Thursday, April 28, 2011

"Single Fin Memorial Swim for Rick Stoner" Remembered, by Jim Graham

Head's Up !

Here is another Fin contribution, this time from Jim Graham. Thanks Jim!


Here goes:

"Hey Will:

In the summer of 1977, while working as a JG instructor at Avenue C in Redondo, our fellow lifeguard and surfboard shop owner Rick Stoner passed away, suddenly and sadly. The Headquarters Crew (Paul Matthies, Steve Wood, etc.) circulated a flyer to all County Headquarters announcing there would be a "memorial swim" for Rick from 8th Street in Hermosa to the Hermosa Pier (Rick's daily workout) beginning around 6:00 p.m. (This was a weekday and allowed anyone interested to make arrangements to be there after their work day ended). Now it was well documented that Rick, not a great swimmer, always swam with one Churchill fin on, so, needless to say, more than a hundred lifeguards, surfers and beach friends showed up at the 8th Street tower, most all of them with one fin to swim the short distance to the Pier. (It was one of the more memorable and inspired send-offs of a fellow waterman in my memory). After the swim, where most were able to say "goodbye" to Rick during that most private time, most everyone retired to the POOP DECK, owned at the time by Steve Wood and Steve Voorhees, for an evening of celebrating our good friends too short life.

Jim Graham (Retired)
Santa Monica (1959 - 1962)
L.A. County (1962 - 1984)

p.s. Paul Matthies may have a photo of the crowd on the beach toasting Rick with Champagne prior to the swim. It was super."

*** *** ***

Editor's note:
Here is an excerpt from a tribute to Rick Stoner from LastWave.com, as well as a link to the full article:

Excerpt from LastWave.com:

Rick Surfboards (1964)

(Photo source: LastWave.com)

"Rick Stoner was born in San Diego, California in 1937 and grew up in Hermosa Beach. His life as a lifeguard, surfer and surfboard builder paralleled that of his good friend and former business partner Bing Copeland. Both were Los Angeles County lifeguards, both became accomplished surfboard designer/shapers, and both were mentored by the late Dale Velzy in the early '50s..."

http://www.lastwave.com/legends/rick-surfboards


---

For the complete Fin coverage on our blog, please see:


(1) GOT FINS?!...

http://countyrecurrent.blogspot.com/2011/04/got-fins.html

*** And be sure to click on the "comments" section at the conclusion of this blog post for the additional fin stories contributed by some of our colleagues, including Jim Graham's story above.

(2) Are We Having Fin Yet ?!...

http://countyrecurrent.blogspot.com/2010/10/are-we-have-fin-yet.html


*** *** ***

Until next time.....



"County Recurrent" News

http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com


Service • Training • Commitment

*** Keeping the County Recurrent "in the loop"..... whether he/she likes it or NOT ! ***

DISCLAIMER:
County Recurrent is not affiliated with nor sponsored by LACOLA or LACoFD.

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Swimming Efforts Touted !

Great story referenced by "Swimming World" discussing efforts to teach swimming to ethnic minority groups.

"Excerpt only":

Race in the Water -- April 28, 2011

Feature by Jenny Wilson
, Swimming World intern

EVANSTON, Illinois, April 28. A recent University of Memphis study commissioned by USA Swimming investigated swimming ability in minority youth. The study reported that nearly 70 percent of African-American children don't know how to swim, compared to only 40 percent of white children. Similarly, the non-swimming rate for Hispanic children is close to 60 percent.

Full article link:

http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/27066.asp?q=Race-in-the-Water

*** *** ***

Until next time.....


"County Recurrent" News
http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com

Service • Training • Commitment

*** Keeping the County Recurrent "in the loop"..... whether he/she likes it or NOT ! ***

DISCLAIMER: County Recurrent is not affiliated with nor sponsored by LACOLA or LACoFD.

*** PLEASE forward to other Recurrents, past and present, so that we can add them to our mailing list. ***

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Monday, April 25, 2011

GOT FINS?!...


("Rescue Fins". SMHQ, 04.25.2011 @0900 hrs. Photo by Will Maguire.)

This blog is devoted to Fins. Send us a fin story about a rescue where fins made a difference. Send us a photo and we will add it to this blog. The point is to have Fin!


