Thursday, December 31, 2009

Happy New Year!

Work Hard, Play Harder in 2010 !








"County Recurrent" wishes you and yours a New Year filled with challenges and opportunities !
2010 is on our door step and we each have the capacity, skill, and energy to expand our horizons and be of service to others.

Until next time.....

"County Recurrent" News

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Sunday, December 20, 2009

Happy Holidays from "County Recurrent"


(Photo above entitled: "Bill Powers, S.O.L., Retired & Still On Duty". Mammoth Lakes, Calif. Photo by Will Maguire.)


(Source: Undisclosed location mash up above of Holiday Decorations, Courtesy of "County Recurrent")

Happy Holidays to one and all !



"Santa with Rescue Can" Artwork above by Norton Wisdom
.
Copyright 2008 Norton Wisdom. All Rights Reserved.
Used here with permission. Reproduction without prior consent is prohibited.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

"County Recurrent" Special Bulletin: Nino Duccini Has Been Found !

Dateline: Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009, at approx. 1745 hrs:

Subscribers and readers of the "County Recurrent" blog will recall our previous blog post of Dec. 3, 2009 (below) advising of our effort to locate a retired LACo beach lifeguard, Nino Duccini. Well, Heads Up! File under: Wow! Spike Beck just reported (12.12.09 at 1745 hrs) that he found Nino Duccini ! In Spike's own words: "just got an e-mail back from nino ---sounded great ----maybe you can put out an alert that nino has been found ---alive and well in redding, calif."

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Dateline: December 3, 2009

Where In The World Is "Nino Duccini" !?


(Photo above shows Nino Duccini, in close up, from the 1981 Wieland Shield team photo; Photo source: Buddy Bohn.)

Re: MISSING & WANTED

It has been brought to the attention of the editorial staff here at "County Recurrent".... that one of LACo's finest from the past century has gone to ground, as it were, and may be otherwise missing.

Surely, someone must know where the infamous and talented lifeguard athlete, Nino Duccini, is these days ?!.....


Subscribers to the "County Recurrent" blog will most certainly recall our story posted last year on the 1981 Wieland Shield Team which included Nino, and which can still be read and studied for the salacious piece of journalism that it is at:

http://countyrecurrent.blogspot.com/2008/12/1981-wieland-shield-then-and-now.html


(Photo source: Buddy Bohn. Nino is seated second from far right and next to Buddy at far right).

Thus, "County Recurrent" is leading the campaign to find Nino and is offering a "Reward". "County Recurrent", as it turns out, as a couple of XXL 2010 Wieland Shield t-shirts left over because a couple of dirtbags who "pledged" to purchase these t-shirts have basically buried their heads in the sand..... but that's another story.


So, the person who comes up with the correct contact information for Nino Duccini is eligible to win said t-shirt and "County Recurrent" will just have to suck it up and take the financial hit, such as it is.

Have you seen this man ?
We are hoping to secure the services of a police sketch artist to do a computer enhanced age enhanced sketch of what Nino might look like today if (a) he maintained his level of fitness; and (b) if he just said, "F*** It!... and let himself go like so many of our LACOLA Permanents and Management Staff..... Hey Now !.......

Please contact the undersigned if you have the correct contact info for Nino.

Thank you for your consideration.

Happy Holidays !


Will Maguire
will.maguire@verizon.net
"County Recurrent" News


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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Friday, December 11, 2009

"Wieland Shield Fundraiser" at Sangria Is Smashing Success !

Dateline: Friday, Dec. 11, 2009 from the editorial desk of "County Recurrent" located as an undisclosed location within Central Section. Last nite the editorial staff embarked on a journey to So. Section to Sangria Restaurant in Hermosa Beach, just steps from So. Section HQ. A splendid event it was as anticipated with guards from all three major sections in attendance along with other featured guests. Below are a sampling of photos taken by the photographer staff at County Recurrent. We hope you will enjoy these photos which show various members of the 2010 Wieland Shield Team, as well as party goers who were there to support the cause, make bids on silent auction product and hopefully get lucky in the raffle.





















Woo Hoo !

Time to partay
and to partake of the holiday cheer and to donate to a worthy boondoggle, we mean, lifeguard competition down under !



Until next time.....



Will Maguire, Editor
"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, LACoFD or SANGRIA.

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Tuesday, December 1, 2009

The 2010 Wieland Shield Tour Down Under



At the request of Team Manager, Jay Butki, please be advised as follows:



"December 1, 2009:

Please assist and disseminate and forward to the membership and alumni this donation assistance request from the 2010 Wieland Shield Team.

