeches, entertainment and dancing all night at the Dance Pavilion that included fireworks at the end of the pier.

95 years later in 2010, Seal Beach will commemorate its 95th birthday durint all of the month of October. Our population has grown far beyond, the original 250 but today’s locals will have a chance to celebrate with the same excitement as in 1915….and keep the “Baghdad by the Bay” citizens from trying to steal our name again.

The Seal Beach Founders Day Committee is currently planning the festivities and we’re open to all the suggestions you have.

Here is a preview:

On Saturday, October 2, the Founders Day Committee will host a banquet and dancing. A tennis tournament at Seal Beach Tennis Center and a golf tournament at the Bixby Village Golf Course with awards presented at a buffet in the Senior Center are in the plans. A Taste of Seal Beach event is also scheduled with cards for various restaurants selling for $25 sold during the summer and September to be used for the month of October. Free Meals will be given to residents who were in attendance at the original dedication in 1915, however, you will have to present your birthcertificate and driver’s licenense

On Sunday, October 10, a Founders Day parade will march around the greenbelt that will have booths and

activities for children . Food will be available and live entertainment from two stages. The yearly sidewalk sale
on Main Street will be in full swing.Of course, the refurbished Red Car Museum will also be open on Festival Day, allowing Founders Day celebrants and revelers a fascinating glimpse at the city’s intriguing history.

At this early date we don’t have all the dates and times decided but you can keep checking back to our website http://www.sealbeachfoundersday.com as we gather more information. We will also have articles and
coverage in local newspapers as the celebration draws closer.

T-shirts and sweatshirts will be sold on the Pier every Saturday and Sunday and elsewhere for 5 months prior
to the events. The money raised will be given to supplement the Seal Beach Parks and Recreation programs

with the emphasis on teen fitness.Any and all ideas are welcome. Please sign up to be a volunteer for YOUR website. This is going to be a lot of fun and…….95 years from now your great, grandchildren will see how you memorialized the town’s birthday in 2010.

We need YOU!

Libby Appelgate – Founders Day Committee correspondent Applelib@aol.com

Oscar Night Full of Humor, Grace and Karmic Lessons

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:46:24 +0000

What makes every contest more interesting is a back story, whether it be the Superbowl or the Oscars a little drama goes a long way to help make for a more interesting viewing experience. Whether you were rooting for the underdog, the ex, or the hometown girl with a great sense of humor you were likely not disappointed with the results of tonight’s Oscars.

Kathryn Bigelow was awarded the Best Director Oscar for Hurt Locker over James Cameron for Avatar, making her the first female to win the honor. Hurt Locker won a total of six Oscars including Best Picture. Not to discount her talent or quality of the movie but perhaps a lesson in karma is also to be had. Bigelow was married to (and divorced) James Cameron back in the 90’s when he allegedly had an affair with his next wife Linda Hamilton on the set of Terminator 2.

Hometown favorite, Sandra Bullock won for Best Actress, just one night after accepting a Razzie award in Hollywood for her role in “All About Steve”, making her the first actress (or Actor for that matter) to win both a Razzie and an Oscar in the same weekend. Bullock’s acceptance speech was poignant yet funny including a moment where she thanked her Mother for raising her to be accepting of all people while joking about Meryl Streep being “a great kisser” in a way that only Sandra Bullock could pull off.

As predicted the Best Actor Oscar went to Jeff Bridges for his role in “Crazy Heart”. Comedian Mo’Nique won for Best Supporting Actress for her dramatic role as Mary Jones, an abused and criminally abusive mother, in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push” by Sapphire.”

Video of Sandra Bullock Winning Razzie Award on Saturday Night:

Video of Sandra Bullock Winning Oscar Award on Sunday Night (poor quality):

Let’s protect the sharks before its too late ?

Wilm — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:24:26 +0000

So you don’t believe that sharks are endangered and you don’t think there are more giant squid than usual?

Well I’ve talked to several local fisherman lately who’ve told me that they believe the local squid population is destroying other local fish population.

Also we know that the giant Great White Sharks are traveling great distances. Sometimes from the South Pacific, close to 2,000 miles, to get to an area where the giant squid seem to gather . A spot in the middle of the North Pacific between San Francisco and Hawaii … to dine on the squid that also gather there.. That’s a long trip for Sunday dinner.

For the whole story go: tohttp://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-shark7-2010mar07,0,5015116.story

Huntington Beach Events

Wilm — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:00:25 +0000

CITY ADMINISTRATOR- Charter Review Commission- The Charter Review Commission will review and finalize all of their recommendations at the March 16 meeting. Unless substantive changes are necessary, a final vote on recommended amendments to the Charter as a whole will take place at the April 6 meeting. The final recommendations of the commission will be forwarded to the City Council for their review.

CITY TREASURER - Tip of the Week – Feeling Sleepy?Get up and take a brisk walk around the block, or even just down the hall. Being upright and active will speed oxygen to your brain and give your energy levels a much-needed boost.

COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT- Beach Maintenance – The beach, pier, and parking lots were closed for several hours on Saturday due to a Tsunami warning. On Sunday, waves reaching 16 feet and high tide of 6.3 flooded the beach service road in the morning causing temporary closure for several hours. Beach Maintenance Crews were able to get sand berms up in front of the beach condos and Lifeguard Headquarters before flooding occurred. Clean up from the recent storms continued with the beach crew removing over 3,400 cubic yards of debris from the beach over the last two weeks.

