"Back In The Day!...", by Cal Porter

(Above, left to right, "1946 Winter Crew, Central Division: Santa Monica Canyon to Castle Rock --- Bob Lee - Sam Shargo — Christy Miller — Nate Shargo — Johnny Dudrow — Lt. Ted Warren — Cal Porter - Tarzan (the dog) — George McManus

Just in from the venerable Cal Porter, a couple of "Classic" photos from back in the day when men were men and a steak dinner cost a quarter... or the like.

Per Cal:

"In 1946 there was one lieutenant in each division: Northern, Central and Southern, and one captain for the whole County (Rusty Williams). That was it, a total of four officers. In each area one permanent guard was designated, “Guard in Charge”. The photo is of the permanent crew that guarded Santa Monica Canyon, Will Rogers, and Castle Rock Beaches in 1946, a great bunch of guys. Nate and Sam Shargo had the title of volleyball’s “Kings of the Beach” during the 1930’s to mid-40’s, they were the best. It was a great workout playing with them every morning before our shifts, followed by the daily workout swim. George McManus and Christy Miller had worked for the County Guards from the day the lifeguard service started, having guarded previously since the early 1900’s at the old Venice Salt Water Plunge. Bob Lee was probably the only Chinese Lifeguard the county has had, not sure, lives in Hawaii now. I went permanent for the County in 1946, having worked several years for the L.A. City Guards and the Venice Plunge previously. Lieutenant Ted Warren worked out of the old lighthouse building that stood where the new headquarters is now at Will Rogers. I don’t remember whose idea it was for the zany photograph, but it was just for the heck of it!

Below, "Same Guys, Same Day"


---

All photos courtesy of Cal Porter. Used here with permission.

*** Many Thanks to Cal for his continuing contributions to keep us all entertained and informed about the way it is and was!

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. ***

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

August 5, 1979: The International Surf Festival Two-Mile Rough Water Swim

That's right, 1979! In the words of Chuck Locko that's "back in the day!"...

But let's give credit to where credit is due. This morning we received an email from Veteran LACo Recurrent, Nathalie Locas Brouwer (aka, Ricky's wife), as follows:

Monday, February 27, 2012 10:05 AM

"Hi Will,

Yesterday I was cleaning out an OLD box. I found this inside an envelope inside another envelope.

I probably haven’t even seen it in 25 years.

It’s kind of fun seeing all the familiar names (which at the time meant nothing to me as a 12 year old).

I walked away with these thoughts: Art Verge and Eric Shargo were quite the swimming studs, I should have beat Eddy Love, but at least I got Dominique Holden.

Last but not least to today’s young competitors, (young kids take note), those older people around you may some day be related to you, kick their butts!

Nathalie"

-----















--- --- ---


*** So let's see if we can identify all the LACo beach lifeguards, past and present, that are listed in these race results from 1979! Here is our partial list thus far:

Eric Shargo, Art Verge, Frank Bird, Mark Montgomery, Kevin Taylor, Michael Morales, Pat Dixon, Roberta Troxell, Brian Levy, Mark Samet (RIP), John McNicholas, Val Jolley, George Hale, Ronnie Brouwer, Cindy Cleveland, Steve Page, Chris Rowley, Steve Contrasy, Eddie Love, Steve Wood, Brian Turnbull, Matt Kivlin, Nathalie Locas, Regan Crowley, Wally Millican, Dwight Crum, Dom Holden.

*** We ask that you review these results and let us know if you recognize other lifeguards so that we can add their name to the list above. Thanks very much!

-----

*** Many Thanks to Nathalie Brouwer for forwarding these classic race results for us all to enjoy!

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. ***

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

Mid February Photo Essay

In this blog post we will mostly let the photos do the talking... We hope you will enjoy these photos from mid February 2012 where we mostly shot Central Section but you will see a very nice Southern and Northern Section photo as well...



(Photo above by & Copyright Kip Jerger 2012. Feb. 22, 2012. So Section. Used here with permission.)

(Do NOT mess with this Central Section Lifeguard Captain! Lookin' mighty strong is Capt. Kirk Thomas. 10-4.)


(Photo above: Heads up Northern Section. Malibu Seafood rockin' on Feb. 16, 2012.)







Below, an absolutely beautiful shot of the Sunset beyond the Venice Beach "Brooks Ave." lifeguard tower. Photo by & Copyright Tim McNulty Sr. (Feb. 22, 2012)


Below, Venice Lifeguard Captain, Ken Haskett, on patrol


Below, just one of NUMEROUS gnarly inshore holes scattered across Central Section. This one on Venice North. Be careful out there. Lots of rips gonna be goin' on this
spring...