2010 21st Wieland Shield - California Educational Tour and Competition Team

Women

1. Micha Burden -Swim- Huntington Beach Marine Safety Division -2008 Olympic Swim trials
2. Maggie Hogan -Ironwoman- San Diego Lifeguard Service -2008 Olympic Kayak trials
3. Renee Locarnini -Ironwoman- LACoFD Lifeguard Division-So. Bay -5 times USLA National Team
4. Alison Riddle -Swim/Board- LACoFD LG Div.-So. Bay -Top 10 2009 USLA Nationals

Men
1. Jeff Barrett -Swim- Cal. State Parks-Malibu Coast -2008 Olympic Swim trials
2. Micah Carlson -Ironman- LACoFD Lifeguard Division-So. Bay -Top 10 2008 & 2009 USLA Nationals
3. Danny Ching -Surfski- LACoFD LG Div.--So. Bay -2008 Olympic Kayak trials
4. Pat Jacobson -Swim- LACoFD LG Div.-So. Bay, & Paramedic -1st place 2009 Cal Regional Surf Race & R-S-R
5. Brian Murphy -Ironman- LACoFD LG Div.-Central -Top 2 overall 2008 & 2009 USLA Nationals
6. Mike Murphy -Ironman- LACoFD LG Div.-So. Bay -Top 10 2009 USLA Nationals
7. Shane Scoggins -Paddleboard- LACoFD LG Div.-Zuma & Cal. State Parks-Ventura-2nd 2009 Catalina Classic

Manager: Jay Butki - Paramedic Rescue Boat Captain, LACoFD Lifeguard Division.

Educational Officers:
Charlotte Graham - Ocean Lifeguard Specialist- LACoFD Lifeguard Division-So. Bay
Rich Hidalgo - Sergeant, Imperial Beach Lifeguard Service
Jamie Orr - Ocean Lifeguard Specialist- LACoFD Lifeguard Division-Central

Special Guests:
Natalie Coughlin - Cal Bear, 2 time Olympian-2004 & 2008, “Dancing with the Stars”
Tyra Moe-Hidalgo -Imperial Beach’s first female Firefighter-Paramedic

Thanks!


Jay Butki
Rescue Boat Captain
LA County Fire Department, Lifeguard Division
Mobile (310) 849-5955
FAX (310) 348-9117
aquamoose@aol.com
jbutki@fire.lacounty.gov

---
Additionally, from LACo Chief (Ret.), Dave Story, please be advised as follows as to where you can send your donations:

Donations should be made out to the:

Los Angeles County Lifeguard Assn. Trust Fund or (LACOLA Trust Fund) and sent to:

LACOLA Trust Fund
524 Garnet Street, #B
Redondo Beach, CA 90277

*** Please write "Shield Donation" in the memo field.

--- --- ---

Odds And Ends:

1. Did you see the 2010 Wieland Shield T-Shirt !? Wow! Check this out:


http://www.watermansappliedscience.com/html/store_pages/T_TeamCal.php

2. And Do NOT forget the upcoming Wieland Shield Fundraiser and Party at SANGRIA in Hermosa Beach on Thursday, Dec. 10th at 7 pm, as follows and as previously posted on this exceptional "County Recurrent" Blog! Woo Hoo!

http://countyrecurrent.blogspot.com/2009/11/wieland-shield-fundraiser-at-sangria-in.html



Holiday in Hermosa: Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009; 7 pm
at Sangria, 68 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach, Calif.


Proceeds benefit the LACo Lifeguard Assn Trust Fund and the 2010 Wieland Shield Calif. / Victoria Exchange.

Celebrate the winter's surf, snow, and holiday season with:

DRINKS/FOOD/MUSIC/SILENT AUCTION


p.s.... Rumor has it a pair of shorts worn by Mike "Newmie" Newman, of BAYWATCH fame, will be auctioned off.

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

End of Transmission. "County Recurrent" 10-7.


Until next time.....



Will Maguire, Editor
"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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Monday, November 30, 2009

Will Rogers State Beach: Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009

Just a short time before sundown...at the end of the long Thanksgiving weekend...





(All photo above by Will Maguire. Copyright Will Maguire 2009. All Rights Reserved.)

Until next time.....



Will Maguire, Editor
"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.

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

Sunday, November 1, 2009

"County Recurrent" Presents: "Timeless"

There are so many stories remaining to be told and here is another gem !

Photo below, circa 1918 - 1920, on the beach in Santa Monica, adjacent to the California Incline and the Jonathan Club.

Just look at these young ladies above, aka, teenage Santa Monica High school girls, probably in their late teens at the time. This photo is courtesy of Pam Hilgers Kendall, of Pacific Palisades, Calif.

