Manhattan Beach "Fish Taco Booth" at Hometown Fair, Oct. 3 & 4, 2009 !

*** Volunteers Requested and Needed ! SIGN UP AT SSHQ ***

*** Head's Up ! This is a strictly "Fresh Catch" Fish Taco Event that happens only ONCE a year ! While it cannot be guaranteed that there will be any calamari tacos..... courtesy of the diver below, fresh fish purchased, cleaned and filleted by hard working LACo recurrent and permanent staff-volunteers is assured ! ***


(Copyright Norton Wisdom 2009. All Rights Reserved. Used here with permission.)

"It's that time again, when Central and Northern Section guards call in sick so they can join the stampede to Southern Section to support the Southbay Surf Club's annual "Fish Taco" booth in Manhattan Beach. So mark your calendars and board shorts for:

Saturday and Sunday, October 3 & 4, 2009.


(Rookie swim at Hermosa, 'back in the day', in an image reminiscent of the lifeguard stampede referenced above.)


(Photo sample of Fish Tacos. Photo by Will Maguire. Used here with permission.)


(Sample off duty lifeguard serving as bartender. Sorry no alcohol will be served at this Fish Taco Booth !)


(Photo shows two well known LACo beach lifeguards looking over the volunteer sign up sheet for last year's Fish Taco Booth.)


(Photo above shows an illustrious and infamous veteran LACo Recurrent beach lifeguard on his way to the Hometown Fair for some fish tacos !)


(Photo above shows two Senior Ocean Lifeguards from Central Section known to love fish tacos, both on and off duty.)

*** Volunteers Requested ***


(Photo of Manhattan Beach Pier, Courtesy of and Copyright Joel Gitelson. It was on this wave, or so the story goes, that an unnamed off duty beach lifeguard illegally netted the barracuda and a few halibut for last year's Fish Taco Stand.....)

Link to Hometown Fair website which includes a map link on mapquest: http://www.mbfair.org/

1 Space Park Drive
R1 Parking Area
Redondo Beach, CA 90278

Please :

· NO dogs, skateboards, scooters, roller blades, roller-skates, or bikes.

· There are bike racks at both entrances.

· There are NO pet facilities.

· To be fair to your pets, let them relax at home.

Please see the Memo from Jeol Gitelson, dated 09.14.09 below requesting Volunteers to help with the Fish Taco Booth.

---------------------------
---------------------------
Fish Taco Information Flyer, dated 09.14.09:

MANHATTAN BEACH HOMETOWN FAIR FISH TACO BOOTH

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS FOR THE FOLLOWING TASKS…
THURSDAY OCT. 1st -1000 HRS. A TRUCK TO PICK UP FISH IN SAN PEDRO AND BRING IT TO SSH.

(Photo of Southern Section Headquarters at the Hermosa Beach Pier..... in case you get lost on your way to help clean and gut the fish...)

FRIDAY OCT. 2 - 1400 HRS. FISH CUT AT SSH THEN MOVE AND SET UP THE BOOTH AT DORSEY FIELD-BOOTH #

SAT OCT.3 - WE MUST BE OPERATIONAL BY 1000 HRS.-1800 HRS.- SHOW UP AT 0800- STAFFING MUST INCLUDE CLEAN UP AT THE END OF THE DAY.

SUN OCT.4 - 0800 SET UP FOR 1000 HRS. START- 1800 HRS. - CLEAN UP AND BREAK DOWN BOOTH AND RETURN IT TO SSH-SOAK ALL COOKING ITEMS FOR CLEAN UP CREW ON…

MONDAY OCT 5.-0900 HRS. CLEAN UP ALL TACO BOOTH EQUIPMENT AND STASH UNDER THE PIER IN THE DESIGNATED STORAGE SPACE.