Below: What's so funny? Drew and Jaime Greger are amused by something.....


OK, now we get it! :-)




Get your Frisbees on the Santa Monica Pier... just sayin'...


OP Cafe on Ocean Park Blvd., in Santa Monica: Recurrent Owned! (by Mark Verge)


Below, OLS Paul Van Wig (former LACo Recurrent), at the very top of Bear Mountain Resort in Big Bear, Calif. Feb. 24, 2012.
















That's All Folks!.....

(All photos by & Copyright Will Maguire 2012; unless otherwise indicated.)

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. ***

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

FrisbeeGate: The Rewrite

(Google Photo source info: "To Fris Is To Be". Photo by Michael McCafferty. michaelmccafferty.com *** http://www.michaelmccafferty.com/frisbee.htm

Dateline: Los Angeles, Calif.

The L.A. County Board of Supervisors has signaled that the existing ordinance prohibiting the use of frisbees and footballs on the beach will be rewritten by "county lawyers" and we hereby nominate Veteran LACo Recurrent Beach Lifeguard (Ret.)/Husband/Father/Surfer AND L.A. County Deputy County Counsel, Ricky Brouwer (presently attached to the Sheriff's Dept.), be assigned this task. Both Frisbee Enthusiasts and K-9's will need to be interviewed and observed, of course, as part of this undertaking.

Today's issue of the Daily Breeze has more information on this developing story at:

http://www.dailybreeze.com/latestnews/ci_19962776

Dog Lovers can say "woof" too !... but only on dog friendly beaches, of course...

( Google Photo source info:
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/475/img0811wy6.jpg/sr=1

http://groovydogsjustwannahvfun.blogspot.com/2006/11/dog-carnival-this-sunday-morning.html )

---

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. ***

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

Happy Valentine's Day Shout Out!

Attn: LACo Recurrents, Family and Friends

Happy Valentine's Day!

To celebrate this occasion, we've cropped and enhanced a recent aerial photo by Veteran LACo Recurrent, Mark Holtzman, of the Ave-26 area in Manhattan Beach last week showing a series of swirling rip currents. Many thanks to Mark for allowing us to feature this photo and to change it up for this holiday greeting to all of our recurrents.

Valentine's Day Pink Sands"

(Photo by & Copyright Mark Holtzman 2012. All Rights Reserved. Used here with permission.)

Here at "County Recurrent" News our entire staff works tirelessly to promote and deliver news to the World's Greatest Recurrent Lifeguards!... The L.A. County Ocean Lifeguard!... who individually and collectively kick ass, take names (on rescue cards) and save lives thousands upon thousands of times every year (statistically and historically speaking). After all, our recurrents make mince meat of rip currents like the one shown below, in this additional remarkable aerial photo also taken by Mark Holtzman in Venice last week.


(Photo by & Copyright Mark Holtzman 2012. All Rights Reserved. Used here with permission).

L.A. County Recurrent Beach Lifeguards Rock! There we said it! Carry on!

10-4

Until next time.....


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

Offshore Effect...

Dateline: Wednesday morning, Feb. 8, 2012, from the bluffs above Will Rogers Tower #16. Strong, gusting off shore winds brought us brilliant blue skies, and as is typical of off shore winds, blew water off the tops of the breaking waves. Just stunning!





















(All photos by & Copyright Will Maguire 2012. All Rights Reserved.)

---

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. ***

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

Super Bowl Sunday On The Sand

Dateline: Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012 (aka, Super Bowl Sunday 2012). We began our morning journey from Will Rogers to the Santa Monica Pier at the WRHQ ramp at approximately 1100 hrs...



Approaching Santa Monica North Tower #8...


On duty at SMN Tower #8, Veteran OLS, Richard Solomon... who is also baffled as to how the iguana got up there on the top of the tower... note: no seagulls nesting or sh***ing up there, though...


"Day of the Iguana"?!... Check out the replica iguana peeking over the edge of the roof above and to the left of the rescue can...


Approaching SMN Tower #15...


On duty and on a mission, below, Veteran OL Bill White, about to advise some patrons as to the law prohibiting dogs on the beach...


Cezanne skies...


1300 hrs, OL John Ying, opening up SMN Tower #12...


Annerberg Beach House Boardwalk to the ocean just north of SMN Tower #4...


The weather was so nice and there was a fair amount of activity leading to the opening of SMN Tower #4 too...


And A Minus Tide! -0.5, as a matter of fact!


Last but not least, the surf was pumping at Will Rogers Tower #16 on our way back...


---

All Photos by & Copyright Will Maguire 2012. All Rights Reserved.

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. ***

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