Folks: This is an absolute gem. Just look how happy, healthy and athletic these young ladies are. The young lady at far right is Pam Hilgers Kendall's mom, Marjorie Evans Hilgers (Hilgers being Marjorie's later married name). Marjorie and her sister, Dorothea Evans McKee (at far left), grew up on 6th and Arizona Ave., in Santa Monica. Like we said, this photo was taken, circa 1918 - 1920, as Marjorie was born in 1903.

*** The Timeless Enthusiasm of Youth At Home On The Beach ***


Left to Right (in the photo above):
Dorothea Evans McKee (McKee being Dorothea's later married name)
Dagmar Dole (yeah, "That" Dole Family of Dole Pineapple)
Jasmin Woods (Marjorie's best friend)
Marjorie Evans Hilgers (and later mother of Pamela Hilgers Kendall)

Like I said folks, this story is special and it gets even better.

Two Generations Later... Mark Kendall, son of Bill Kendall and Pam Hilgers Kendall
, Class of 1973, Palisades High School, and member of the Varsity Swim Team, with teammates such as later LACo Recurrents: Eric Moore, Eric Shargo, Mike Newman, and yours truly, Mark got his swimming skills from both of his parents. Mark's dad, of course, is former L.A. City Beach Lifeguard, Bill Kendall (see photo below), 1948 - 1953.


(Photo above shows Bill Kendall, circa 1950, in Venice, Calif. Photo above by L.A. City Beach Lifeguard, Nick Archer (R.I.P.). Photo courtesy of Bill Kendall.)

Bill worked Venice and later, Will Rogers, and it was at the latter beach that he met his future wife, Pam, who herself grew up below Will Rogers State Park in Upper Rustic Canyon, just north of Sunset Blvd. It was her father (and Marjorie's husband) and other members of his family that purchased their land from the Will Rogers Estate !

It was around 1952 when Bill Kendall was in school at UCLA that he spotted Pam on the beach just south of the Bel Air Bay Club and recognized her from his English class at UCLA..... which led him to say hi and use a "Classic Lifeguard Opening Line" (albeit, true, "ironically"), "Hey, you're in my English class at UCLA !". Pam, on the other hand, looked up and said, "I don't know you".... or something like that !.......

The opening line, nevertheless, apparently worked. Bill and Pam were soon married. Mark Kendall came along on Oct. 24, 1954 and was born in Honolulu where Bill was then stationed with the U.S. Navy. Mark was a natural born swimmer and was one of the most talented freestyler's and backstroker's on our Pali High Varsity Swim. Most improved our sophomore year of 1971 under then Coach Pete Nelson, and later Coach Dave Anderson (himself a L.A. City and later LACo recurrent), Mark swam sprint freestyle and was on each of the Varsity relay teams because of his speed.


(Photo above of Mark Kendall on his birthday, Oct. 24, 2009; Photo by Will Maguire.)


(Photo shows Pam Kendall, handing her first born son, Mark, his birthday pie, 10.24.09.)

As we mentioned previously, Pam grew up in Pacific Palisades, in a home on land in Upper Rustic Canyon just north of Sunset Blvd. (aka, Upper Santa Monica Canyon), just below Will Rogers State Park. And get this ! As a teenager in the 40's and 50's, Pam used to ride her horse up Sunset Blvd. to Via de la Paz (aka, Via) in the Palisades and then ride down to the beach ! Can you imagine ! At that time and before a large slide occurred in 1958, Via ran all the way down to the beach (see photo below) ! Once she reached the beach, Pam would ride her horse on the sand up to the beach where Bill Kendall was stationed just south of the Bel Air Bay Club, which we all know has been since at least the 60's known as Will Rogers Tower #5. Will Rogers Tower #5 was coincidentally where this author, the undersigned, and his friends on the west side of the Palisades, the beach of choice in the 60's before the construction of Temescal Canyon Blvd. Mark Kendall offered the following further brief comments about his family's purchase of the property in Upper Rustic Canyon when his mother was a teenager:

"The Upper Rustic Canyon property was purchased from the Will Rogers Estate
in the late 1940's by my Grandfather, Ira Hilgers, and my grandmother's three brothers Bernie, Jack and Morgan "Bill" Evans. They all built their houses there at that time, with the stipulation that no house could be built on any lot size less than 1 acre. As an aside Jack and Bill Evans were the landscape architects for Walt Disney when he envisioned Disneyland in the early 1950's."

(Re: Photo below shows the S shaped hillside portion of Via de la Paz before the massive landslide in 1958.)

