In spite of rain falling not once but twice Saturday the annual Seal Beach Classic Car Show drew visitors this year’s car show was a great success,” wrote 2025 Car Show Chair Rob Jahncke in an email Jahncke confirmed that the 2026 Car Show spaces sold out by 10 a.m. “While about 25% of exhibitors opted out due to the forecast—bringing our total from the usual 650 cars down to around 500—we quickly adjusted by moving vehicles from the perimeter onto Main Street to keep it full and lively,” Jahncke wrote Some car owners were seen taking shelter inside their cars Most cars and vendors appeared to stay through the two rains An umbrella protected the driver’s seat of one car Many folding chairs on the sidewalks included built-in covers At least one small group sat with umbrellas over their heads The owner of a mostly wooden hearse had to cover the top with plastic One car owner was seen using a blow drier—or was it a vacuum?—to remove raindrops from the car’s roof the weather held while we were parking cars though I was surprised by how steady and persistent the rain became later that morning,” Jahncke wrote.    “What impressed me most was that the majority of attendees “Only a few exhibitors chose to leave early those most concerned about rain had already decided not to come which helped reduce the risk of cars navigating through crowds during the event,” Jahncke wrote The Sun observed one classic car leaving Main Street when the first rain started.  families stayed—many taking shelter in local restaurants or under awnings I imagine the businesses along Main Street benefited from the extra foot traffic,” Jahncke wrote and the streets quickly filled with people It turned out to be a beautiful and memorable day,” Jahncke wrote Log in to leave a comment And although developer Paul Dunlap has heard a few things go bump in the night the only confirmed evidence of spirits he’s ever come across during an eight-year restoration process of the nearly 80-year-old building have been empty bottles of vintage whiskey hidden between the studs of its walls conveniently discarded decades ago by the workers who plastered them they’re here by their choice,” Dunlap told the Daily Pilot during an interview in the theater’s auditorium Wednesday “And I’m preserving something they obviously like So I’ve always felt like I’m getting a pass They must like me if nothing bad’s ever happened to me.” The single-screen theater had become a ghost of its former self left vacant for five years before Dunlap purchased it in 2016 it will finally reopen its doors to the community beginning with a sold-out screening of “Harbour Chronicle: Shaping the Legacy,” a documentary about local surfboard maker Rich Harbour Seal Beach Councilman Joe Kalmick represents the district that includes Old Town and noted that another developer could have easily turned a quicker profit by tearing down the Art Deco building and replacing it with office space He has fond memories of catching foreign films and art house flicks at the Bay Theatre and thanked Dunlap for bringing the historic landmark back to life “Architects are artists with buildings,” Dunlap said. “I’ve always tried to stand back and, if you could, read their mind. What was their mindset when they were designing this? What did they really want it to be and look like?” For decades he dreamed of owning a theater and previously made unsuccessful bids to purchase the Fox Fullerton Theatre as well as the Celebrity Theatre in Anaheim. Acquiring the historic building in Seal Beach made it seem like his wish might finally come true, but not without more hard work and tenacity. Dunlap initially thought it would take about two years to revitalize the Bay Theatre, but unexpected setbacks delayed the process. He had to replace one of the first contractors he had hired after they appeared to pad an invoice with services they didn’t actually perform. And Dunlap was dissatisfied with the designs presented by architects he began the renovation with, so he wound up letting them go and finding another firm. The first structural engineer he brought on to reinforce the building was a longtime friend the developer had previously worked with. But after missing deadlines for months, he had to admit to Dunlap that he was unable to complete the project because his eyesight was failing due to old age. “There’s so many cooks in the kitchen and you have to coordinate,” Dunlap said. “One wants to do one thing, has to check with the other to see if it’s OK. Just coordinating all of that is really time consuming. It was frustrating.” At one point midway through the theater’s restoration, Dunlap fell at his home and injured several of the vertebrae in his neck. That left him temporarily bedridden, and it took him about six months to regain the ability to walk. The developer said everything he went through was worth it to achieve a goal he’s had in mind for decades. “It’s exactly what I wanted it to be, exactly what I thought it could be,” Dunlap said. Developer Paul Dunlap stands in the auditorium of the newly renovated Bay Theatre in Seal Beach Wednesday. The restoration project took eight years to complete. (Eric Licas) The developer plans to stay on board to personally manage the Bay Theatre for at least another year. He’s already hard at work lining up unique screenings, musical performances, plays and other live events. On Jan. 29, they’ll screen the documentary “Lucy & Desi: A Home Movie,” which dives into the lives of classic Hollywood couple Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, followed by a Q&A session with their daughter Lucie Arnaz, who is also one of the film’s directors and producers. A portion of the event’s proceeds will be donated to the New Life Beginnings Shelter for Mothers & Children in Long Beach. Tickets for a followup screening of “Harbour Chronicles” on Feb. 8 are available for those who weren’t able to snag one for its opening weekend. Performances by singer-songwriters Izaak Opatz, Joe Robinson and Owen Temple are scheduled for March, April and May, respectively. Those who attend screenings or concerts at the Bay Theatre will find vintage charm coupled with state of the art audio, projection and lighting, all in an intimate 330-seat venue. Tickets for most movies are expected to cost $18.50, while admission to live events at the intimate 300-seat venue may start at around $30. Dunlap hopes to invite audiences in four nights a week, possibly expanding to five during the summer. “We need to have a venue like that as a draw to the city that brings people in,” Kalmick said. “It’s an important economic driver for the city and a historic place.” Eric Licas covers Newport Beach for the Daily Pilot. He previously was a crime and public safety reporter and, before that, spent four years as a staff writer with the Orange County Register and the Southern California News Group. He has been on the ground to cover active wildfires, civil unrest and mass shootings. He was born in the Philippines, raised in the San Fernando Valley and is a Cal State Northridge alumnus. News Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map Lampson Project still without sewer service after letter Despite approvals by the City of Los Alamitos with construction permits granted the controversial 246-unit Lampson Project appears to have hit another slowdown.  is the unusual geographical alignment of the proposed site which is physically located in the City of Los Alamitos most of the opposition has come from residents of Seal Beach who live across the street from the proposed development.  When the 12.4-acre site belonged to the federal government and operated as an office complex the sewer service was provided by the City of Seal Beach although the site was in Los Alamitos.  when the Los Al Council approved the construction permit for a much larger project slated for the same site it was suggested that the Rossmoor Los Alamitos Area Sewer District (RLAASD) would provide the sewer service if Seal Beach did not.  consisting of three members from Los Alamitos and two from Rossmoor handles sewer connections and complaints of about 8,000 connections largely unknown agency has one paid employee and no staff for the construction of major infrastructure.  provides service to hundreds of homes in College Park East and a connection to the site made sense and there was no objection to providing minimal service to the federal government.  has methodically researched the documents and says it appears the sewer situation is further complicated by the fact that the sewer connection to the Lampson site runs deep underneath College Park East.  “They cannot run the lines down Lampson Avenue because of a major natural gas pipeline that would create a danger to residents If compromised,” she said attorneys for the developers and even a state agency have apparently been putting subtle pressure on the Seal Beach City Council suggesting existing laws compel the city to continue providing service.  Recent agendas from the SB City Council indicate they have met in executive session more than once recently to discuss pending litigation and a copy of the letter from their city attorney obtained by ENE indicates they believe that the state and developers are misreading existing law.  Ghirelli had warned the Seal Beach Council of a threat of litigation over the Lampson Project The recent letter obtained by the Event News-Enterprise written by Seal Beach City Attorney Nicholas R was apparently in response to correspondence from Shannan West a division of the Housing Policy Development section of the California Department of Housing and Community Development “This letter responds to your letter to Seal Beach Interim City Manager Patrick Gallegos regarding the Lampson Avenue housing project in the City of Los Alamitos (‘Project’),” the letter begins.  the Project site is located within the City of Los Alamitos in the sewer service area of the Rossmoor/Los Alamitos Area Sewer District (“District” or “RLAASD”) This site is wholly outside of the jurisdictional boundaries and service area of the City of Seal Beach,” Ghirelli said.  Ghirelli then started addressing the assertions made by West in her letter to the Seal Beach City Manager you characterize the Applicant’s current request for sewer service from the City of Seal Beach as a ‘post-entitlement permit’ related to infrastructure in the City of Seal Beach the Applicant’s request for sewer service from the City of Seal Beach is not a ‘post-entitlement permit’ under these circumstances “The facts here simply do not implicate Government Code section 65589.7 we disagree with HCD’s conclusion that the City ‘must approve the sewer connection to the Project or make findings of denial as required under Government Code section 65589.7.’ After making it clear that the city will not roll over in agreement that Seal Beach taxpayers are not compelled to provide the expanded sewer service to more than 250 housing units proposed for the site Ghirelli informed the state in this letter that they are also not under any obligation to provide sewer service to the district “Although the City has no obligation to provide sewer service to the Project the City is working with the Applicant to gather information regarding the potential impacts to the City’s sewer system,” the Seal Beach City Attorney said.  “If the City were to decide to provide sewer service to the Project the City will continue to work in good faith to assess this information,” he said.  Ghirelli pointed out to the state that key provisions of any such agreement were left out of the state’s letter “As City staff explained to HCD staff in November 2024 the decision to provide sewer service outside of the City’s jurisdictional boundaries—within the limits of the City of Los Alamitos and within the service area of a separate public agency (RLAASD)—requires the voluntary negotiation of an agreement between the City and RLAASD and potentially approval by the Orange County Local Area Formation Commission (LAFCO) all in accordance with the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000,” cites the SB City Attorney in the letter to West.  “Your letter does not address this important statute that regulates the organization of local government in California—the primary issue in this case,” he said.  The ENE was not able to review the letter sent by West to the city of Seal Beach but did obtain a copy of the letter from Richards/Watson/Gershon the law firm that represents Seal Beach.  developers must still feel confident that the project will move forward as the Orange County Business Council reported this week that the 12.4-acre site planned to house the development was purchased for more than $85 million by one of the nation’s largest home builders (See related story).  Sources close to the negotiations say Seal Beach officials are concerned that they will have to eventually add more than 1,000 new residences under their housing element to their aging sewer system.  but under no law are they compelled to add the sewer capacity to handle the project.  Public works officials are studying whether the aging Seal Beach sewer could handle the sewer requirements of these additional residences taxpayers could eye impact fees and other financial alternatives if city officials develop any interest in serving Lampson.  A property site purchased at an auction from the federal government approximately four years ago for $26.5 million has been resold this past week for $65.2 million according to a local business journal.  