WE’RE DOWN TO ONE BOOTH A YEAR, 2008 WAS A BLAST!! PLEASE HELP AND THANK YOU IN ADVANCE. SIGN UPS AT SSH

SOUTH BAY SURF CLUB
------------------------------
------------------------------

This "County Recurrent" Pro Bono Promotional Blog Post has been brought to you by and in memory of the thousands of lobsters, halibut and red snapper caught, speared and otherwise consumed by LACo divers, lifeguards and navy seals led by Harold Dunnigan, O.L., Retired, all bagged "in season", of course.


Until next time...


"County Recurrent" News

http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com
email: will.maguire@verizon.net

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. ***

WAVERIDERS Premiere At The Aero Theatre

Dateline: Saturday, September 26, 2009

Venue: Irish Film Fest World Premiere of WAVERIDERS, at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica, California.



Photo below includes, L2R: LACo Recurrents, Mark Verge and Ricky Brouwer.


Photo below shows Assnt. Chief Phil Topar and his lovely lady friend.


Photo below shows LACo Recurrent, Dr. Arthur Verge, Ph.d, and his posse that attended the screening of WAVERIDERS this past Saturday nite, which film Arthur contributed as both as a screenwriter and on camera historian discussing the role of George Freeth in the development of beach lifeguards in Southern California in the early 1900's.


In the photo below, circa 1908, George Freeth, at center, poses with two of his young proteges, in Redondo Beach, Calif.


At center, in photo below, Arthur and his posse enter the theatre...


In the photo below: "The Magi", aka "Three Wise Men" (L2R: LACo Guards Emeritus', Bruce Morgan, Abby Schneider and Gene Poole.)


*** Bonus Content ***

Phil Topar's Ticket Stub, below (be sure to double click to enlarge)


By all accounts, the premiere of this film was a huge success. Additionally, the pre-party at the Verge Family Home nearby, the attendance, the film itself, and esp. our Host, Arthur Verge, Ph.d., all made for a splendid evening for the Lifeguards, family and friends in attendance. Thanks again, Arturo !

Until next time.....


"County Recurrent" News

http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com
email: will.maguire@verizon.net

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.

Catalina Classic: The 32 Mile Paddleboard Marathon

This year's Catalina Classic again featured several LACo recurrent and permanent beach lifeguards. In the unlimited class, LACo S.O.L., Ryan Addison, finished in Second Place overall. LACo S.O.L., Rebecca Gilman, finished first in the Women's Stock category for the third year in a row ! LACo S.O.L., Tito Bourget, earned First Place honors in the Men's Stock category.

The complete results can be viewed online at the Official Catalina Classic website at:
http://catalinaclassicpaddleboardrace.org/results.html

We are able to bring you the results and some fantastic photos thanks to our own Harry Varnas, S.O.L. So here goes, in the words of Harry and from his camera lens as well:

"Ocean lifeguard specialists Tito Bourget and Rebecca Gilman both won their divisions at the Catalina Classic paddleboard race in 2009."

Photo below: "Early morning paddle board workout. Tito Bourget and Rebecca Gilman at SM16 early in the morning."





"Will, Here are a few photos of Tito hamming it up with some tourists along with some action shots."





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

Many Thanks to Harry Varnas for his photos and comments highlighting the tremendously successful achievements of several of our LACo Lifeguard Competitors.

*** Bonus Content & Link to Olivia Damavandi, Assnt. Editor, MALIBU TIMES', recent Interview with Rebecca Gilman (please see below). ***


(Photo above shows Olivia Damavandi, at left, and friend at Jake Jacobson's Retirement Party in August 2008. Photo by Will Maguire. Thank you very much ! Could NOT pass up this surprise photo of these two beautiful ladies).