Your cooperation and enthusiasm and contributions are greatly appreciated.

10-4


Until next time.....


"County Recurrent" News

http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com


Service • Training • Commitment

*** Keeping the County Recurrent "in the loop"..... whether he/she likes it or NOT ! ***

DISCLAIMER: County Recurrent is not affiliated with nor sponsored by LACOLA or LACoFD.

*** PLEASE forward to other Recurrents, past and present, so that we can add them to our mailing list. ***

*** OPT IN *** Just send us an email and we will add you to the list.

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Friday, April 22, 2011

"My Moment with Bill Clinton", by Jackie Burke Carswell


Photo above: Third from left on hood of vehicle is Lisa Dial-Timmerman, with Jackie Burke Carswell, second from left.

SMHQ, Santa Monica Crew Photo Session, Summer 1989.

In this photo, L2R: Dave Estey, Ralph Lee, Lisa Babcock, Dick Orr, Jackie Burke Carswell, Dan Atkins, Mike Frazer, Lisa Dial- Timmerman, Will Maguire, Yoko Shibata, Jeff Gaines, Jay Hopkins, Garth Canning. Photo courtesy of Will Maguire.

---


Just in at our request from Retired LACo Recurrent, Jackie Burke Carswell, all the way from Kauai!


"My Moment with Bill Clinton", by Jackie Burke Carswell

I recently got an email from Will stating that President Obama was in L.A. "Watch out for traffic!" Some funny memories started to flood my brain so I reply, "I have a hat for him!" Will replies back "LOL Jackie. You need to tell the great story of you running up to Pres Clinton!... with the secret service drawing down on you."

OK so here is The Story. It is 1992 and Bill Clinton is campaigning for President. It was Spring Break and I was working SMN T-15. I was on the early shift and my fellow lifeguard buddy, Lisa Dial, was working SMN T-12. I had heard rumors that morning that Clinton was jogging on the bike path in Santa Monica. I was just finishing up my workout when I hear my phone ring.
It’s Lisa Dial and she says, "Hey Jackie, see that guy on the bike path with the purple shorts and white t-shirt? THAT’S Bill Clinton!"

"Thanks I see him," I reply. It was one of those sunny slow mornings at the beach and no one was in the water, actually hardly anyone was on the beach yet, and Lisa was watching my water. So even though I was still in my bikini (because I had been working out) I sprint back to the bike path and see that Clinton is in my view with a couple of Secret Service guys lagging behind. As I run back I yell, "Hey Bill". He slows down, actually he was going so slow and sweating so profusely that I think he was happy for the interruption. He stops, turns around, looks at me and starts walking toward me. His Secret Service guys apparently have no sense of humor and immediately reach for their guns but don't try and stop me. I'm thinking they can't possibly think I'm "packing" in my bikini...or could they?!

Anyways, I jog up to Clinton and say, "Hey Bill I think you need some shade" and then I hand him my lifeguard hat. He was a little out of breath, but he puts on the hat and puts out his hand to me. He pulls me close to his body and then starts French kissing me...NOT! Just joking on the kissing part. I shake his hand and say "Jackie Burke. Good luck!" He says "Thanks" and continues to jog under the pier. His Secret Service guys now very close behind.

Not really thinking too much about what I had done, I go back to my tower and continue on with my day. But apparently Bill had run to the Lowe's Hotel and done a television news interview with MY lifeguard hat on!! And then my phone starts ringing!! First its Chief Rohrer telling me about Clinton’s television appearance with MY hat on. He mentions I should be the PR Spokesman for LACO. I am beginning to realize just how much attention this has received. The phone rings again, I answer "Tower 15, Burke". A seductive male voice on the other end says, "Yes, is this the lifeguard that gave me the hat?" "Ah, yes thats me." "Well this is Bill Clinton and I would like to thank you for giving me your hat. Would you like to come up to my room for a drink?" OMG at this point I am getting chills in my body, turning red and thinking WHAT ?!! I am, of course, totally speechless. Then I hear male giggles in the background, probably Spitler. I now know for sure that this ISN'T Bill Clinton but I'm calling the bluff anyways. It was Mickey Gallagher. We had a good laugh and Dan Crump my lieutenant that day gave me his hat. Later that month I got a letter from Ted Reed, the Director of Beaches and Harbors thanking me for giving my hat to the next potential President of the United States.