The site known locally as the Lampson project has reportedly been purchased by one of the nation’s largest homebuilders The Orange County Business Journal first reported the sale of the building and 12.4 acres along Lampson Avenue to Lennar Corporation once utilized by offices and government agencies is now at the center of a proposed housing complex that has caused consternation for residents who live near the site.  and operates local offices across the country The company has a market capitalization of over $27 billion and a reported income of over $34 billion in 2023 It is considered one of the country’s top public home-building companies.  Although Lennar’s company website has not made any official announcements yet the OC Business Journal said the building at 4665 Lampson Ave. has purchased the site from investors led by MWInvestment Group according to the California Secretary of State’s Office.  MWInvestment Group LLC was the winning bidder of the GSA property auction in 2021 a coalition of local investors and companies have collaborated to create a project consisting of 246 homes at the site the City Council of Los Alamitos voted to award the project a construction permit by a vote of 3-1-1 in November of 2024 A local office building spanning more than 92,000 square feet could be torn down and converted into a housing development The building on 12.4 acres just south of the Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos was bought by national homebuilder Lennar Corp Lennar’s exact plans for the property at 4665 Lampson Ave but documents widely available through the city of Los Alamitos and public sources indicate the site has been targeted for residential redevelopment.  California State Assembly member for the 72nd District joined the Seal Beach Rotary for its monthly luncheon on April 15 Dixon shared some updates on bills she has authored and on projects she with which she is involved One of the ones she has been working on hits close to home for Seal Beach and other coastal cities The problem with river trash washing down stream and washing ashore on the beach when rains clear streets of trash and debris the flows into the storm drains and ends up on beaches.  Seal Beach has been particularly vulnerable to this issue as it sits just south of the mouth of the San Gabriel River A machine that was unveiled in Newport Beach in March and appears to be the next big weapon in the battle against river debris Dixon has been working with several entities to push for funding for more Interceptors She said her ultimate goal would be to have one in every river in Orange County.  “It’s a very important project and I’m excited to work with the City of Seal Beach,” Dixon told the attendees.  The Interceptor uses a boom to direct debris into a catch basin that is powered by a water wheel and solar panels The machine scoops the debris up onto a conveyor belt that moves it up onto the river bank where it is collected in dumpsters for removal.  Dixon also touched on a few other issues she is focused on addressing finding funding sources to make up for cuts to education and tackling safety concerns surrounding e-bikes  A bill she is working on could limit the sale of e-bikes to only those age 16 and older She said that idea was born from discussions with e-bike manufacturers and sellers this is a modest step towards e-bike safety,” Dixon said Julia Clasby with her certificate after Clasby was named on the District 72 Women of the Year.  Patty Campbell of College Park East urged the council not to issue any permits for the Lampson Avenue residential project The Lampson Avenue project is a residential development in the city of Los Alamitos in March 2025 Seal Beach City Attorney Ghirelli advised the council there was a threat of a lawsuit against Seal Beach to compel Seal Beach provide the sewer connection to the 246-unit residential development The council took no reportable action during the April 14 closed session The public is allowed to comment at the start of the closed session A member of the City Clerk’s Office goes into the courtyard and asks if anyone wants to speak please do not issue any permits to begin work over there,” Campbell said “The sewer system needs to be resolved,” Campbell said Campbell expressed the belief that Los Alamitos thinks Seal Beach could be sued to force the city to accept the project sewage “State of California is desperate to provide as much housing as possible,” Campbell said “Our Housing Element is not completed and they can scream builders remedy,” she said California’s Housing Accountability Act (HAA) has provided a so-called builder’s remedy that allows developers of affordable housing projects to bypass the zoning code and general plan of cities that are out of compliance with the Housing Element Law,” according to a 2022 primer on subject from the UCLA  Lewis Center for Regional Policy.) we need to hire a litigation firm to represent us,” Campbell said “We cannot use in house counsel because of conflict of interest; because city employees have been working behind the scenes for this project,” Campbell said She said the city needed to hire a real estate specialist firm to defend Seal Beach against the developer or the state of California Campbell apparently didn’t know that the property has been sold to a new owner a company called Lennar as bought the property Campbell is a current member of the Planning Commission and a past City Council member.  The Sun requested a comment on Campbell’s remarks from Interim City Manager Patrick Gallegos “As with all proposed development projects City staff occasionally meets with an applicant in order to gather information about a proposed development and the requested City approvals as well as to understand the project’s impacts on the City of Seal Beach and how to address those impacts.  This information is needed in order for staff to advise the City Council which has final decision-making authority over the requested sewer connection for the Lampson Park Place Project.  The City is aware of no conflict of interest between staff and the developer of that project,” Gallegos wrote took second place in the Run Seal Beach 10K Run of Saturday took ninth place in the Run Seal Beach 5K Run The information was taken from the Run Seal Beach results page took third place in all ages for all genders There were 1358 participants in the 5K Run (all ages and genders) The results were taken from the Run Seal Beach 2025 web page Race Place: 1—Bib: 978—Klaus Quinonez—Male—Age: 24—HUNTINGTON BEACH—Chip time: 16:02—Gender Place:1—Age Group—M20 – 24—Age Place: 1—Overall Place: 05:10 Race Place: 2—Bib: 1301—Matthew Mayhue—Male—Age: 16—BUENA PARK—Chip time: 16:23—Gender Place: 2—Age Group: M15 – 16—Age Place: 1—Overall Pace: 05:16 Race Place: 3—Bib: 933—Sara Passani—Female—Age: 31—LOS ANGELES—Chip time: 17:18—Gender Place: 1—Age Group: F30 – 34—Age Place: 1—Overall Pace: 05:34 Race Place: 4—Bib—558—Ethan Holaday—Male—Age: 17—UPLAND—Chip time: 17:52—Gender Place: 3—Age group:—M17-19—Age Place: 1—Overall Pace: 05:45 Race Place: 5—Bib: 305—Dimas Diaz—Male—Age: 15—LA HABRA—Chip time:17:59—Gender Place: 4—Age group: M15 – 16—Age Place: 2—Overall Pace: 05:47 Race Place: 6—Bib: 703—Samuel Leong—Male—Age: 27—LAKE FOREST—Chip time: 18:07—Gender Place: 5—Age Group: M25 – 29—Age place: 1—Overall Pace: 05:50 Race Place: 7—Bib: 779—Corey Martin—Male—Age: 42—HUNTINGTON BEACH—Chip time: 18:07—Gender Place: 6—Age group: M40 – 44—Age Place: 1—Overall Pace: 05:50 Lorber—Male—Age: 13—ROSSMOOR—Chip Time: 18:13—Gender Place: 7—Age Group: M13 – 14—Age Place: 1—Overall Pace: 05:52 Race Place: 9—Bib: 1165—Connor Tribole—Male—Age: 31—LOS ANGELES—Chip time: 18:13—Gender Place: 8—Age group: M30 – 34—Age Place: 1—Overall Pace: 05:52 Race Place: 10—Bib: 1497—Spencer Dewald—MaleAge: 33—PLAYA DEL REY—Chip time: 18:19—Gender Place: 9—Age group: M30 – 34—Age Place: 2—Overall Place 05:54 Race Place: 1—Bib: 3170—Jonas Enders—Male—Age: 25—IRVINE—Chip Time: 32:37—Gender Place: 1—Age group: M25 – 29—Age Place: 1—Overall place: 05:15  Race Place: 2—Bib: 4323—Kevin Maeda—Male—Age: 29—SEAL BEACH—Chip Time: 34:32—Gender Place: 2—Age group: M25 – 29—Age Place: 2—Overall Pace: 05:34  Race Place: 3—Bib: 3404—Alonzo Monk—Male—Age: 19—LOS ALAMITOS—Chip Time: 35:14—Gender Place: 3—Age group: M17 – 19—Age Place: 1—Overall Pace: 05:40  Race Place: 4—Bib: 3315—Jake Langenwalter—Male—Age: 30—ANAHEIM—Chip Time: 36:11—Gender Place—4—Age group: M30 – 34—Age Place: 1—Overall Pace: 05:50  Race Place: 5—Bib: 3633—Gunther Vaden—Male—Age: 26—SOUTH PASADENA—Chip time: 37:22—Gender Place: 5—Age group: M25 – 29—Gender Place: 3O—Overall Pace: 06:01  Race Place: 6—Bib: 3077—Alex Butt—Male—Age: 34—LOS ANGELES—Chip time: 37:24—Gender Place: 6—Age group: M30 – 34—Age Place: 2—Overall Pace: 06:01  Race Place: 7—Bib: 3671—Brian Wong—Male—Age: 22—SOUTH PASADENA—Chip time: 38:01—Gender Place: 7—Age group: M20 – 24—Age Place: 1—Overall Pace 06:07  Race Place: 8—Bib: 3781—Edgar Vazquez—Male—Age: 37—LONG BEACH—Chip time: 38:01—Gender Place: 8—Age group: M35 – 39—Age Place: 1—Overall Pace: 06:07  Race Place: 9—Bib: 3571—Clifford Smith—Male—Age: 36—HUNTINGTON BEACH—Chip time: 38:03—Gender Place: 9—Age group: M35 – 39—Age Place: 2—Overall Pace: 06:08  Race Place: 10—Bib: 3565—Michael Simpson—Male—Age: 28—ORANGE—Chip time: 38:15—Gender Place: 10—Age group: M25 – 29—Age Place: 4—Overall Pace: 06:10 In the midst of restoring our native plant garden and taking an occasional glance into the wetlands “Stuck in the mud” seemed an appropriate response About 2 miles from its small and obscure assigned place along a busy highway this sign post traveled north through the marsh with both a prohibitive and location identifier.  It is correct: there is no fishing in the Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge The Refuge serves as a nursery habitat for baby fish to be nourished and protected as they develop before they move out to the ocean It is incredibly important that we abide by these fishing regulations so we can continue to resupply our commercial and recreational fish populations.  there is a very long association of the word Anaheim with this home to endangered birds Stuck in the mud was the experience of rescuing the sign and placing it on display at the Nature Center as a reminder that we all share some part in preserving what little space we have remaining of our natural environment Joe Lazzari is a member of Friends of Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge The 51st annual Run Seal Beach 5K/10K will take place On Saturday in the Old Town and surrounding areas of Seal Beach As a result of this event and the large number of participants expected to run the following streets will be closed to ensure runner safety: —Marina Bridge (to/from Long Beach to Seal Beach) —Marina Drive – from Electric to 1st Street —First Street – Welcome Lane to Ocean Place —1st Street – from Ocean Place to Ocean Avenue —Ocean Avenue – from 1st Street to 10th Street —Marina Drive – from 1st Street to 5th Street —Ocean Avenue – from 10th Street to Electric —Seal Beach Blvd – from Electric to Pacific Coast Hwy (PCH) —Electric Avenue – Northside and Southside from Seal Beach Blvd to There will be NO PARKING on the streets listed above Vehicles along the racecourse may not be moved from closed streets during the race hours of 7–11 a.m Note that all times are approximate and roadway openings may be delayed These times are conservative in the name of setting expectations as well as simplifying the communication Seal Beach residents can drop off bulk waste at no cost The city of  Seal Beach will host a  Dump Day in  partnership with Republic Services,  Goodwill,  and  the   Orange  County  Conservation  Corps.  Residents  may  drop off   bulky household waste at  no  cost The Dump Day event will be held from 8 to 11 a.m Staff will   be  onsite to  collect household items that are   too   bulky for residential garbage bins such as  mattresses Salvageable items will  be  kept out  of the  landfill and donated to Goodwill Donations of  new and gently used clothing can also be  given directly to  Goodwill at  the   event The Orange County Conservation Corps will collect e-waste The following items will  NOT be  accepted at this event: For more information,  contact  Management Analyst Lauren  Barich in the  City  Manager’s  Office  at 562-431-2527 x1336 or  lbarich@sealbeachca.gov New 10k course includes tour of NWSSB’s new pier Last year’s 50th anniversary of Run Seal Beach was historic—not just because of the milestone but because it marked the first time in 23 years that runners could race through the neighboring Naval Weapons Station The opportunity to run on this once-restricted military site was a thrill and 10K participants raved about the experience But with that excitement came a logistical challenge—10K runners merging with walkers in Old Town • Separate Lanes on Electric Avenue – Walkers will now use the South side while 5K and 10K runners will stay on the North side • Scenic Waterfront Finish – Instead of turning left onto First Street and pass through the First Street beach parking lot before reconnecting with Ocean Avenue This means all participants will enjoy a picturesque waterfront view in the final stretch A 10K course through the Naval Weapons Station Last year’s run through the Naval Weapons Station and ecological preserve was spectacular but 2025 offers an even more exclusive route 10K runners will race onto the newly constructed Naval Weapons Station Pier—an area rarely open to civilians For military buffs and running enthusiasts alike this is a rare chance to step onto a piece of active naval history while taking in unparalleled coastal scenery Run Seal Beach is only possible because of the many volunteers from the community and we need you.  