Junior Lifeguard Preparation Class – The 2010 Junior Lifeguard Program is just around the corner. Experienced instructors will help your child improve their swimming skills and teach them tricks to improve their time during the scheduled tryouts in May. This preparation class begins on March 8 and will be held twice a week on either Monday and Wednesday, or Tuesday and Thursday for $205. Additionally, your child may attend all four days for $355. Classes are conducted at the Marina High School Pool on Springdale and Edinger from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Please log onto hbsands.org for registration information.

Upcoming HB Reads Author Event- Huntington Beach Reads One Book brings the authors of “They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky” to Huntington Beach on Thursday, March 11, 2010. Sudanese refugees now living in Southern California, the authors’ compelling story and their gentle, positive spirit is a moving experience. After fleeing their villages in southern Sudan, Benson Deng, Alephonsion Deng and Benjamin Ajak—all under the age of seven—survived on their own for five years before reaching a northern Kenya refugee camp. They became known to the world as the “Lost Boys of Sudan.”

A rare visit to Long Beach by “Liberty Belle

Wilm — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:52:26 +0000

The fully restored World War II Boeing B-17 Bomber is doing her final flight check before taking flight over Long Beach and Los Angeles in March

Miss Liberty Belle

The Liberty Foundation’s Salute to Veterans Tour, which began in Atlanta, has been making it’s way across the United States. The Liberty Belle will land at Long Beach Airport this weekend.

Public flights will be available March 6-7 at the Long Beach Airport and next weekend, March 13-14, at the Burbank Airport. The Liberty Belle usually flies from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day with ground tours after the flights.

The B-17 “Liberty Belle” takes passengers on a flight back-in-time that inspires respect for the men and women who gave so much to protect America’s freedoms. The flight begins with an historical briefing about the significance of the B-17, then takes to the air for a scenic tour over the local area.

Curious residents that prefer to keep both feet on the ground can visit the air field to watch the Liberty Belle fly and take a ground tour.

A total of 12,732 B-17’s were produced from 1935–1945. Today, fewer than 100 exist and fewer still are in airworthy condition.

The Liberty Foundation’s B-17 “Liberty Belle” is one of only 14 B-17’s that still fly today. “Liberty Belle” was built towards the end of the war and never saw any combat. It is painted in the colors and nose art of the original “Liberty Belle” B-17 that flew countless missions with the 390th bomb group of the 8th Airforce.

Flights are $430 for non Liberty Foundation members and $390 for foundation members. Call 918-340-0243 to schedule your flight.

The Liberty Foundation relies solely on donations and contributions to help defray the B-17’s high operational expense and maintenance costs.

Watch the slideshow below for photos of the Liberty Belle B-17 Bomber flights go to: http://www.everythinglongbeach.com/liberty-belle-restored-b17-bomber-to-fly-over-long-beach-and-la/

Buffet calls out Financial Leaders

Wilm — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 18:27:47 +0000

Berkshire Hathaway chairman suggests Wall Street execs have gotten off lightly

Buffett used his update on subsidiary Clayton Homes, the largest producer of modular and manufactured homes, to touch off a discussion of the U.S. housing market.

Warren Buffett sees a housing-market turnaround coming. In addressing oversupply, Buffett said the economy reduced new housing starts to a number well below the rate of household formations.

“[This] means that within a year or so residential housing problems should largely be behind us.

To read the entire article go to : http://www.marketwatch.com/story/buffett-calls-out-financial-leaders-2010-02-27?pagenumber=2Buff

Seal Beach Firm Searches for Maritime Executive for Port of Tacoma

Wilm — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 17:36:11 +0000

The Port of Tacoma Commission on Tuesday selected Shey-Harding, a Seal Beach, Calif.-based executive search firm, to help the port find a new executive director.

The commissioners heard from three finalists and chose Shey-Harding oof Seal Beach because of its flexibility, industry involvement and available resources, said Tara Mattina, the port’s spokeswoman.

The board has said it is looking for a company that has experience recruiting maritime industry executives, planning and conducting outreach and communications related to the search, and helping negotiate an agreement with a final candidate.

The port received nine proposals from firms vying for the contract. Only one of the companies – Seattle-based Waldron & Co. – was from Washington state.

Port staff members plan to check the winning company’s references and negotiate a contract to bring to the commission, perhaps as early as March 4, for approval, Mattina said.

The contract amount hasn’t been decided. But Shey-Harding’s proposal stated that the company charges 25 percent of the hired director’s first-year base salary. The former director made about $220,000 a year.

Tim Farrell left the port at the end of last year. Deputy director John Wolfe is working as the port’s interim director until a new leader is found.

OC’s most Delicious Dining event returns February 28th – March 6th

admin — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 15:41:16 +0000

More than 100 restaurants across Orange County’s vast dining landscape are ready to dish up amazing food at fantastic prices during Orange County’s most anticipated culinary event.

From all corners of the county this foodie celebration provides OC locals the opportunity to indulge in a selection of specially priced prix fixe menus from over 100 of Orange County’s best Restaurants. These menus showcase some of the region’s most talented chefs who have personalized each menu to reflect their culinary style. The prix fixe menus are priced at $10, $15 and $20 per person for lunch, and $20, $30 or $40 per person for dinner. The only thing to make for dinner during Restaurant Week is reservations!

This is the time for food lovers to try new places, get groups of friend and dine out and just really enjoy a week of fabulous dining. Start planning your week of dining out.

For more information visit OrangeCountyRestaurantWeek.com.

Sun and Snow at Seal Beach Pier

admin — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 19:07:32 +0000

Snow and Beach by Ken Welch Photography