Just another funny treasured memory working the beach.


Lastly, I have to say, it was a very emotional day for me leaving LA, after seeing so many of you at Phil Topar’s retirement. I always knew lifeguarding was a big part of my life, but until that event, I didn’t realize how much my friendships I had made all those years had meant to me. To all of you that I worked with and the new lifeguards I have met, I hold you all dear in my heart. We have a bond that is so tight and so special, I can’t even explain it, only you know. Long live LACO lifeguards!

XOXO Hope to see you on Kauai soon. Aloha!


Jackie


Above, Jackie with Phil Topar at one of the recent Johnny Joseph annual fundraiser dinners each year in June on the Santa Monica Pier. Photo by Will Maguire.


Photo above shows four gorgeous women that will be familiar to most of us. L2R: Nikki Hudson Murray, Jackie, Robyn Arnold, and Nell Regan. Photo courtesy of Jackie and taken during Phil Topar's recent retirement dinner.


Photo above shows Jackie, at right, with fellow LACo veteran recurrent beach lifeguard, Ron Pearlman, at the recent retirement party for Phil Topar. Photo by Will Maguire.

-----

Story Credit: "My Moment with Bill Clinton", Copyright Jackie Burke Carswell 2011. All Rights Reserved. Used here with permission.

Wow! Many Thanks to Jackie for sharing this grand and epic lifeguard story! Absolutely Fantastic!


And a few more photos of Jackie and other of our lifeguard family from the past couple of years... just for the fun of it. Enjoy!

Jackie, below, at the same JJ Scholarship dinner with a gaggle of swimmer and lifeguard pals. Do you recognize any of these characters? Photo by Will Maguire.



Jackie, below, at Jimmy Makuta's retirement party back in June 2008 with Sam Bertolet, at left, and Terry Flanagan, at right.


*** *** ***

Until next time.....


"County Recurrent" News

http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com

Service • Training • Commitment

*** Keeping the County Recurrent "in the loop"..... whether he/she likes it or NOT ! ***

DISCLAIMER: County Recurrent is not affiliated with nor sponsored by LACOLA or LACoFD.

*** PLEASE forward to other Recurrents, past and present, so that we can add them to our mailing list. ***

*** OPT IN *** Just send us an email and we will add you to the list.

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Thursday, April 21, 2011

The 2ND ANNUAL Santa Monica Pier Paddleboard Race and Ocean Festival


From: Joel Brand --- info@pierpaddle.com
Subject: Do it Again! Santa Monica Pier Paddleboard Race....
When: Saturday, June 11, 2011, 9 am to 4 pm

I hope that everyone is ready for summer and the 2ND ANNUAL Santa Monica Pier Paddleboard Race and Ocean Festival.

Thank you so much for making last year's event such a great success.

Here are some quick details about the event:


Presented by: Honolua Surf Co.
Benefiting: Heal the Bay
Major Sponsors: Quickblade, Santa Monica Subaru, and ZJ Boarding House

Saturday, June 11, 2011, 9 am to 4 pm


+ Last World Paddle Association Qualifying Event in So. Cal - Find Out Who Goes to the Championships!
+ Long Course, Fun Paddle and 4-Person Standup Relay
+ Outrigger Canoe and Dory Races
+ Waterman's History Museum
+ Live Music
+ Board and Gear Expo
+ Beach Clean-Up
+ After Party!!!

Attached is the event announcement we've sent out to the media.

Best,

Joel Brand
info@pierpaddle.com
www.pierpaddle.com

-----



*** *** ***


Until next time.....


"County Recurrent" News

http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com


Service • Training • Commitment

*** Keeping the County Recurrent "in the loop"..... whether he/she likes it or NOT ! ***

DISCLAIMER: County Recurrent is not affiliated with nor sponsored by LACOLA or LACoFD or the SM Paddleboard Race.

*** PLEASE forward to other Recurrents, past and present, so that we can add them to our mailing list. ***

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"County Recurrent" has a new mascot!