Volunteers are needed for Friday for the shirt and bib pickup as well as race morning April 5 Individuals and groups may contact volunteers@runsealbeach.com — don’t miss your chance to be part of history City officials are expected to take a look at how prepared Seal Beach is to deal with a firestorm During the council comment part of the Jan District Five councilman Nathan Steele said it was on the council to begin putting together a plan to make Seal Beach “more fire-resilient.” City Attorney Nick Ghirelli said that since this was not an agenda item the council was giving direction to staff to come back to the council He said the council could vote on the report that staff brings back to the council Steele said he had been watching the news about the fire in Pacific Palisades He saw TV interviews with people who lost their homes Steele said the city closed Gum Grove Park last week District Two Councilman Ben Wong said the Orange County Fire Authority confirmed the closure.) “That could be a spark point for something to come into our neighborhood in a high wind situation,” Steele said “I looked at my neighborhood in Leisure World wind-driven firestorm come into our neighborhood the death toll would be mind-boggling,” he said Steele said there is no evacuation plan capable of moving that many people in three days He asked if the city should clear Gum Grove Park (This was the subject of a letter to the council from resident Cathy Goldberg page 6.) He proposed bringing professionals together to assess Seal Beach Steele said he would like to incorporate fire mitigation into the water system District Four Councilwoman Patty Senecal encouraged the public to follow the city’s social media She said when she (along with many other Seal Beach residents) got an evacuation alert last week from Los Angeles she checked social media and learned that the message was sent in error The Orange County Fire Authority has the contract to provide fire and paramedic services to the city Serving on the Seal Beach City Council has been a truly life-changing experience I have had the privilege of meeting so many remarkable individuals and participating in events that highlight the unique character of our city I already feel the bittersweet ache of missing our community gatherings which have been such a central part of my life One of the unexpected joys of my tenure was discovering the incredible impact of the Seal Beach Lions Club Their tireless dedication to the community—supporting nearly every city event and mentoring the next generation through the Leos program—has been inspiring an experience that not only enriched his life but also brought our family closer to the heart of local service I strongly encourage families with teenagers to consider joining the Leos; it’s a fantastic way to build character I’ve gained a deep respect for the Seal Beach Chamber of Commerce whose efforts help both our community events thrive and local businesses succeed Many of the Chamber members I’ve worked with over the years have become close friends I also want to honor those who supported me in my early days on the council Former Mayor and Council Member David Sloan welcomed me with his humor and wisdom a former Golden Rain Foundation President who ran against me in 2016 later became a dear friend and Planning Commissioner before her passing for helping me connect with residents in Leisure World it was amidst tension and protests in the chambers—a trial by fire that taught me the importance of listening and respecting every resident’s voice I believe that an elected official’s most fundamental duty is to consider the opinions of the people they serve I have worked to ensure that every resident who takes the time to attend meetings or share their thoughts feels heard From ribbon cuttings to reopening the pier after its devastating fire and from honoring our veterans to advocating for businesses my time as Mayor in 2019 and 2023 was a whirlwind of meaningful moments These experiences underscored my belief that being present and visible is a crucial part of leadership Our city staff has been exceptional in navigating the increasing demands of state mandates From managing a drastic increase in housing requirements to adapting to organic waste regulations I am encouraged by the efforts of local representatives like Diane Dixon and Janet Nguyen who are addressing critical issues such as pollution on our beaches If I could offer one piece of advice to my fellow Seal Beach residents Whether it’s attending a City Council meeting or simply staying informed by reading the Sun newspaper and its strength lies in the passion and participation of its people Thank you for the honor of serving this incredible community I will carry these memories and friendships with me always and I encourage anyone who feels called to step up and maybe even run for City Council.  we can continue to make Seal Beach the extraordinary city we all cherish College Park West resident Tom Moore is the former Seal Beach City Council member for District Two Editor’s note: Answers to Sidewalk Talk questions are generally short This reply to the question “How would you bring more business to Seal Beach,” was unusually long and for that reason is being published as a guest column.  I would attempt to convert a building/area into something that generates income for the city from tourists/neighboring cities It sucks to think about because of all the traffic and whatever it brings along with it – however sports stadiums and arenas generate a boatload of revenue and tourism Outskirts of town over where the Pumpkin Patch used to be Make a deal with the navy base for the old Boeing buildings that would sometimes open where they used to work on those big Ship Engines but long term revenue / revenue from business partnership Partner with a poplar tech business (like Boeing once upon a time) and convince them to create a satellite office somewhere for a few hundred people Petition the government to get incentive breaks for new businesses It would be great to have an actual museum or something regarding city history – but I don’t think it will generate revenue.  Not sure what profit margins are on museums and Huntington Beach already is competition for surfing – but something that makes Seal Beach more of an international tourist culture spot (like going to see LACMA or the Getty) Just hard to distinguish from Surf City USA HB Requires large investment/business partnership but could have the potential to make Seal a more desirable spot for tourism @ 14k housing Units = $350k per month = $4mil per year Call it the “Save Seal Beach Fee” or something to get local buy-in Hire 20 person construction team @ 17.5k per month (or way cheaper lol) and build something to generate passive revenue for city More Large Events like the Car Show / the Peddler / the Fish Fry / races like half marathons / events that utilize the beach / music festival-like thing Something that utilizes the green belt and allows free pedestrian walking down electric on both ends Get more famous people to come to the city I think there’s big potential here just for seal beach to have branding / marketing w/ a unique cool thing Generates revenue passively AND allows more outside business access from neighboring cities.  Also augments current locals quality of life with traffic Getting all the cars out of main-street and really making it a pedestrian friendly area(like the parklet era) would be legendary and set Seal Beach apart more Put a high end fine dining restaurant in town somewhere Gets lots of free advertising from people searching for food online Partner with travel companies and to promote seal beach internationally as a tourist spot Invest as $ into bloggers vloggers agencies whatever (I’d have to look more into this which I haven’t done at all but-) relaxing business regulations and/or timelines for new business?” Hellman properties has large un-developed land near PCH and Seal Beach Blvd used for oil wells But there is a large amount of space between the oil wells More than 200 spaces could be added without impact This would bring in 50-80/night/space ~$2,000,000 per year Of course Seal Beach does not own the land but Hellman Properties may want to get along with the city of Seal Beach since they want permits to install new equipment Maybe they would be open to the idea of leasing land to the city Run Seal Beach expects more than 4,000 participants Seal Beach is gearing up for a Spring-time annual tradition With expectations of over 4,000 participants the race welcomes runners and walkers of all ages and abilities continuing its legacy of fostering community and supporting local organizations Run Seal Beach is also a fundraiser for the community grant program.  Since 2003 Run Seal Beach has distributed over $2.1 million in grants to local non-profit organizations focused on youth and fitness activities 59 different groups benefited from the race’s annual grant program highlighting the event’s impact on the Seal Beach and Los Alamitos communities The race offers participants a scenic course that showcases the beauty of Seal Beach The updated 10K course for 2025 will feature a new highlight: the recently constructed Navy Pier This addition promises runners a unique and breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean adding an extra layer of excitement to the race The 10k course begins at the Marina Community Center winds through the charming streets of Old Town Seal Beach back through Old Town and culminates at the iconic Seal Beach Pier Run Seal Beach is designed to be inclusive welcoming participants of all fitness levels Approximately 1,000 walkers are expected to join the event demonstrating the race’s commitment to promoting a healthy lifestyle for everyone where 250 children will have the opportunity to race and enjoy the festivities in the Fun Zone Run Seal Beach has forged strong partnerships with several local charities These collaborations extend the event’s impact beyond race day ensuring that the funds raised continue to support those in need throughout the year the Seal Beach Run Club offers a supportive and encouraging environment providing training sessions and fostering a sense of community among runners of all abilities The club’s dedicated members are enthusiastic about welcoming new participants and helping them prepare for Run Seal Beach The race day experience extends beyond the finish line Participants and spectators alike can enjoy the Finish Line Festival at Eisenhower Park.  The Festival includes sponsors and other local businesses and the race’s awards ceremony Run Seal Beach is entirely volunteer-led and operated ensuring that a greater portion of the funds raised directly supports the grant program This commitment to community involvement and efficient fundraising has enabled the event to donate over $2 million to local non-profits focused on youth and recreation in Seal Beach and Los Alamitos The event’s organizers emphasize the importance of giving back and promoting a healthy lifestyle Run Seal Beach is not just a race; it’s a time-honored tradition that strengthens the bonds of the community and supports vital local programs and welcoming atmosphere make it an ideal event for both seasoned athletes and first-time participants The event promises to be a memorable day of fitness celebrating the spirit of Seal Beach and its commitment to community Run Seal Beach offers an opportunity to be part of a tradition that makes a real difference For those interested in participating or learning more about the event registration and additional information are available at RunSealBeach.com The organizers encourage everyone to join in this special celebration of community and fitness The annual Seal Beach Holiday Parade will take place on Friday December 6 The Seal Beach Police Department will be diverting traffic on Pacific Coast Highway and closing several streets to vehicular traffic for the parade •Main Street will be closed to all vehicular traffic starting at 4 p.m •Ocean Avenue will be closed between 7th Street and 12th Street •Both Electric Avenue and Central Avenue will be closed between 8th Street and 10th Street These closures will also begin at about 4 p.m •Pacific Coast Highway eastbound will be closed at Main Street and traffic will be diverted to northbound Bolsa Avenue Motorists will be directed to continue on Bolsa Avenue Motorists can also choose to turn south on Balboa Drive from Bolsa Avenue in order to access Pacific Coast Highway This closure will occur from 6:30 to about 10 p.m •Pacific Coast Highway westbound traffic will be restricted and heavily congested from Seal Beach Boulevard to 5th Street Please be aware that street re-opening times are approximate The SBPD advises the public to allow extra time for travel due to street closures and possible traffic delays License plate tech part of parking enforcement  unanimously approved spending $214,479.37 for reimplementing and “refreshing” the city’s automated license plate reader system The council also authorized the city manager to implement all necessary contracts including extensions or amendments unless a council member pulls one or more items for further discussion Staff gave the council a presentation on the parking technology at the start of the meeting Presentations take place before the public comment part of council meetings and before the council votes on agenda items “Mobile (vehicle-mounted) license plate recognition (LPR) technology is the central pillar that the Department’s parking enforcement and animal control programs are built upon interconnected computer systems,” according to the staff