Profiles in Sports: Local lifeguard Rebecca Gilman, by Olivia Damavandi
http://www.malibutimes.com/articles/2009/09/23/news/sports/sports1.txt

The same interview can also be viewed online at "Lifesaving News" at:

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/LifesavingNews/message/5174

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 ! ***

*** The Lifeguard Blog that insists on giving credit where credit is due.

*** Most importantly, The Lifeguard Blog That Celebrates the Recurrent Beach Lifeguard. ***

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

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

Coastal Cleanup Day: Sat., 09.19.09

Coastal Cleanup Day

We're All Lifeguards

Host: Heal the Bay

Price: FREE, FREE, and Even More FREE
Date: Saturday, September 19, 2009
Time: 9:00am - 12:00pm
Location: Multiple Cleanup Sites in LA County -
http://www.healthebay.org/volunteer/ccd/2009/locations.asp
Street: 1444 9th Street
City/Town: Santa Monica, CA

Phone: 310-451-1500
Email: info@healthebay.org

"Join Heal the Bay and more than 12,000 volunteers from all over Los Angeles to take action to rid our beaches and inland waterways of unsightly and harmful debris.

Coastal Cleanup Day (CCD) is an international event with over 60 countries around the world participating, making it the largest single-day volunteer effort on the planet!

Pick your closest or favorite cleanup site from one of 70+, including the new CODE RED sites:

http://www.healthebay.org/ccd

Plus this year, don't forget to get a FREE CCD cleanup kit by visiting your local Subaru dealership:

http://www.subaru.com/coastal-clean-up/index.html

(Three photos below are from Santa Monica Subaru where you too can pick up a free CCD cleanup kit !)




CCD is a fun way for individuals, neighborhoods, schools, community and company volunteer groups to get involved and demonstrate their commitment to healthy water. So bring your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers to participate with the thousands of volunteers around the world in taking a stand against ocean pollution.

See you at the beach! (Or river, park, lake, or creek...)"

==========================

This event is a very worthy cause and "County Recurrent" fully supports this effort !


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.

09.11.2001: We Shall Never Forget !

(Photos above courtesy of and by Steve Hotchkiss, from the lawn at Pepperdine University, 09.11.2009. Used here with permission.)

In honor of those who perished on 09.11.2001, we offer this blog post and a selected set of photos from this year. God Bless and we will carry on just as we know those who perished would have done so.

The Santa Monica Pier Celebrates its Centennial !

(Photos above by and Copyright Tom Thorson 2009. Used here with permission.)


(Photo above shows Fireworks at tonite's Centennial Celebration. Copyright 2009 @West_LA (Twitter) http://twitpic.com/h637u )

*** YouTube Video *** of Santa Monica Pier Centennial Fireworks
(by SMacDown) at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7O4xAu6rF0

One Hundred Years It's Been ! Can't remember that far back myself, but we do have a photo below, circa 1908, that predates the Sept. 9, 1909 opening of the Santa Monica by less than a year.


The Santa Monica Pier opened on Sept. 9, 1909, at around the same time as this photo showing the Legendary Waterman and Beach Lifeguard, George Freeth, with two of his young protege junior lifeguards... in a photo taken in Redondo Beach, Calif.

"And Just Like That, Summer is Over"

"Umbrellas". "Thousands of people take refuge along the Santa Monica Shoreline on Labor Day, September 07, 2009."
Photo by Fabian Lewkowicz. Used here with permission.
www.FabianLewkowicz.com



"And just like that, Summer is over." O.L, Eric Liberty, Sept. 8, 2009.


(Photo by Will Maguire. Sept. 7, 2009, Labor Day, 7 pm, closing time/end of shift at Will Rogers North).

Rest In Peace, Heroes !

This blog post reiterates our condolences, thoughts and prayers for the loved ones, families, friends and colleagues of our two fallen LACo firefighters who lost their lives this past week fighting the Station Fire in Angeles Crest National Forest.

And as previously posted herein in our story, "On Duty Deaths" at:

http://countyrecurrent.blogspot.com/2009/08/line-of-duty-deaths.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.

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

"It's A Whole New..... RATING YEAR !"

That's right, folks ! Kiss the last rating year GOODBYE ! If you did not get your days in, you may also have to kiss something else goodbye too ! woo hoo ! Hopefully not !