A new mascot flew in (literally) and is now nesting at the corporate and editorial headquarters of "County Recurrent" News. The California Dove. Yep, that's what she is according to both Jimmy Makuta and Eric Shargo, Ph.d. She has even laid two eggs (literally), which is granted most unlike the editorial copy and photos published by our fine blog...

She, the dove, we have named "Debbie", even flew inside last nite when we opened the door to the corporate patio. See for yourself after we got ahold of her and tried to interview her.


After releasing Debbie into the air, it was only then that we discovered a second egg! Holy cow, er, bird!



Stay tuned as "County Recurrent's" staff trains these dove(s) to complete the tasks of carrier pigeons and to messenger urgent messages and to take aerial photos and engage in other reconnaissance efforts at our local beaches.

10-4

"County Recurrent" News
http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Don't Forget To Pick Up Your Pay Stubs!











Dateline: Monday, April 18, 2011, at approx. 1800 hrs, Central Section Lifeguard Headquarters, 1642 Promenade, Santa Monica, Calif.

"Don't Forget To Pick Up Your Pay Stubs!" or "Another Central Section HQ Drive-By Photo Opp."

The County Recurrent staff opted not to go to the gym this evening and instead embarked on a mission to CSHQ to pick up a pay stub that belonged to its editor, followed by a reconnaissance and stop over at the new Stella Rossa Pizza Bar on nearby Main St. to check out their version of the now trendy Neapolitan thin crusted pizza.



In any event, while picking up said pay stub (from Jan. 2011 work...), we met up with some notorious LACo permanent lifeguards, who we are sure you will recognize for their many years of service to our department.






10-4



p.s. Hey Harry ! Do you also wash windows like us recurrents ? Woo Hoo ! :-)



*** *** ***


Until next time.....


"County Recurrent" News
http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com


Service • Training • Commitment

*** Keeping the County Recurrent "in the loop"..... whether he/she likes it or NOT ! ***

DISCLAIMER:
County Recurrent is not affiliated with nor sponsored by LACOLA or LACoFD.

*** PLEASE forward to other Recurrents, past and present, so that we can add them to our mailing list. ***

*** OPT IN *** Just send us an email and we will add you to the list.

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Monday, April 18, 2011

Telestaff Hiring; Comments and Concerns

Heads up LACo Recurrents:

Please review the memo from Recurrent, Brigitte Steinmetz, below regarding the recently implemented Telestaff computer hiring program.

If you have any comments, please communicate with Brigitte directly.


10-4

-----------


From:
Brigitte Steinmetz 10:24am Apr 18


Hello Fellow LG Recurrents,

I've recently sent an email to LACOLA listing some of the issues some recurrents, including myself, have had with the new telestaff system. Based on the feedback I was given it sounds like Telestaff will be a topic of concern at the next board meeting. I was asked to put together a letter re: how Telestaff is working for recurrents. I am looking for feedback from as many recurrents as possible. So far I am limited to central section since that is where I work.

In order to create an effective letter I not only need feedback from many, but we also need to detail both pros and cons. In addition, suggestions on how to make the system better need to be proposed.

I will greatly appreciate all information received. So far the following feedback has been given:

Pros:
1) Online access to availability list. Don't have to drive in or call in to HQ to make yourself available.

2) Can look up hiring status - see how many people are ahead of you in re: to hiring.

3) Those that check daily can see how many people ahead of them have gotten hired and can gauge their chances for work toward the end of the week.

Cons:
1) Online system does not allow multiple day availability. You must go through the availability process (3 steps) for each calendar day. It takes 30-40 seconds for the technologically savvy on a high speed connection. You can only choose multiple days on a county computer, which recurrents do not have access to. Suggestion: program the system to allow recurrents to make themselves available multiple days at a time.

2) The system passes people up quickly. If the phone call is missed you have less than a minute to call back. It takes more than a minute to dial and login. Once passed up, some recurrents have found it difficult to get back into the system. They wind up calling HQ. Not all HQ personnel know the program inside/out, which has created more frustration. Suggestion: Use the system for availability purposes, but have HQ personnel call recurrents.