report prepared by Operations Bureau Lt the Department’s operations resulted in approximately 22,900 citations,” Hendrix wrote senior community service officers and police aides handled more than 6,000 service calls Hendrix was apparently referring to the calendar year ongoing equipment failures are significantly hampering the effectiveness of SCSOs and PAs This decrease in efficiency is expected to worsen as equipment issues persist,” Hendrix wrote Department staff anticipate several negative outcomes “• A substantial decline in parking citations being issued and decrease in parking revenue “• Increased response times for service calls • SCSO and PO safety issues due to failing equipment • Significant disruptions to animal control and jail services,” Hendrix wrote “There are two (2) integrated mobile LPR companies Genetec and Motorola Vigilant,” Hendrix wrote the Seal Beach Police have used Genetec’s license plate reading equipment since Seal Beach program started in 2017 “Staff recommends proceeding with a Genetec Distributor to optimize existing infrastructure and integrations,” Hendrix wrote “Due to the complex and customized nature of the associated Genetec equipment and software staff recommends using a licensed Genetec distributor for these hardware and support services Since some of the operational components are not compatible with outside vendors or other manufacturers switching vendors would require a substantial cost increase to unnecessarily replace components to be compatible with other manufacturers,” Hendrix wrote “There are three (3) licensed Genetec distributors who support the West Coast region with the municipal and law enforcement experience who are qualified to support the City’s smart parking technology program Introducing new vendors or hardware would needlessly complicate reimplementation efforts the Department strives to maintain a degree of hardware consistency between patrol and parking fleet vehicles This maximizes interoperability and simplifies maintenance,” Hendrix wrote “An Invitation to Bid was issued on October 16 and each of the three qualified (3) vendors submitted a proposal by the November 26 “ComSonics’ proposal provides the most complete service agreement that includes support and overall coverage,” Hendrix wrote “Staff is recommending ComSonics due to its lower five-year cost projection ComSonic had excellent references including local agencies with similar needs to Seal Beach,” Hendrix wrote making them the lowest total bid,” Hendrix wrote there is enough money in the current budget for the project.  such as licensing fees and routine management costs outside of the established warranty and agreements are to be budgeted for in the Department’s technology budget which will be included in future years,” Hendrix wrote the  Seal Beach Police Department and the  Drug Enforcement Administration will host a National Prescription Drug Take Back Day event at Leisure World’s main gate The goal is to provide the  public with a safe and anonymous way to dispose of potentially dangerous Bring your pills for  disposal to the main entrance at 13533 Seal Beach Blvd (The DEA cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps only pills or patches.) The service is free and anonymous This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue Unused or expired prescription drugs  pose serious public safety and health risks Medications left  in home cabinets are  highly vulnerable to diversion studies show that most misused prescription drugs are  obtained from family and friends – often from a household medicine cabinet improper disposal methods like  flushing medications down the  toilet or tossing them in the  trash can harm the  environment and public health we hear of tragic events involving overdoses caused by prescription medications,” said Seal Beach Chief of Police Michael Henderson “By creating this  opportunity for  our  community to safely dispose of unused and expired medications we  aim to reduce access to these potentially dangerous substances We’re incredibly grateful for our continued partnership with the Golden Rain Foundation and the Leisure World community for hosting this event at their main entrance.” This initiative is part of a nationwide effort to combat the  opioid epidemic and improve public health through proper medication disposal For  more information about safe medication disposal or National Take Back Day an active shooter incident will last 10 to 15 minutes He addressed the audience in the McGaugh Elementary School auditorium on Tuesday He was giving his annual presentation on “Surviving Gun Violence.” Nicholas said the police will need you to keep yourself safe until they arrive Police Chief Michael Henderson thanked everyone for coming He said they were going to provide the audience with some knowledge that they hoped the audience would never need to use Nicholas did not use a mic during the presentation He asked the audience about that but the audience indicated they could hear him without it Yosa the facilities dog spent the presentation on the auditorium stage “This isn’t something I enjoy talking about,” said Capt He warned the audience that the presentation included graphic images and the sounds of real gunshots being fired His said the objects were to provide the public with strategies for preparing for violent situations provide them with options to enhance their chances of survival and tell them how to interact with the police during an active shooter event Nicholas said the SBPD’s mission was to drive down crime and improve the quality of life Nicholas said he wanted the audience to be “more prepared He then showed the audience a video of a Florida school boardd shooting The video showed the board members sitting at the dais while an agitated man brandished a handgun the man with a gun was the only person killed Nicholas turned to active shooter statistics who earlier in his career was the SBPD public information officer said he thought the media sensationalizes gun violence Nicholas quoted the FBI report “Active Shooter Incidents in the United States 2023.” The report was released in June 2024 He said the statistics hadn’t changed much from the previous report There were 48 active shooter events in 2023 according to “Active Shooter Incidents”.  125 were civilians; 12 law enforcement; two security personnel 101 were civilians; two law enforcement; two security personnel Nicholas said active shooters rarely give themselves up the killing generally continues until the suspect is captured or killed He said 61% of active shooters are captured According to the “Active Shooter Incidents” report Nicholas said 20 of the suspects had a connection to the victims; 28 had no connection He said 28 incidents occurred in open space; three in schools.  the media leaves the public with the impression that most active shooter events take place in schools According to the “Active Shooter Incidents” report (page 43) there were 98 active shooter events at commercial locations and 85 in open spaces.  the numbers at business locations appear to be going down Nicholas said he believed business were doing better at being a hard target.  Nicholas said he didn’t think politics made a difference in active shooter events.  Nicholas then discussed “red flags,” warning signs that something was up He then showed the audience a Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department video “Surviving an Active Shooter”.  “Send this video to your friends and family,” Nicholas said The video encouraged the audience to get out if possible hide if possible and if you can’t run or hide cover is a location that will block a bullet; concealment is a place that will prevent someone from seeing you you need to get behind a place of concealment He defined an active shooter as someone actively killing people A barricade situation is when a suspect hunkers down in one place Nicholas said situations evolve very quickly.  He turned to a sociology theory of crime called the Routine Activity Theory He said that for a crime you need a likely offender “If you take one of those three things away He told the public to be just a little bit more aware of their surroundings He also encouraged the public to call the police about anything suspicions “Put as much distance as possible between you and violence.” if you’re hiding from an active shooter and someone knocks and says they’re the police He showed the audience a TV interview with a woman who was shot during an active shooter event People warned her not to go into the building “There are no rules in this situation,” he said He said 9/11 taught law enforcement to pay attention to red flags (Earlier he said if the guy taking flying lessons doesn’t care about learning to land He said police would step over wounded victims to stop an active shooter Nicholas also said officers might not be wearing their uniforms when they respond to an active shooter.  He said officers would treat everyone like a suspect until they know otherwise.  “You have to think about these things now,” he said The SBPD provided free gun locks to anyone who wanted them LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio A big swell coming from just the right direction brings steep hollow waves to the south side of the Seal Beach pier it usually breaks just like a couple days,” said Justin Kahn A barrel is when the wave curls into a tube that surfers can shoot through “ It's just like this vision that only certain people get in their life,” said Dylan Sloan who was taking a short break in the parking lot Monday morning before heading back out to the water If you go … stay on shore with your camera unless you’re a very good surfer and familiar with the conditions It’s supposed to get even bigger here through Christmas 2025 at 2:11 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The 51st annual Run Seal Beach Race will shut down several major streets in the Old Town area CA —The 51st annual Run Seal Beach 5k and 10k will take place this Saturday prompting street closures in Old Town and nearby areas Here’s what you need to know about the closures: Vehicles parked along these streets will not be allowed to move nor will parking be available during the closure hours according to the Seal Beach Police Department (SBPD) The SBPD added that the roadway openings may be delayed past 11 a.m Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. 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Ray Longoria will be the 2024 Christmas Parade grand marshal Longoria has been a Seal Beach resident for 42 years He caught the community service bug 35 years ago when Jim Klisanin invited hi m to join the Seal Beach Lions Club He has been an active community servant ever since The core of his community service has been through his work with the Lions Club but he has had roles with other organizations as well For the past seven years he has served as a board Member for Friends of the Library and is currently the vice president He has supported LOTE over the years in a support capacity and was instrumental in raising funds after the horrible Salon Meritage tragedy he assisted with Pier restoration and most recently donated historical items to the Seal Beach Historical Resource Foundation Longoria has led a team of Lions and community members who clean up graffiti in and around Seal Beach more than 1,200 graffiti tags were removed or covered up with Longoria leading the way This initial effort and subsequent years “control” of graffiti has kept Seal Beach mostly free of this blight Longoria has deputized others to handle parts of the city but he personally takes care of “Old Town” where most graffiti is found Republic Services and many residents know to “just call Ray” whenever graffiti is found he leads a larger team that cleans up the riverbed and areas in North Seal Beach in gullies where taggers like to hang out Ray led a team of volunteers who painted over graffiti on the riverbed near College Park East Longoria is an active volunteer for California Lions Friends in Sight where he helps screen adults and children with vision problems This work takes him all over Southern California and Mexico He is a founding member of the Lions KIDSSIGHT program in Long Beach This group of Lions conduct screenings for very young children at various schools each September and January Longoria has been a big supporter of The Youth Center in Los Alamitos He keeps our Lions Club supporting this important youth organization both financially and through volunteer efforts He has become the ‘go to guy’ to support their fundraising events by running the bar and bringing lots of friends to the events Longoria has served as Lions president twice and chaired or co-chaired most large Lions projects over his 35 years None have been more important than his leadership of the club’s opportunity drawing every July When COVID hit and some suggested that the club should “take a year off” from fundraising Longoria said no and took on the car drawing he was able to pull off a COVID Car Drawing that raised more than $50,000 He has led this important fundraiser for the past five years Longoria’s passion for community service has earned him many honors including: Lions International Life membership Eleven Melvin Jones Fellowship Progressive Diamonds and he earned a US Presidential Lifetime Achievement Medal for Volunteer Service Longoria loves to help the less fortunate and improve his community His resume of service is remarkable and grounded in the community Longoria and his wife Marilyn have been married for 37 years and live in Bridgeport Longoria will be cutting the ribbon to start the 46th annual