In any case, start rewinding your stop watches and break out your calendars because the new rating year is upon us and time is already ticking ! Even retired LACo Captain Conrad Liberty picked up a 2009 LACOLA Calendar yesterday, granted because they are literally giving them away now.... but hey you can use it till 12.31.09.


In other words, HAVE YOU GOT YOUR DAYS IN YET ?!?!?!!!!!!!!

If not, get to it ! Don't wait around until May like Chuck Locko ! Yes, we know you would rather do breakfast at the Hotel Casa del Mar with a pretty young lady.... woo hoo !


You might think that attending a lifeguard party and cozying up to the guest of honor might get you days earned in tower..... but sorry, No it doesn't.


Don't be like Greg Bonann and take the whole week off resting on the patio of one of your three or four beachfront homes in Malibu, Calif, sipping mai tai's watching the sunset......


Sleeping on the job, I mean, babysitting your granddaughter also does NOT count, Asturias !


Going to the beach and working out like a man possessed doing run swim run swim run swim run swim run swim runs like Dr. Paul Silka, M.D. also DOES NOT COUNT ! It's time in the tower, on duty, that counts.


Chatting up the Chief at a retirement dinner doesn't count as a day worked at the beach either, even though a certain No. Section recurrent seems to think so.... woo hoo !


Getting married on the beach does NOT count either ! Hey Now !


Also, telling your wife you are going to go work at the beach and instead going to El Terasco for lunch does not count as a day guarding, even if you have seniority up the ying yang like Arthur Verge, Ph.d. You still have to actually put in your time in a tower !


Attending mass will earn you points with the Big Fella upstairs, but sorry Harold, NO SENIORITY POINTS !


Working as the Official Announcer for the "Malibu Surf & Sport Festival" ? Sorry, McGowan, no seniority points !


Competing in Intracrew, Taplin, Regionals, Nationals, Japan and Australia means you are one studley lifeguard-competitor, but sorry Carlson, NO SENIORITY POINTS !


Winning the Intracrew Relay race for the second year in a row will get you plenty of props and free drinks courtesy of JVD at The Shack in PDR, but sorry Newman and Contarsy !..... NO SENIORITY POINTS ! woo hoo !


Kicking ass and taking names and rowing a dory like a Champion and participating as a member of the winning Taplin Relay Team will get you the love of a beautiful woman and the respect of your peers, but sorry Clarke, NO SENIORITY POINTS !



Just don't say we didn't warn you ! You gotta put your days in on the beach in a tower ! Just ask John Newton, seen below, partnered up with David Carr.



So, here ya go, if we have not been clear enough already. The current rating year is:

Sept. 1, 2009 ----- August 31, 2010.

Get to it ! September is the time to Front-Load your days ! Do not wait until May or June of 2010 to start getting your days in ! Instead of enjoying a spectacular day of spring skiing like LACo recurrent, Steve Fisher, Esq. at Mammoth.....


you could be getting your days in !

And for crying out loud, do NOT wait until the last week of August to start getting your days in !


There will be plenty of time to get that gorilla hair on your upper back waxed another day. You can even ask to work a low activity beach like SMN like Gabe does to get his days in. Woo Hoo ! JUST KIDDING !

In other words, people: It's On ! Oh Yeah, It's On Alright ! Labor Day weekend is only a couple of days away. Now is the time to bag a couple of days. Just Say "YES"! Just Do It !


Until next time.....



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


p.s. And Congratulations to the Rookies of 2009 !..... you are now all officially NO LONGER rookies ! Oh, but wait just a minute..... this is just in from Division, because there will be no rookie swim this year and no rookie school in the spring of 2010, you rookies of 2009 are STILL ROOKIES ! Yep, sorry to break the news but until a new rookie school is formed, you are stuck with this illustrious monikor ! woo hoo ! Just ask former LACo recurrent, Devon Clark, who received the Will Rogers "Rookie of the Year" award for at least 3 years running.....


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.

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