3) Some recurrents feel that they have be more diligent about waiting by the phone. Going to bathroom where cell phone reception is poor in some places has posed a problem when the phone call comes. In addition, several recurrents workout in the morning before a shift. We are required to maintain a certain level of fitness/skill and are expected to train outside of work. On duty workouts are not guaranteed especially during the off season with a skeleton crew. During the fall/spring seasons I rarely like to workout on duty due to the fact that there is more water/beach to cover making it harder to lifeguard. Before Telestaff, lifeguards could go for a surf, a paddle, a swim, a hike, a run, etc. Oftentimes, I personally, like a lot of other recurrents, would call HQ, let them know where I was/what I was doing, and ask them to leave a message stating where/what time my shift was. If I was at the beach they would call the main station I was working out in front of to get a hold of me. I was able to get my workout in off duty. It is often difficult to hear or feel the phone while running and inexpensive waterproof phones don’t exist. Suggestion: Use the system for availability purposes, but have HQ personnel call recurrents. That way we can call in and let them know if we are working out and to leave a message.

4) Telestaff randomly assigns lifeguards to assignments. On a day where the list is exhausted inexperienced may be placed by inexperienced. When competent HQ captians do the hiring this situation is sometimes minimized.Suggestion: Use the system for availability purposes, but have HQ personnel call recurrents placing them appropriately.

5) Rumor has it that his program is very expensive. I have made some phone calls, but have not verified the cost of the program. Suggestion: weigh benefit vs. cost. How many recurrents are not being hired as a result of the cost of this program?

In central section some HQ captians have stopped using the system to call recurrents and have resorted to calling recurrents like before. This seems to work better and there have been less problems with passing up recurrents. Not all captains in central are doing this.

Again, I reiterate the importance of addressing ALL pros and cons in order to establish a better system sooner than later; especially now when all of us are itching for off season work.

Feel free to pass this along to other recurrents that did not get this memo..

You can either respond on FB or email me at waterkid13@gmail.com.

Thanks again for all your feedback.

With Thought,
Brigitte Steinmetz


---

Until next time.....


"County Recurrent" News
http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com

Service • Training • Commitment

*** Keeping the County Recurrent "in the loop"..... whether he/she likes it or NOT ! ***

DISCLAIMER: County Recurrent is not affiliated with nor sponsored by LACOLA or LACoFD.... or TeleStaff.

*** PLEASE forward to other Recurrents, past and present, so that we can add them to our mailing list. ***

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Saturday, April 16, 2011

File Under: R E T I R E D !


(Photo above shows the retiree himself, Assnt. Chief Phil Topar, with his very own trademarked surf rescue innertube on the evening of his Retirement Bash!)


Dateline: Friday Nite, April 15, 2011


Wow! Now THAT was a Retirement Party ! What a spectacular event last night at the Marina Del Rey Hotel where well over 200 people attended Phil Topar's retirement bash. Below are just a few of the photos from this celebratory event where friends, colleagues and family gathered to celebrate the career and friendship of Phil Topar. Congratulations, Topy ! 10-4.












------------

From Tuesday, April 12, 2011:

TO: Phil Topar, LACo Fire Dept., Lifeguard Operations, Assnt. Chief, Retired

Adios, Sionara, Seeya and Happy Trails !



10-4, Topar is 10-8 in the O.C. !

---

Until next time.....


"County Recurrent" News

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

2011 Recurrent Recheck Head's Up !


(Photo above shows the surf out front of the LACo Lifeguard Training Center, Manhattan Beach, Calif. Massive inshore holes and rips as usual.)

Dateline: LACo Lifeguard Training Center, Manhattan Beach, Calif.



You heard it here first! In an interview with LACo Training Center Capt. Erik Albertson at 0930 hrs this morning, we were informed as follows:

The 2011 LACo Recurrent Recheck will be 8 hours.


The recheck could also start as early as 0700 hrs.

Rumor is circulating too that EMT's only need to attend for 2 hours including
the swim.

Non-EMT Recurrents must attend full 8 hours. Woo Hoo !

The Jury is still out on this issue, however.

Rechecks will begin on May 15th. There will be 17 recheck dates or 24 recheck dates if the EMT's have to do the full 8 hours. Capiche!

