John Baltz Got A New Hat!... and other photos from SMS today...

Dateline: CSHQ/SMS mid day off duty workout, camera included... Tuesday, July 7, 2015.....

CSHQ Locker Room... This is reportedly a design by LACo OL, Hanna SVO (per OL, Michael Bateman --- 10-4) SMS t-shirt!  Also, shutter problems creating shadowing issues starting to happen.. it may be time to replace the Nikon Coolpix...

OL Brandon Leon of the "Leon Brothers", watching the water at SMS Tower #16...

It was just last Thursday, July 2nd, that we saw and reported Brandon's brother, OL Steve Leon, opening up the same tower (see below):

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And then it was onto SMS Tower #17, where it sure looks like OL John Baltz got one of the new Columbia branded wide brimmed hats!... and he's got the hang tags to prove it.....  

Above and below, another surfer meets stingray incident... this time at SMS Tower #18 and once again OL-EMT Cooper is on it!... along with Capt. Kastner and OLS Charlie Piccaro.  I asked the surfer, on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being excruciating... and he said "1".  Total stud with a high pain tolerance... maybe Harold Dunnigan can recruit him to the Navy Seals.  And it was this surfer's second run in with a stingray so he's been there and done that.

Also, FYI: if you were wondering about the genesis of the yellow "rotisserie chicken safe" Stingray First Aid Bag... We were told by an unnamed source that this stingray bag was from the Annenberg Beach House! We have since been informed (thanks to Capt. Jay Butki) that the ultimate underlying source of this product may, in fact, be from the online business known as "Original Watermen" and here is the link to their website and this product:

     http://www.originalwatermen.com/lifeguard/first-aid.html

After stingray action report and pow wow by our lifeguard staff at SMS Tower #18.

OL Taylor Manuel labor and beefcake shot... sorry no close up, boys and girls...

OL John Cullen, watching the water at Tower #22.  First time I've seen him in a jacket!  It was a tad chilly, though...

Back at CSHQ, look who showed up and made me think they need to increase the size of the door frame!... The man, the myth, the electric... Bob Kilroy, D.C.  I swear he has gotten taller and Section Chief Charlie Kissel says he got at least a 9 volt charge out of shaking Bob's hand too!

Kilroy was here too!...

 10-4

Until next time.....

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

(All photos by & Copyright Will Maguire 2015.)

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July 4, 2015: Santa Monica South...

 Bam!...  July 4th... here and gone.....

Here's a bit of what it looked like from morning to evening from Ocean Park.....

0930 hrs... surfer meets stingray at Tower #25...

 

*** Video Alert ! ***

 Toyota Tacoma: "In The Field & On The Sand": The Video

     https://youtu.be/ZcLTMAEhSOo

The Official Stringray Hot Water Bag...

Hmmm... this is what I found on the counter when I opened up Tower #27 at 1000 hrs... the message here is:  bring your "A" game and glove up!... and when you get tired, drink the Red Bull!  :-)

Coast Guard fly by... no look lucky overhead shot... adjusted and edited

 *** Video Alert ! ***

Fourth of July 2015: The Video

     https://youtu.be/jvoQDsUKR9I

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... and sometimes IT IS the size of the ship...

and you gotta love this guy's transportation choice and commute...

and before we knew it... it was time to start shutting it all down at 8 pm...

The SMS OLS on the final area patrol of the day..... with an OL-EMT riding shotgun...

10-4

Until next time.....


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

(All photos and videos by & Copyright Will Maguire 2015.)

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Scott Hubbell - 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award

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Scott Hubbell and I met 40 years ago on the beach in Santa Monica.  We were both very young lifeguards and had a great deal in common.  In addition to sharing our love of the ocean, beach, water and rescue, we shared our dreams with each other.   Mine was to create a television series about “lifeguards”… and Scott was instrumental, not only in the creation of the series but ultimately in it’s execution - over a period of 14 years.   He was one of the first people to say… “hey, good idea” when most people didn’t really think “a tv series about lifeguards” was a very good idea… and he was THE first to extend a hand to help me make my dream come true when it came time to shoot something.

Over a period of years from 1988 to 2002 we produced 289 episodes of “Baywatch” together.   Scott was in charge of everything from the parking lot to Catalina!  Water craft, Air craft, Scuba, Stunts, Fire, Explosions - and the most important thing PEOPLE!

If it happened on the sand, in the water, under or over the water, I went to Scott first.  It was Scott that was ultimately responsible for the creative and successful production and execution of action sequences in the series…

This was the case when we shot the very first 3 minute “Baywatch Promo” in 1988 which ultimately helped sell the series to NBC, all the way to the final episode in our final year in Los Angeles.   When we moved Baywatch to Hawaii in 1999 it was Scott who introduced me to his own successor… one of his best friends in Hawaii, Brian Keauleana.  

Over the course of my years with Scott, we had one injury of significance - a broken ankle (Annie Ellis!).  Not a bad safety record for one of the biggest action/adventure series of it’s time.  Scott supervised the production of over 500 action sequences - just for Baywatch - not counting all of the other television and feature film work he has done over the years.

One of the things I admire most about Scott is his character, integrity and honesty… If I had to do something “risky” he would find a way to do it safely or he would talk me out of attempting it.   If we did it, and it was successful, which happened most of the time, Scott was no-where to be found.  If it was NOT good, Scott was there with his hand in the air saying “it’s my fault - and here is how we can fix it.”

He is, without a doubt, the most talented and experienced producer of beach and water action I know of.   He remains my first call when I do anything near the water because, he not only has my best interest in mind but has a safety record that is unparalleled.   He is a great friend and a great producer… but he is a lifeguard first and foremost.
 