Seal Beach Christmas Parade on Dec OC Public Library leases building from Seal Beach 10 unanimously approved a new lease agreement with the county to for the Mary Wilson Library Orange County leases the building from the city government Staff doesn’t expect to spend money on the building this fiscal year “The Orange County Public Libraries (OCPL) is a special district governed by the County of Orange (County) Board of Supervisors and is the library services provider in Seal Beach,” according to the staff report prepared by Management Analyst Megan Coats “OCPL is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of 33 libraries throughout the county including the Los Alamitos-Rossmoor Library located in the Shops at Rossmoor shopping center located at 707 Electric Avenue,” Coats wrote “While the County owns the library property at the Shops at Rossmoor the Mary Wilson Library (Library) building is owned by the City of Seal Beach (City) and a lease agreement governing the Library’s operations was established between the City and County on August 10 the two entities have maintained a collaborative relationship regarding building maintenance and operations the County has historically been responsible for interior and personal property of the Library portion of the building while the City is responsible for the building maintenance the City is entirely responsible for all operations and maintenance in the Senior Center portion of the building,” Coats wrote “The Library is an essential resource for the residents of Seal Beach with nearly 90,000 visits in 2024 about 28,000 of which were people attending  comprehensive range of program offerings designed for children “The Library is instrumental in providing crucial services and various resources that promote learning The Library also offers equipment for public use “The City and OCPL are proposing a new lease to refresh and modernize the language while maintaining the intent and goals of the 1976 lease regarding the ongoing occupancy of the Libraryt,” Coats wrote “These proposed terms are designed to align with comparable lease agreements for library facilities established between the County and other municipalities within Orange County as well as the provisions set forth in the 1976 lease agreement,” Coats wrote Term: 10-year initial term with two five-year extension options Rent: The County’s use of the premises will continue to be rent-free in support of the community benefits it provides Use: The premises will be used to provide free public library services “• The City will be responsible for major repairs and replacements for the premises building and parking lot “• The County will provide janitorial services maintain interior equipment and personal property and be responsible for utilities supplied to the premises “• The County may make improvements and changes to the premises “• The City will provide and facilitate the replacement of both traditional lightbulbs and energy-efficient Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting,” Coats wrote “The City and OCPL have a shared goal of obtaining funding for capital improvements at the Library in the future and recently collaborated on a grant application for Community Development Block Grant funds,” Coats wrote but both entities will continue seeking grant resources for this building in the future to leverage this mutually beneficial partnership,” Coats wrote “Approval of this lease is not expected to have new budget implications for the fiscal year as the City already maintains this building Ongoing maintenance and capital improvements associated with the Library will continue to be addressed through the City’s annual budgeting process,” Coats wrote Scott Weir is the 2024 Seal Beach Citizen of the Year He will be among the honorees at the 50th annual Americana Awards 50th anniversary gala on March 15 Weir is a Seal Beach resident and past president of the Seal Beach Lions Club.  Scott Newton announced Weir’s selection at the Oct Newton provided Weir’s October 2024 nomination Newton first wrote it in 2022 and updated it on Monday “He was born in Santa Monica and came from the hospital to his parents’ home in Seal Beach in 1958 He was on the original Seal Beach Swim Club and later coached this team for 9 years He went on to Long Beach State University earning BS in Business Management and NCAA All-American Water Polo honors,” Newton wrote “Scott has a very broad base of service in the community.  He was volunteer coach for Seal Beach Pony Baseball Los Alamitos High School PTA & Booster groups for Aquatics.  In 1990 Scott was the Beachcomber Neighborhood Watch lead,” Newton wrote “Scott was the volunteer Announcer for the Seal Beach Rough Water Swim for 12 years and regularly helps organize luminary & neighborhood events in his Marina Hill neighborhood.  He is a member of Grace Community Church and helps St Anne Church with their events,” Newton wrote “He was the Fundraising Chairman for the Seal Beach Centennial (2015) His team raised more than the $170,000 for Centennial Events “Scott has been a member of the Seal Beach Lions Club for 14 years and received the highest honor a member can receive three times (Melvin Jones Fellowship),” Newton wrote The Melvin Jones Fellowship is given to an individual who donates $1,000 or raises for the Lions Club International Foundation “Besides being active in most Lions community projects he has chaired events like McGaugh School Carnival BBQ and the WWII Submarine Memorial Restoration project   He is also a key player in events like Fish Fry Arts and Crafts Fair and the Christmas Parade,” Newton wrote “He served on the Lions Club board of directors for several years including being 1st Vice President twice and President in 2022-2023.  During the first 18 months of Covid Scott was instrumental in creating ‘Covid Safe’ projects throughout the community to keep the Lions “We Serve” motto relevant,” Newton wrote Past Seal Beach Citizens of the Year have included: Bill Ayres The American Awards honor residents of Seal Beach As many learned from the tragic fires in Southern California this past week being a celebrity in no way absolves your need for human connection nor does it protect them from the day-to-day trials of living a real life These are among the hard lessons Lucie Arnaz has fought to overcome for most of her life Born to the biggest TV star in the world in the 1950s the daughter of Lucille Ball and her husband Desi Arnaz even if they were super famous working parents Arnaz will bring their story to the stage and screen in Seal Beach on Jan 29 as she presents “Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie,” a documentary film for which Lucie received an Emmy® Award Arnaz discussed the documentary film that explores “who Lucy and Desi were as people While Arnaz remembers life as a child in the Lucy and Desi household as being somewhat chaotic she says her parents did the best they could given the enormous pressures of being the most popular TV star on the planet after she and her brother with where they were and did the best they could with what they had,” said Arnaz The “I Love Lucy” show was a hit on CBS Television when it first aired in 1951 The show pioneered situation comedy and introduced many recording techniques still used today the “I Love Lucy” show was the number-one hit on American television reaching approximately 16 million households that viewership represented nearly 100 percent of the American audience as only about a quarter of households had televisions back then Lucille Ball’s comedic brilliance and Desi’s unique chemistry kept the show at the top of the ratings for almost a decade Lucille Ball became the first woman to head a studio The aspiring couple first founded Desilu Productions and eventually purchased RKO Studios after the “I Love Lucy” show ruled the airwaves in America for years and grew an audience of billions in more than 80 countries Arnaz has managed her entertainment career while protecting and advancing the legacy of her famous parents Projects like “Lucy and Desi” provide the public with “a deeper more authentic portrayal of her parents’ lives their legacy to showcase both their struggles and achievements Lucy and Desi both came from tragic backgrounds before reaching such success Lucie Arnaz will present the Emmy Award-winning documentary at the Bay Theatre on Jan she looks forward to a question-and-answer session about the film and her parents Arnaz was invited by Los Alamitos High alum Raji Ahsan an aspiring actor/producer with several major acting roles to his credit Lucie will show the film as part of a fundraising effort for a short film Ahsan hopes to produce “Lucie has been so incredibly generous to me,” said Ahsan “I studied theater at NYU and grew up loving the “I Love Lucy” show and was always enamored with the family story Arnaz said she had been friends with Ahsan for several years first meeting him appearing on a talk show he once hosted in New York always looking for deeper meaning in everything,” said Ahsan Arnaz said she is happy to support Ahsan and has indeed agreed to play a role in the movie when it is made Lucie said she was also thrilled to make the documentary film after finding the film reels of home movies taken by her dad that her mother had stashed away including darker moments that caused her to pause and debate whether to continue “Several times during the making of this film there’s some dark places and some really hard stuff to tell,” she admits the divorce and the drinking and all of the stuff,” said Arnaz they just want to see the Chocolate Factory (one of Lucille Ball’s memorable skits) I was trying to figure me out,” said Arnaz Her husband Larry Luckinbill finally encouraged her to follow her heart “It’s not going to steer you wrong,” Arnaz said he told her made it through the family drama and found a way to present the real story of how they rose from dreamers to the owners one of the biggest Hollywood Studios of that day She released the 90-minute production and in 1993 the 90-minute documentary production was awarded an Emmy Award for “Outstanding Information Special,” an achievement of which Lucie is even prouder today Doing the documentary about her parents was “therapeutic,” she said adding she sometimes saw a pattern in her own behavior that mimicked her iconic mother Lucie retains her mother’s wit and split-second comedic timing yet she chose not to follow her into the television industry “I didn’t want to be typecast,” says the multi-talented Arnaz even though Lucy did talk her daughter into making several appearances on “The Lucy Show.” Lucie said she learned about life and show business from her mom but dear old dad Desi instilled in her a love of music “My dad was all about the music,” she said which was kind of dangerous sometimes,” she says with a sheepish smile and I think I just inherited that from him.” Arnaz has drifted to the musical side of show business becoming a star in musical theater at a relatively young age Arnaz starred in “Annie Get Your Gun,” “Lost in Yonkers,” which won the Pulitzer Prize for drama “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” and “Pippin,” among others Arnaz played Sonia Wolsk in the Neil Simon musical “They’re playing our Song,” giving a performance that won awards from the Los Angeles Drama Critics’ Circle She has also appeared in several major films including “The Jazz Singer,” with Neil Diamond and Laurence Oliver Arnaz won a Golden Globe nomination for “Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture” for her performance in the film Having uprooted the family from New York to Palm Springs Arnaz says her family followed suit and all now live nearby the spark of show business still simmers within but family tugs the heartstrings as much as the stage because that means I have to leave Larry for a week and a half and I don’t want to put him in that position right now.’” and I hope to meet as many people as I can Ahsan said most of the ticket categories are sold out, and that the only remaining unsold tickets are $75. To purchase tickets, visit rajiahsan.com/lucie, and for information about Arnaz, visit lrajiahsan.com/lucie= “I wanted the film to be real and heartfelt,” said Lucie “I didn’t want it to be a tribute to the two of them I didn’t want it to be a trash piece,” said Lucie “I wanted it to be a daughter’s search for meaning for who her parents were I thought that would be kind of interesting because they were kind of famous and it turned out pretty well,” said Lucie the Seal Beach Police Department will conduct a driving under the influence Checkpoint from 7 p.m at an undisclosed location within the city limits DUI checkpoint locations are determined based on data showing incidents of impaired driving-related crashes.  The primary purpose of DUI checkpoints is to promote public safety by taking suspected impaired drivers off the road “We encourage everyone to plan ahead and make responsible choices,” Chief Michael Henderson said.  or utilize public transportation to ensure a safe journey home Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration “The City of Seal Beach receives funding from the Office of Traffic and Safety (OTS) Grant which allows the Police Department to put on specific traffic related events to include DUI / Drivers License checkpoints,” wrote Lt SBPD Operations lieutenant and pubic information officer.  “The total cost of the checkpoint can vary as the city will sometime collaborate with neighboring agencies that are also on OTS grants funds to assist,” Clasby wrote there is no set cost to SBPD and the funds are covered by OTS,” Clasby wrote it was because my BF found a leash of his laying on the concrete wall when walked up boyfriend Michael with that custom made green leash attached to his boogie board Michael made a comment to him about that being his leash The good news is that my BF’s leash was returned with a handshake and a smile Not long after that I met Michael Senior and Michael Junior and established a special friendship and bond There are so many reasons why Michael is known as the “Saint of Seal Beach” In many ways he is like a pastor attending and watching over his flock who are taking surfing lessons or renting boards and wet suits Michael is magical because when he is talking to us He brightens and blesses our lives and make us feel special If there ever was a proverbial “fountain of advice” with best intentions and good humor Michael generously hands it out and all is good Most days he is in front of his big white M & M Surfing School van having fun in the sun working with his son Michael Jr To really see Michael at his lofty best is when he is working and teaching the kids who take surfing lessons where they have lots of fun thrill riding those waves What is really so special is when the children’s parents arrive to pick them up The joy and happiness of the “fun kid show” happens as the wetsuits are being taken off and many break out dancing and laughing I will sign off here saying that if you or anyone you know love the ocean and the joy of the sand a surf and fancy a wet water thrill ride do think about coming down to the north side of the pier to meet Michael Pless.  You can meet him and see for yourself why he is well known admired and widely respected and is Seal Beach’s gold and the “saint of Seal Beach.” 2025 at 11:50 am PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The service is free and anonymous according to the Seal Beach Police Department with the help of the Drug Enforcement Administration to help anyone looking to anonymously dispose of any unwanted prescription drugs The "National Prescription Drug Take Back Day" is part of a nationwide effort to combat the opioid epidemic by providing people with a proper way to dispose of their unwanted medication "no questions asked," police said in a statement Monday Police say unused or expired prescription drugs pose a serious public safety issue and health risks due to their easy access they can be misused or abused by family or friends Improper disposal methods such as flushing medication in the toilet or trash can also harm the environment and public health “By creating this opportunity for our community to safely dispose of unused and expired medications we aim to reduce access to these potentially dangerous substances." The SBPD asks anyone looking to get rid of their unwanted pill or patches to visit the Leisure World Retirement Community at 13533 Seal Beach Blvd Print Seal Beach resident Carson Fox is now not only cancer-free but he finds himself in a very enviable position this weekend Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire has granted his wish of heading to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans Eighteen other “wish kids” from around the country will also be at the Super Bowl via Make-A-Wish mother and brother got into town on Wednesday so to be all here together and celebrate as a family is awesome.” After breaking his ankle as a freshman at Los Alamitos High, Fox found out that he had a rare form of cancer called telangiectatic osteosarcoma A cancerous tumor forced the amputation of his left leg above the knee in 2021 (Courtesy of Make-A-Wish) Following rounds of chemotherapy and physical therapy he returned to the track with a running blade as a sprinter and thrower for the Griffins Fox is now a freshman at the University of Alabama where he competes on the para track and field team He said he’s rooting for the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl as they try to thwart the Kansas City Chiefs’ hopes of a historic “three-peat.” Still Fox’s experience in New Orleans so far has included a behind the scenes tour of Caesars Superdome He said he’s already met NFL players like Detroit Lions star running back Jahmyr Gibbs San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle and Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin Seal Beach’s Carson Fox (Courtesy of Make-A-Wish) Friday’s activities included the Super Bowl Experience and Fox and his family will attend the first-ever Super Bowl Host Committee Parade in the French Quarter on Saturday has provided wish kids with swag and sponsored pre-event activities “Football has been a constant source of joy and strength for Carson and we are so proud to make his Super Bowl wish come true,” said Anne Grey president and chief executive of Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire we hope that the trip provides him with the strength and inspiration needed to face whatever challenges come his way.” Fox called it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity so far and he hasn’t even made it to game time yet Carson Fox will be in attendance at Super Bowl LIX on Sunday in New Orleans. (Courtesy of Make-A-Wish) News Matt Szabo Follow Us Matt Szabo covers the city of Huntington Beach and sports for the Daily Pilot. A Southern California native and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo graduate, he has been working for L.A. Times Community News since 2006 and still loves talking to people about their hopes and dreams. Little-known pilot program started in April 2024 and is set to expire in April 2025 Seal Beach has a pilot electronic shuttle service The program is currently set to end in April 2025 The City Council approved the pilot program in February 2024 District One Council Member Joe Kalmick argued that the program is needed Seal Beach resident Marc Loopesko argued that the program is a waste of money In response to an informal Sun social media survey several individuals on social media said they like the program other participants argued that either the shuttle was a waste of money or complained that it served only a limited area of the city the Sun received 40 comments about the shuttle program (Because the answers to the survey took up nearly 2,000 words highlights from the survey will run in part two.) The social survey found that many people don’t even know it exists the Sun weekly online poll question asked: “Do you use the Circuit shuttle?” have said the program needs more publicity Whether the program will continue is not yet known Circuit provides shuttle services to about 40 cities throughout the United States Circuit provides shuttles in two Long Beach areas: Downtown Long Beach and Belmont Shore.  The shuttles are small five-passenger electronic cars There are no fixed stops for picking up or dropping off passengers The shuttle has been observed parked in various locations when it is not transporting passengers Passengers are allowed to walk up and ask for a ride.  According to the deputy director of Public Works the shuttles will run on all holidays that fall on service days One passenger reported getting a ride for free.  You download the app to summon a shuttle or wave down a car according to the banner on the city’s website.  “As per the Council-approved agreement with the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) the City is contributing half of the total program costs with the City’s proportionate share amounting to $162,891,” according an Oct 9 email from Deputy Public Works Director Kathryne Cho “It is common practice for municipalities to explore various funding options to support community programs and initiatives We’re always evaluating opportunities to enhance our city services and improve the quality of life for our residents through Federal in August there was an increase in passengers “We had 198 total rides for the month of August with 398 riders,” Cho wrote on Sept She later clarified that the shuttle gave a 198 rides to 398 individuals.  there have been 1,537 riders on the shuttle since the service began according to a 2023 estimate posted on the Census Bureau website More than one person commented on this in the survey Kalmick also said that other city districts feel they have been left out.  the electric vehicles are limited to streets with a speed limit of no more than 35 miles an hour “They can’t even go up to Surfside,” Kalmick said “The operator of a low-speed EV may not operate the vehicle on any roadway with a posted speed limit greater than 35 mph except to cross a roadway at an intersection,” according to the DOE website Kalmick said the shuttle can cross Pacific Coast Highway the shuttle service could not go up Seal Beach Boulevard to Heron Pointe.  District One Council Member Joe Kalmick said: “In a sense it was.” He had heard about the Huntington Beach program “Our downtown parking is so congested,” he said he thought a shuttle would help relieve that problem “I think we need to do a better job of publicizing it,” Kalmick said.  on Nextdoor wrote that the city should have done a better job of advertising.   “A lot of people don’t know anything about it,” wrote Rob Jahncke “I fault the city for not getting the word out enough,” Jahncke wrote in a recent email “I downloaded the app but have not used the service I am afraid not a lot of people know about it,” wrote Rita V “I have seen the shuttles but have no idea how to schedule or find them,” wrote Lisa Kaminski wrote on Nextdoor that she saw the van and didn’t know what it was about “How do you publicize it?” Kalmick asked during the interview Kalmick said the city had summer concerts on Wednesdays Kalmick speculated that if the city had been able to park a shuttle at the Pier during the concerts that might have generated more interest in the service “All advertising or marketing is being handled using in-house staff and the City’s social media platform,” wrote Deputy Public Works Director Cho “The City has been advertising the program since before the ribbon-cutting event in April Advertising efforts have included social media and postings within businesses along Main Street,” Cho wrote there is no data available on how many people know about the shuttle The Sun requested data on traffic to the city’s website which includes a banner for the shuttle service It turns out that the city doesn’t currently get data on traffic to the website (See “No city web traffic data available,” sunnews.org.)  Kalmick said Seal Beach doesn’t have a person who manages the city’s social media Kalmick said the Orange County Fire Authority has a full time social media person “I’m hoping that we can do a better job to get the word out,” Kalmick said He said he considered having the city put up a banner but said staff had been so impacted by state mandates and preparing for the November election that he was reluctant to have them make a banner “We have to get them in front of the public,” Kalmick said He said he already spoke with Paul Dunlap (owner of the Bay Theatre) about working with Circuit service.  Deputy Public Works Director Cho wrote: “ All advertising or marketing is being handled using in-house staff and the City’s social media platform.” Cho also wrote: “The City has been advertising the program since before the ribbon-cutting event in April and postings within businesses along Main Street.” “Why would anybody not want to have that available?” Kalmick asked He said if there were more people using the shuttle Also something I didn’t know until they told me is that besides using the app you can also flag them down like a taxi,” wrote Vanessa Prast Reynolds Jackie Dominick called for the program to be cost-neutral in light of the city’s financial situation “‘Kalmick’s Folly Trolley’ cost us $160,000 this year.  Those funds could have and should have been used for other much more needed demands like police pool repairs & capital improvement projects.  It was never marketed or promoted.  I never see passengers in them and the driver just parks for hours in the library parking lot waiting for a service call that rarely comes,” wrote Marc Loopesko.  In a recent Letter to the Editor (see sunnews.org) Loopesko also called the program a “boondoggle.” “Mark is entitled to his opinion,” Kalmick said when asked for a comment “People who are using it might beg to differ.”  wrote: “Many older and disabled adults in town have been using it.  It allows them more freedom about town Better it goes to something like this than Jill’s ridiculous salary.” She was apparently referring to City Manager Jill Ingram wrote in part: “However the rest of the city has been left out of this   That $160,000 could have been used toward repairing the flood problem in CPE There are many other things that need to be fixed.” “My guess is the $2/ride fee is a tiny fraction of the real cost.  We probably could give out coupons for free Uber rides and spend less money.  Is subsidized transportation really a critical need for our community?” Kalmick said he hoped the shuttle would become a fixture He said the council will access the success of the shuttle program by different parameters Asked what metrics Seal Beach was using to assess the program “The City receives monthly reports from Circuit Transit assessing the program by providing metrics on our areas of interest such as participation rates We also meet with our Circuit representative who provides requested information outside of the reports we can gain valuable insights into the program’s effectiveness and make data-driven decisions to optimize its performance.” Does the city have a definition of what success would look like for the program the city does have a clear vision for the success of this program,” Cho wrote “We generally evaluate success based on a combination of factors “Community Impact: Does the program effectively address the needs of our residents and improve their quality of life “Sustainability: Is the program financially viable and capable of continuing into the future?” Cho wrote Is Seal Beach looking for more grant funds to support the program?  “We’re always evaluating opportunities to enhance our city services and improve the quality of life for our residents through Federal 2025 at 7:07 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Two drivers were arrested on suspicion of DUI and three vehicles were towed during a sobriety checkpoint in Seal Beach police said Tuesday (Shutterstock)SEAL BEACH CA — Two drivers were arrested on suspicion of DUI and three vehicles were towed during a sobriety checkpoint in Seal Beach conducted Friday night on northbound Seal Beach Boulevard near Adolfo Perez also led to 11 drivers being cited for various vehicle code violations A total of 958 vehicles passed through the checkpoint Do you know that famous clip of the Beatles landing in New York in 1964 for their first U.S That’s exactly how it feels every time Facility Dog Yosa and I walk onto McGaugh Elementary School’s campus and the air fills with screams of kids wanting to pet her But Yosa’s impact goes far beyond her visits to McGaugh—she has become the Goodwill Ambassador of Seal Beach spreading positivity and comfort wherever she goes For those who have not had the pleasure of meeting Yosa yet she is a six-year-old black Labrador/golden retriever mix (and an all-around perfect angel).  She has been working at the SBPD since 2021.  Facility dogs like Yosa are not therapy dogs and it’s important to understand the difference Therapy dogs are often the pets of volunteers and their training focuses on providing general emotional support in informal settings like hospitals or nursing homes.  are specifically trained for professional roles within organizations like police departments They undergo over two years of rigorous training to handle high-stress environments and maintain neutrality in emotionally charged situations Facility dogs are also accredited by Assistance Dogs International (ADI) ensuring they meet strict public access and behavior standards whereas therapy dogs do not require such accreditation.  California Penal Code §868.4 allows for the presence of certified Facility dogs to accompany witnesses or victims including children or vulnerable individuals during testimony in criminal proceedings to help reduce stress without influencing the witness’s testimony or the jury’s perception Yosa was trained as a service dog through Canine Companions a nonprofit organization since 1975 and the leading service dog provider in the United States and only about 40-50% of the dogs in their program graduate due to the high standards required.  Yosa’s journey included learning to handle loud noises making her uniquely suited to her role in Seal Beach.  Canine Companions provides these highly trained dogs at no cost to recipients helping to empower individuals and organizations through the support of expertly trained service dogs Yosa’s irresistible charm naturally draws people to her she creates countless opportunities for positive interactions between the Seal Beach Police Department and the community.  Many of our interactions with the public occur during times of hardship—traffic accidents offering a way to connect with people in moments of joy and calm.  Her friendly personality and love of meeting new people make her the perfect bridge between law enforcement and the community Yosa’s impact extends to some of the most challenging moments our community faces She has provided comfort to families in the aftermath of tragedy such as accompanying officers to a hospital to support a grieving family after the loss of a child in an automobile accident She has also supported victims and witnesses after a robbery and other major crimes but she is also here for the first responders coping with traumatic events Her presence offers calm and hope when words alone are not enough.  In recognition of her incredible contributions Yosa became the first canine winner of the Trauma Intervention Program (TIP) Heroes with Heart Award in 2023 solidifying her role as a vital part of Seal Beach Yosa reminds us every day that Seal Beach is a special place filled with caring people who value connection and community I love being her handler and working with her every day.  It has been the greatest joy of my career.    For more about Yosa’s work, visit her Instagram: @k9yosa or check out her official page https://sealbeachpd.com/police-facility-dog/ please reach out.  She’d love to see you 2025 at 10:57 am PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The Seal Beach Police Department is holding a DUI Checkpoint from 7 p.m March 7 at an undisclosed location within city limits The Seal Beach Police Department is holding a DUI Checkpoint from 7 p.m "We encourage everyone to plan ahead and make responsible choices," SBPD Chief Michael Henderson told Patch or utilize public transportation to ensure a safe journey home." DUI checkpoint locations are determined based on data showing incidents of impaired driving-related crashes Residents were reminded by the SBPD that impaired driving does not only include alcohol intoxication Some prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs may interfere with safe driving and marijuana — whether recreational or medical — is considered impaired driving Drivers with a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties 2025 at 12:57 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}So far this season Seal Beach has gotten a total of about 2.45 inches of precipitation since July according to Public Works CA — The biggest storm to hit Southern California this year drenched Seal Beach and Orange County this week Seal Beach got a total of 1.69 inches of rain and Los Alamitos saw 2.1 inches according to Orange County Public Works Most of OC’s coastline saw between 1 and 5 inches of rain during the storm this week John Wayne Airport saw 1.24 inches of rain while the Santa Ana Mountains saw between 2 to 8 inches Coto de Caza logged the most amount of rain of the Orange County coastal areas The airport fire burn scar area saw nearly 3 inches of rain The recent storm brought a variety of dramatic weather conditions throughout the county including including evacuations in Orange County canyon communities due to possibilities of heavy debris flow Orange County beaches were put under a health advisory as high levels of bacteria are expected for at least 72 hours after significant rainfall “Bacteria levels can increase significantly during and after rainstorms as contaminants within the runoff enters the ocean,” according to the Orange County Department of Public Health “Elevated bacteria levels in ocean water may cause illness While the Los Alamitos City Council passed the four resolutions required to secure a construction permit for the 246-unit Lampson project last week statements made by Seal Beach officials suggested there is still much to discuss The City Council of Los Alamitos voted at its November meeting to approve the project by a vote of 3-1-1 and Tanya Doby voted to approve the project while Council member Emily Hibard voted no and Council member Tricia Murphy abstained from voting attorney Carol Churchill attempted to challenge the validity of Doby’s vote given her alleged acceptance of campaign assistance from a developer’s associate but Nefulda stopped her in mid-sentence suggesting such talk was out of order now comes the hard part of watching the development and the dollars Seal Beach officials asked the Council to wait until all of the issues had been worked out before voting to no avail is the geographic proximity of the 14 acres and the political control that goes with it Even though the project is geographically located within the legal city limits of the City of Los Alamitos the legal limits to the city of Seal Beach is literally across Lampson Ave. giving municipal officials there much to worry about but absolutely no control Seal Beach has expressed concern that the Lampson project left no room for a school bus stop the development will utilize two Seal Beach parks in discussions with developers to provide sewer service and they are concerned that traffic could become a nightmare and construction trucks could tear up the streets Landau said “I’m here tonight as a resident to talk about my concerns I am here this evening to ask for fair and just mitigation for the impacts this project makes upon its neighbor “Please notice this project does not provide park space public space safety or its own sewer system This project requires that Seal Beach pick up the cost of each of those without compensation or even the courtesy of a discussion,” she suggested Landau also suggested that $3 million of the $4 million in QUIMBY fees paid by developers should be paid to Seal Beach She laid out her request for an amendment to assist Seal Beach add an amendment to the approval that the Los Alamitos Rossmoor Sewer District be responsible for all project sewage since the project already has a Will-Serve letter from your Sewer District,” she said.“Two allocate within this amendment the $3 million in Quimby fees be paid to the city of Seal Beach to manage and upkeep the parks since the project designates two of our parks to serve the Los Alamitos development,” said Landau She also asked for an amendment for a bus stop at the project site for the Los Alamitos children to use.“The public safety of the children of this project has been disregarded as again Seal Beach is the site given for the school bus pickup and drop off for these students without a signal crossing guard or crosswalk tonight please remedy these deficiencies within your approval,” asked Landau.Catherine Showalter a resident of Seal Beach and chair of the Environmental Quality Control Board the project’s final Environmental Impact Review is still unclear and makes questionable assumptions about Seal Beach there is still an underlying assumption that the city of Seal Beach will accommodate the impacts of that project,” she said transit service concerns and the impact of heavy trucks highway use for 33 months of the expected 39-month construction period Showalter said she was pleased with the additional language related to the homeowners association of the project being required to create an online forum to promote ride sharing whose home is directly across the street from the Lampson Project in College Park East yet mentioned many of the same concerns of other Seal Beach officials who spoke earlier in the meeting She mostly focused on safety of the traffic situation and asked for an agreement that developers to pay for any highway damage I don’t think that has been addressed,” she said “Thirty-nine months of construction is a long time.” Sustarsic also expressed concern about the safety of Lampson Place residents crossing the streets to catch the bus and other amenities on the Seal Beach side ‘This is taking into consideration that it is mostly your residents crossing the street So we’re concerned not just about our safety but yours also consultant William “Bill” Halligan from Harris & Associates acknowledges that of all of the impacts of the developments traffic would be the largest impact and must be mitigated.Halligan who Senior Environmental Counsel for the firm went through the litany of potential impacts citing legal justification for negating the impact for mitigation and new state laws that negate developer mitigation why state regulations and various traffic metrics do not require a stop light at the intersection of the proposed development The draft EIR did find that one impact could not be mitigated with all these mitigation measures and that was Transportation and Traffic,” said Halligan “level of service is no longer considered a significant impact under CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) “Now we review transportation impacts based on vehicle miles traveled,” said Halligan.Halligan said a mitigation measure is needed at Seal Beach Boulevard and Lampson and that mitigation measure is restriping the number two westbound left turn lane as a shared left and right turn lane “That would allow that intersection to operate at an adequate level of service,” he suggested Other mitigations would deal with cut-through traffic told the city that his firm has constructed over 30 low-income communities and that “we own every single one.” In addition to being a property developer “we are the property managers for these communities.” there will be approximately 2,800 square feet of community space where residents will receive school programming and adult education services “We are excited to be here providing affordable and workforce development housing,” he said.In California an income of $125,000 per year is considered low He also said there has been a set-aside preference for veterans and he described the number of units set aside for seriously challenged low-income residents had no stake in the outcome but was happy to see Los Alamitos finally get new housing “I’m excited to support the project,” she said “My husband an I bought our home her in 2021 and we’re planning to spend the rest of our lives here and raise our kids here “I just think the opportunity for more community members to come into this city because it is such a great city and something we should all have an open mind to,” said Bullard we’ll be used to the community so I am excited about the future.”One resident supporting the