If the EMT's only have to do 2 hours, then the swim will happen around 8:30 a.m. If the EMT's have to do the full 8 hours, then your guess is as good as mine as to when the swim will happen. The undersigned did not ask that question. Hey! Take it or leave it.

Bring your own lunch!

Official LACo details to follow, of course, via regular LACo channels of communication.

10-4

p.s. Last but not least, if you are not already swimming, get yourself in the pool and start your training regimen. Don't show up out of shape like Bonann, Verge, Hotchkiss, Kieran Graner and others do every year. :-) And just because you are still in college, young Chris Newman, don't think you can rest on the laurels of your mother and father's combined athletic genetics... surfing will not get it done! Exit Campus Point and get in the campus pool at UCSB. Go Gauchos!

p.s.s. And look who showed up as we were exiting the Training Center!!! Retired Assnt. Chief Phil Topar. We have no idea why he was there but maybe it was to have a bowl of oatmeal with Rescue Operations Chief, Garth Canning.


Until next time.....


"County Recurrent" News
http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com

Service • Training • Commitment

*** Keeping the County Recurrent "in the loop"..... whether he/she likes it or NOT ! ***

DISCLAIMER: County Recurrent is not affiliated with nor sponsored by LACOLA or LACoFD.

*** PLEASE forward to other Recurrents, past and present, so that we can add them to our mailing list. ***

*** OPT IN *** Just send us an email and we will add you to the list.

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Saturday, April 9, 2011

"Ken Whitmore Swim For Love" set for Sat., June 4, 2011



Just in from Veteran LACo Recurrent Beach Lifeguard, Tony Whitmore, who produces an annual event, namely, "Ken Whitmore Swim For Love", in honor of his father, Ken Whitmore, which "County Recurrent" is very pleased to acknowledge, support and help to promote.

From: Tony Whitmore ( tony.whitmore@gmail.com )
Subject: Swim For Love; Sat., June 4, 2011, 8 am - 12 noon, Santa Monica Swim Center (at Santa Monica College), 2225 16th St., Santa Monica, CA 90405
Date: April 6, 2011

Hi Will,

Here's the flier for the Swim-A-Thon. The Alzheimer's Association has built a website where participants can sign up to swim and others can sponsor the swimmers:

http://KenWhitmoreSwimForLove.kintera.org/

All proceeds will go to the Alzheimer's Association, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

Please also follow us on Facebook. Just type in "Ken Whitmore Swim For Love" in the search window on Facebook and you will be directed to our group's homepage which we invite you to join.

Thank you for keeping us updated and for promoting Swim For Love.

Tony

---


(Photo above shows Tony (aka, T-Dog) on duty at SMN Tower #1550, July 2010. Photo by Will Maguire. Used here with permission.)

*** If you have any questions about this event, please contact Tony Whitmore directly
(please see his email address referenced above.) ***


Two Thumbs Up to Tony for his charitable efforts and for his invitation to join in this annual celebration of his father's life. 10-4.

*** *** ***

Until next time.....


"County Recurrent" News
http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com

Service • Training • Commitment

*** Keeping the County Recurrent "in the loop"..... whether he/she likes it or NOT ! ***

DISCLAIMER: County Recurrent is not affiliated with nor sponsored by LACOLA or LACoFD.

*** PLEASE forward to other Recurrents, past and present, so that we can add them to our mailing list. ***

*** OPT IN *** Just send us an email and we will add you to the list.

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Introduction: 1983 LACo World Lifeguard Championships Team Photo


(Photo above, courtesy of Scott Hubbell. Photo taken at Bellows Beach on windward/east side of Oahu, between Kailua and Makapu.)

Have a gander. Have a peek. This blog post intends to provide merely a brief introduction of the photo above and below featuring an absolutely infamous and legendary group of lifeguards that competed in Hawaii in the 1983 World Lifeguard Championships. We are, in effect, only going to whet your appetite for the full expose and recounting of this event and its participants which will follow sometime in May 2011 and to be authored by LACo Chief (Ret.), Buddy Bohn. Many thanks to Buddy for undertaking this effort to follow this preview.

So here we go... just the basic parameters for now. Sorry, you will all have to suck it up until Buddy finishes his full treatment. Please note that we have posted the same photo below and have included the names of the lifeguards.