 Gregory J. Bonann

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*** Congratulations to Scott on this well deserved recognition. Many thanks to Dave Story for sharing this background information with all of us.

10-4

"County Recurrent" News

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The 2015 Medal of Valor Dinner & Ceremony: Thursday, July 30, 2015

Just in from retired Sec. Chief Dave Story; re: Medal of Valor Dinner, Thursday, July 30th, 2015:

2015 Medal of Valor Award Dinner

Medal of Valor
Ed Butts
Steve Sturdivant
Nick Facer

Distinguished Service
Matt Samuel
Kari Scoggins
Special Recognition
Natalie Anzavino
Brent Bowen
Kyle Dalby

Memorial Tribute
Ben Carlson – Newport Beach Lifeguard died in the line of duty while making a rescue in large surf.
Tom Barnett – LA Co. Lifeguard passed away after long battle with cancer.
Brian Kutil – LA Co. Lifeguard died during a recertification swim from heart complications.

Lifetime Achievement: Scott Hubbell

Host City Award: Hermosa Beach

Introduction of the 2015 Wieland Shield Team (California vs. Victoria, Australia) as well as two lifesavers from England.

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Medal of Valor

Ed Butts
Rescue of two victims from Gorge-3 at Abalone Cove. Ed ran down the trail at Inspiration Point and rescued two unconscious victims who had been trapped by large surf (6-10 feet) in Gorge-3. After pulling both victims to safety they were airlifted to a waiting ambulance by an LA Co Air Squad.

Steve Sturdivant
Rescue of several victims and vessels during severe storm in Avalon Harbor. On January 30th 2014 Deckhand Steve Sturdivant acted heroically during one of the worst weather events to hit the city of Avalon in 50 years. Steve managed to save the victim of a vessel dashed into the rocks and destroyed. He saved Baywatch Avalon from damage and possible grounding. He repeatedly entered the water on that night with a severe chill factor into frigid winter waters even though he was shivering and suffering from initial stages of hypothermia.

Nick Facer
Rescue of surfer in storm conditions in Ireland. While on vacation in Ireland with two coworkers from the Torrance Fire Department Nick rescued a surfer in gale force winds and 8-12. The surfer had been pulled offshore by a huge rip current and high winds. Nick had to paddle hundreds of yards before reaching the victim who was by then too exhausted and cold to battle his way back to shore. Having him hang onto his leash Nick paddled them both through the wind and surf. A rescue helicopter and lifeboat were also sent to the scene. When the helicopter arrived they decided not to risk winching their crewman down to the pair because they saw Nick had things under control. Conditions were so rough that the Irish rescue boat that was dispatched never made it to the scene. Three men on the boat were injured in the attempt, two requiring hospitalization. Nick completed the rescue on his own clearly saving the mans life.

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Distinguished Service
Matt Samuel
Kari Scroggins
Matt and Kari rescued a surfer off the Malibu Pier in huge surf. The surf at the pier jumped from a solid 6-feet to some devastating 20-foot sets when a surfer lost his board near the pier. Matt and Kari came off the beach without hesitation. When they got to the victim it looked like they might become pinned to the pier. Set waves were breaking 50-yards outside of their position making it impossible for Baywatch Malibu to assist so Matt and Kari swam their victim out through the incoming surf where they were picked up by Baywatch Malibu.

Special Recognition
Natalie Anzavino
Brent Bowen
Kyle Dalby
Civilian rescue of unconscious surfer off the Manhattan Beach Pier. Natalie, Brent and Kyle were surfing off the Manhattan Pier when they spotted a surfer floating face down in the water. Seconds earlier the victim had hit a pier piling head first. Using Kyle's body-board as a backboard as well as floatation, the trio worked to bring their victim to shore through a series of set waves. As they neared shore they were met by lifeguards back from rescues on the other side of the pier.

Lifetime Achievement
Scott Hubbell
One of the lifeguards strongest competitors and superb watermen, Scott, through his company beachsport.org, has continued to provide funding for lifeguard competitions and philanthropic organizations throughout the years. Without his support it would be impossible to put on the International Surf Festival. Scott is also known for his work as the Director of Marketing for the Department of Beaches and Harbors and as a producer of the popular television show "Baywatch".

For the complete and full version of Scott's contributions to lifeguarding, please see the attached linked posting:

     http://countyrecurrent.blogspot.com/2015/07/scott-hubbell-2015-lifetime-achievement.html

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To RSVP for this event, please go to RaceMill on the web:

      https://racemill.com/medalofvalordinner

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10-4

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

(Courtesy Notice/Disclaimer:  "County Recurrent" is not affiliated with the International Surf Festival. This is a courtesy notice and announcement made at the request of the ISF.)

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Strafing CSHQ and SMS: 07.02.2015

Dateline: Thursday 0845 - 1000 hrs, CSHQ and SMS... the videos and the photos...

The brand new official LACo Lifeguard Vehicle - Toyota Tundra

*** Video Alert ! ***

Toyota Tundra 360 View: The Video

     https://youtu.be/GsKat9V7_cw

Veteran LACo OL, Steve Leon, arriving for duty at SMS Tower #16...

SMS Tower #22 was vandalized by taggers again!...

SMS Tower #26

*** Video Alert ! ***

 Baywatch Rescue Boat - SMS Patrol: The Video

     https://youtu.be/q0t1W1qADoA

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 Santa Monica JG "C" Group at T-28...

SMS Tower #26

SMS Tower #22

10-4

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Until next time.....

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

(All photos & videos by & © Will Maguire 2015.)

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