(Photo Source: Identifier PPHS 355 Title View of Via de Las Olas from Inspiration Point, where the killer landslide of 1958 occurred. Date1958 Format1 photographic print : b&w. Description Santa Monica Public Library Image Archives Digital object 1081 img0055 Pacific Palisades Historical Society Clearwater Collection)

The End of Via de la Paz, today:

Current day photos below of end of Via de la Paz, Oct. 25, 2009. Photos by Will Maguire.


Photo below: Current day, the bluffs where Via de la Paz wound down in an "S" pattern to the beach. Photo by Will Maguire.)


Below: Bel Air Bay Club, circa 1959


(note: photo above shows the beach area just south of the Bel Air Bay Club, aka, location of Will Rogers Tower #5, and where Pam Hilgers used to ride her horse to the beach to see her then boyfriend (and later husband) and L.A. City beach lifeguard, Bill Kendall.)

(Photo Source: Identifier PPHS887 Title Aerial view of coastline and the Bel Air Bay Club site, Pacific Palisades, Calif., February 15, 1959 Date1959 Format 1 photographic print: b&w. Description Santa Monica Public Library Image Archives
PPHS887 Digital object 2067 img0087 Pacific Palisades Historical Society Clearwater Collection Source Donated by the Pacific Palisades Historical Society.)


Many thanks to Bill, Pam and Mark Kendall for sharing their spectacular family photos and for sharing some great local lifeguard, family and beach history with us.



Until next time.....




Will Maguire, Editor
"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.

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

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Happy Halloween: "Trick or Treat ?"


(Artwork above shows The Nocturnals™ in a rare visit to the So. Calif. Coast, at Santa Monica South Tower #24. Copyright Dan Brereton. All Rights Reserved. Used here with permission.)

It's upon us again, Fright Nite, The Night of the Living Shred, etc. et al.


(Photo source: San Diego Comic-Con 2008. Photo by Will Maguire.)


Happy Halloween, Recurrents !


In honor of this festive occasion and holiday, we present to you the very
First Annual County Recurrent Halloween "Trick or Treat" Quiz.


Each photograph hereinafter will pose the obvious question, is it a "Trick" or is it a "Treat" ? You alone will be the judge. Is the photo legit or doctored. Is the subject legit or a trickster ? Is the answer to the question "True" or "False", as the case may be.

Here goes:

Trick or Treat: Is this guy really wearing a Sylvester the Cat Costume on the beach in 85 degree plus heat on Labor Day ?


True or False: The occasion of this shot was Bill Wilson's Wedding.



True or False: These two lifeguards are Recurrents.


Trick or Treat: Is this photo the real deal ?



or is this photo the real deal ?


True or False: This LACo Rookie Finished First In His Rookie School.


Trick or Treat ?


Trick or Treat: Is this Jelly Fish Warning the real deal ?



Trick or Treat: Is that a great Halloween Costume on the right or what ?



Trick or Treat: Are these girls for real ?



Trick or Treat: Is Arthur Verge really married ?



Trick or Treat: Is there really "no surfing allowed" when Larry Raffaelli wears this shirt ?



Trick or Treat: Is this a real lifeguard tower or just a scaled miniature ?


Trick or Treat: Was this LACo Recurrent Tom Overmire's third or fourth Medal of Valor?



No Trick Here, Folks! Johnny Joseph is the real deal !
Shown here with a group of his 60's era SMC Varsity Swimmer Alums, at the annual JJ Scholarship Dinner held every June at Rusty's on the Santa Monica Pier.


Trick or Treat: Is Eric Shargo's wife absolutely hammered in this photo during the reception at Arthur and Marianne Verge's Wedding?


Trick or Treat: The artist used the physique of Warren Rigby to sketch out this lifeguard competitor on the back of this t-shirt ?



Trick or Treat: These two lifeguards were once swimmer and coach at Venice High School?


Trick or Treat ? True or False: Is this the SMS Crew in Las Vegas, Summer of 1987 ?



Trick or Treat ?


Trick or Treat: These two lifeguards finished in First Place in their respective brackets in the recent Catalina Classic ?



Trick or Treat: Central Section Lifeguard Fish Taco Booth ?



Trick or Treat: Is that really Johnny Depp dressed up as a Pirate ?


Trick or Treat: Recurrent, Permanent or Retired ?



Trick or Treat: Is this pizza for real or was it absolutely unreal ?!



True or False: Coffee and Donut, TOP POT DONUTS, Seattle, Washington.




No Trick Here ! LACo Central Section won the Taplin Relay for the third year in a row this past Summmer 2009 !



*** If you have any photos to contribute, please let us know.

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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