From: Scott Hubbell
Subject: 1983 World Team Photo
Date: April 4, 2011

"Our Surf Swim team relay and rescue team placed second - Iron man Relay was 3rd (which shocked the Aussies). We had Lacola team members in the 7 man final of the Surf Race(Mike Newman medaled), Kip Jerger placed 5th in the paddleboard and most of us were in the finals in many of the other events.

We placed 5th place out of 80 teams.(NO dories-Just Surfboats)

Best showing of a U.S team in the World Championships.

BUD STEVENSON and Paul Stader was there to cheer us on."

---


From: Buddy Bohn
Subject: RE: 1983 World Team Photo, courtesy of Scott Hubbell
Date: April 4, 2011

"This was an amazing team that went up against the best in the world. I'll never forget the Taplin (with surf ski, no dory) at North Beach in big surf. We were ahead going into our last swimmer, none other than Donohue, who smoked the Aussies until the final run back through the surf, where all the greats caught waves to catch Paul for a short wade and run up the beach. Paul found himself in an inshore hole and missed the first by a run up the beach. Paul learned the hard way there and never let it happen to him again. Scott Hubbell was just getting his promotional business underway and really helped us get the funding and sponsorships we needed. He was then as he is now, "true to his school".

Much Aloha,
Buddy


Top Row/Standing, L2R: Paul Matthies, coach, Rick Growinkle(sp?, Greg Pfeifer, Paul Donahue, Scott Hubbell (team sponsor/liaison), Mike Newman, Dan Matthies, John Baker, Buddy Bohn (manager), Kip Jerger.

Front Row, Kneeling, L2R: Gary Crum (coach), Kevin Taylor, Dave Baberacky (sp?), Eric Fanoimoana (sp?), Mike Inscore, Mike Stevenson.

---

*** Many Thanks to Scott Hubbell for sending this photo on to us and to both Scott and Buddy for their brief remarks. Stay tuned for our follow up next month!

Until next time.....


"County Recurrent" News

http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com

Service • Training • Commitment

*** Keeping the County Recurrent "in the loop"..... whether he/she likes it or NOT ! ***

DISCLAIMER: County Recurrent is not affiliated with nor sponsored by LACOLA or LACoFD.

*** PLEASE forward to other Recurrents, past and present, so that we can add them to our mailing list. ***

*** OPT IN *** Just send us an email and we will add you to the list.

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

"Back In The Day... In Del Rey!", by Johnny Johnson



"Back In The Day... In Del Rey!", by Johnny Johnson

"The northern half of Dockweiler was a very special place to work in the mid-seventies. I had started guarding for LA City in June 1965 and spent the next twelve summers working in Del Rey. The last ten summers I was stationed at Gillis, which was a hot spot for kids from the local schools about one mile south of Marina del Rey.

A half-mile north of Gillis was the surfing area popularly known as "Toes". This was the portion of beach between Culver Blvd. (Street End) and South Channel (Balloona Creek). Because of the daily crowds between South Channel and Gillis, we were kept pretty busy and looked out for each other. You didn't just watch your own water. You also watched the water a quarter of a mile on either side of you. If Vic Pappas went in on a rescue at Napoleon, I was there backing him up, and Mike Whittington would come up to Gillis from Palace tower to watch my water until I got back. (The towers were all named according to the street directly behind them). For a time, Greg Bonann worked at Westport, which was the pillbox tower directly in front of Westport Beach Club. If you couldn't find Greg, it usually meant he was on one of his marathon workouts. Brian Turnbull, with whom I had gone to rookie school, worked at Street End. Bob Carey, another rookie school classmate, was at Avenue 66, and John Westin was at South Channel. The guards who filled in on days off were Mike Dorsey, Bob Bartlett, John Balent, and a few others. The guys in the trucks were Dick "Squatty-Body" Eidson, Max Curtis, Don Wright, Scott Linkletter and the inimitable Louis Pappas.

(Photo above shows Greg Bonann, at left, with Tom Kriethe. Photo by and courtesy of Johnny Johnson.)

You can always tell how close-knit a group is by how elaborate their pranks are on each other. That's how we dealt with the tedious days of 1 foot surf and no rips. Labor Day morning in 1967 was such a day. After an early morning swim, I was ambushed by a dozen guards. As I was walking from the water to my tower, I was hit high and low by two guards -- Butch Nelson and Vic Pappas. No sooner had I hit the sand, when three more flew out of my tower and jumped on me -- Ed Jacobsmeyer, Dick Eidson, and Max Curtis. While they pinned me down, an old mildewed net was thrown over me and I was tied up with equally raunchy mooring rope. Then, the coup d'gras–– Don Wright pulled up in a truck towing a dory trailer. But there was no dory on the trailer. Instead, there was a makeshift cage which Wright and Dick Eidson had built from old pieces of driftwood. Nailed to the cage were various hand-painted signs indicating an ursine captive.

I was tossed into the cage, which was then padlocked shut. The truck then towed me back to headquarters, where I was greeted by Lt. Balonich and an LAPD unit, who all got a good laugh at my expense. At that point, the three lifeguard trucks formed a mini-parade and took me on a tour of Dockweiler, where early morning beach goers ran toward the trucks to see what was going on. What they heard was a loudspeaker announcement by the lead truck, saying "Please don't feed the bear". I swear I could hear circus music being played as we maneuvered through the firepits. In order to make sure everybody got to their towers on time, I was quickly towed to the parking lot at Westport Beach Club, where the trailer was uncoupled from the truck. The club manager soon came outside and threw me a peanut. Eventually, Butch Nelson, who had been part of the initial ambush, felt guilty and drove his VW bug over to the club to unlock the padlock. I finally got to my tower about an hour late, where Max Curtis was watching my water. When he saw me coming, he ran. For the next several years, I devoted myself to getting even, usually in the form of extremely unflattering cartoons.

I can name every tower and the name of every guard who worked there, even though it's been nearly 35 years since my last day on the beach. That's the kind of impression those guys and that job left on me. Sadly, some are no longer with us. Mike Whittington, Randy Allen, Don Spitler, Eddie Hoffman, and Jerry Balonich, are names that come to mind. I miss all these guys and think about them all the time. It was a different time back then. The job was important, but not nearly as regimented as it eventually became. We all knew when it was time to pay attention. While working at Gillis, I was involved in every conceivable kind of action, from swimming sailboats out of the surf-line to diving for the occupant of a light plane that had crashed just off shore. There's not a lot I didn't experience during my time there.

My last day on the beach was on New Years Eve 1976.
As I was closing my tower on Manhattan Pier, I knew it would be my last day as a beach lifeguard. My life was about to change radically and when I snapped the padlock on the tower door closed, I realized fully what it meant. I was so attached to the job that I knew I couldn't continue, even part time, as many others have managed to do. I had to devote myself full-time to my new career in the advertising industry. The only thing I'll say here about that job is that I never went to work and got thrown in a cage."

JJ


p.s. Wish I did have those old cartoons. I tried to find them here and have only found one, which I did back in 1966, when Herb Barthels and Walt Reed were manning the old Salvador (pre-BayWatch) in Del Rey. Here's scan:


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Many Thanks to Johnny for this great story and for sharing it with all of us !


Incidentally, Johnny recently wrote a science fiction novel entitled,

Purusha's Urn

A preview of Johnny's book is available at Google Books as follows:

http://books.google.com/books?id=Jn2ZTQ7A2skC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

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Friday, April 1, 2011

Tiny Naylor's Junior Congressional Gold Medal of Lifesaving



Dateline: Friday, April 1, 2011

We have just been informed that two of the very best junior lifeguards ever to be trained and tutored by the legendary George Freeth have just been posthumously awarded the Junior Congressional Gold Medal of Lifesaving for their dedication and excellence in surf lifesaving skills.

We are also fortunate to have unearthed an historical photo (see above) featuring George Freeth, circa 1907, in Redondo Beach, Calif. with these same two young junior lifeguards who just recently received this posthumous award from the Dept. of Treasury pursuant to an act of Congress... or so it is said.

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Until next time.....


"County Recurrent" News
http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com

Service • Training • Commitment

*** Keeping the County Recurrent "in the loop"..... whether he/she likes it or NOT ! ***

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