project urged the Council not to listen to naysayers explaining had the City Councils from decades ago who were likely faced with the same concerns residents in College Park East may not have a place to live 2025 at 11:01 am PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The year's biggest storm is expected to bring flooding conditions in Seal Beach forecasters warned CA — The National Weather Service issued a flood warning in Seal Beach as the year's biggest rainstorm drenches the Southland this week The storm is expected to bring 1.5 to 3 inches of rain across Orange County with 3 to 6 inches expected in the mountains Flood watch will remain in effect through late Thursday night "A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation," the weather service said in a statement "Local emergency services are monitoring the situation and will issue a public statement as conditions warrant Plan now so you will know what to do in an emergency." The greatest risk for mudslides and debris flow is in the burn scars of recent fires communities living near the Airport Fire burn scar were put under evacuation warning due to the threat of mud and debris flows For Seal Beach residents living in low-lying areas that are prone to flooding sandbags are available at the following locations: Residents are required to bring their IDs and can pick up a maximum of 10 bags Those collecting sand were also urged to bring their own shovel or tools 2025 at 10:52 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Recent studies have highlighted the numerous health benefits associated with lacing up your hiking boots for an adventure there’s no better way to kick off 2025 than by hitting the dusty trails to fulfill New Year’s resolutions of staying active and connecting with nature Recent studies have highlighted the numerous health benefits associated with lacing up your hiking boots for an adventure Hiking regularly can enhance cardiovascular health, strengthen muscles and bones and improve balance. A 2023 study published in BMC Public Health found that participants in a winter hiking intervention increased their physical activity levels Spending time in nature — especially while hiking — has also been linked to better mental health According to 2024 research from Harvard T.H reduce anxiety and lower the risk of depression a professor of nutrition and epidemiology at Harvard says even those who live in cities and work indoors can and should try to reap the health benefits of nature “If there are some green spaces a short or medium distance from home, try walking or biking to the green space to get the benefits of exercise while getting [there],” she said find green space you could incorporate into your commute to or from school or work.” a website and app that was "founded on the idea that we’re all made better by spending time in nature," makes it easy to find nature areas and hiking trails of varying levels near you the website allows users to set the distance the website lists dozens of scenic trails — from steep mountainous terrain that can take hours to ascend to quick and "easy" trails along babbling brooks and wildflowers Here are three trails in and around Seal Beach to explore: Search for more hiking trails near you a businessman and philanthropic pillar of this community He was 90.Klisanin was a man who left his hardscrabble past in steel country to come out West Coast seeking a better life He found a community he loved that loved him back He was so beloved that he could have been the defacto mayor of Main Street for decades Klisanin was a man of old-school values always with an eye to the future whose soft sometimes scratchy voice was unmistakable and his smile irresistible.His daughter Shana said Jim was sick a bit over the holidays but it took a turn for the worse and he passed away peacefully on Jan Klisanin had over the past couple of years had problems with his heart and even confided to close friends that he understood his health was deteriorating we took him home and if it’s your time to go “He was surrounded by his family in a room full of love,” she said She said plans are being finalized for a “Celebration of Life” ceremony at Grace Seacoast Church “We’re busy making the arrangements and will let everyone know when it’s planned,” his daughter said “Jim Klisanin was a larger-than-life figure in Seal Beach,” said Scott Newton President of the Seal Beach Lions Club who once said Jim mentored him and asked him to join the Lions Club “It was hard to say no to Jim Klisanin,” he said “His community involvement and generosity were second to none for more than 40 years “He will surely be missed but his legacy will live on,” the Lions Club President said Klisanin often helped raise funds for numerous youth organizations and projects including major fundraisers for The Youth Center in Los Alamitos “Jim Klisanin’s generosity and leadership have left an indelible mark on our community,” said Lina Lumme “From his dedication to the local Lion’s Club to spearheading The Youth Center’s campaign that raised over $150,000 Jim was a beacon of selflessness and support for our youth spreading warmth and wisdom to those around him “His love for his community was unparalleled he hosted a cherished annual gathering during the Seal Beach Christmas Parade inviting over 200 friends and family members to celebrate together,” said Lumme “Jim not only fed everyone but also hired bands creating a lively and welcoming atmosphere that embodied a true sense of community and pride His generosity and ability to bring people together were a testament to his remarkable spirit and the deep connections he fostered What brought Klisanin to Seal Beach was a quest for a better life Klisanin willed himself to a spot on the Wichita State college team He headed into coaching and eventually came out West He first coached at Oak Junior High School in Los Alamitos and found Seal Beach where he settled in for the rest of his life Klisanin founded Baytown Realty 40 years ago and while his daughter took over the business a few years ago Jim never lost touch with those he touched Jim had lunch in Los Alamitos with players he coached decades ago at Oak Junior High but they never forgot how Jim Klisanin inspired them.Klisanin truly lived the American Dream that he would personally drive his golf cart around town on July 4 to have flags installed around town He’d give them to friends of people he just met You could hardly meet Jim without becoming his friend I was invited to the Los Alamitos City Council Meeting on the Update to its Housing Element and Approval of a Negative Environmental Declaration that included the Lampson Project I live in Rossmoor and have no personal interest in the outcome of any decision made by Los Alamitos or Seal Beach At that contentious meeting I made a short presentation asking the City Council to hold a public educational forum on the three issue but three members of the city council said NO (Doby My goal was to “cool down” the protest of more than 100 residents from Seal Beach by allowing them to ask the Lampson developer questions and make suggestion to minimize public safety issue with Lampson Ave After that meeting I was contacted by two Council Members (Hilbard & Murphy) and asked to assist them with reviewing the financial records and the housing element and lawyer) That request lead me to secure public records relating to the interrelationships of the developers as well as reviewing legal and financial documents My research and analysis has been provided to various State City and Federal agencies by way of whistle blower report I am providing you with the background because over 500 hundred written opposition letters were sent to Los Alamitos in November 2022 and again in August 2024 concerning every aspect of the Negative Declaration to be discussed at the Los Alamitos Council Meeting on November 18 It has not disclosed in any Los Alamitos staff report or the DEIR and FEIR that the underlying consultants reports used to create the Los Alamitos DEIR and FEIR were ALL prepared by consultants hired by the property owner and his agent T&B Planning and Les Johnson This creates the appearance of bias and taints the technical evidence and conclusions that there are NO significant environmental impacts There was a fundamental failure to consider “cumulative impacts” as required by law There may also be some provision in the law that was violated as a result of the failure to make the disclosure about who prepared the secured and submitted the technical reports for the DEIR and FEIR This is relevant to Seal Beach because of the location of Lampson Project…it borders your city and a military airbase which means all of the impacts rest in Seal Beach the FEIR contemplates that the 1000 or so new residents will be utilizing your parks (Arbor Dog The Mitigation Quinby Fee of more than $3 M will go to Los Alamitos it is Seal Beach’s open space and parks that will be impacted indefinitely Your sewer system is required to serve the property BUT the Rossmoor-Los Al Area Sewer District Board told me that it expects SEAL BEACH to provide a full indemnity agreement to that Sewer District in exchange for an agreement to service the project Your police department may be called to College Park East to deal with overflow parking and pedestrian accidents on Lampson because the mitigation request for traffic calming measures and adequate parking was rejected There is already storm water and sewage flooding in College Park East and the FEIR has not provided adequate mitigation as described by a letter from your EQCB to Los Alamitos Your city will be financially responsible for any storm water run off that contains contaminations Your Planning Commission and EQCB were not provided with a timely opportunity by your staff to review and provide comments to Los Alamitos before the DEIR and FEIR were drafted – their meetings were cancelled by your staff your Public Works Director Ms Lee sent a letter in June 2024 identifying the areas of concerns to Seal Beach – which mitigation measures were ignored by Los Alamitos There is no evidence the Seal Beach Community Development Director took any action to seek mitigation measures on behalf of Seal Beach but she has been holding meetings with George Voigt on a regular basis – according to public records I received from Seal Beach I have provided a member of your city council with a document that Los Alamitos management sought to restrict from public disclosure The document is the appointment by Matt Waken/Lampson LLC of Les Johnson as the agent/lobbyist for Lampson LLC from the moment he resigned from Seal Beach in November 2021 which matches the date of hiring of Alexa Smittle from Westminster at his recommendation That document shows that Les Johnson was working on behalf of KB Homes through T&B Planning T&B Planning secured all of the environmental reports used to develop the DEIR and FEIR for Lampson There are also text messages showing Les Johnson was meeting with George Voigt before the bidding on Lampson began and was actively involved with preparing Los Alamitos zoning changes that benefited his employer I am bringing this to your attention because I have read all of the more than 500 comments from Seal Beach residents and can assure you that the financial impact of Lampson project will fall squarely on Seal Beach your city is required to produce over 1200 RHNA units in the next 10 years Your city’s sanitation system will required major repairs and expansion Adding 250 units from Lampson to your sewer system increases your capacity demands Those costs will be absorb by Seal Beach unless Seal Beach officials secure mitigation from Lampson LLC The adoption of the FEIR in November vests development rights which may negatively impact your ability to secure mitigation measures it was mentioned at a recent public hearing that Seal Beach had not received approval of their Housing Element Update and the DHCD records disclose that the last document submitted to the DHCD regarding the Seal Beach Housing Element was September 2021 DHCD sent Alexa Smittle a letter of inadequacy; On April 8 DHCD sent letters to Les Johnson (who left your employment in November 2021) and to Jill Ingram stating the housing element required additional changes; A year and a half later DHCD sent a letter to Jill Ingram threatening litigation for failure to make the housing element compliant Megan Coats submitted an irrelevant Surplus Land Disposition document to DHCD Shawn Temple received a letter from DHCD that your ADU ordinance was defective There appears to be no attempt by Seal Beach staff to respond to the threat of litigation made in May 2023 You may wish to ask your Interim City Manager to determine what progress has been by the staff member responsible for updating the Housing Element since September 2021 as a failure to address this issue can result in developers demanding Builders Remedy CONCESSIONS that could result in substantial unintended negative consequences that impact the quality of life ,and more importantly 2025 at 2:03 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}According to the South Coast Air Quality Management District the wildfires blazing through multiple areas are producing damaging smoke that can cause burning eyes CA — As the nearby wildfires in Los Angeles and Riverside Counties health officials warned Seal Beach residents about unhealthy air quality caused by smoke According to the South Coast Air Quality Management District People with respiratory or heart conditions children and the elderly are at higher risk and could experience more severe effects such as difficulty breathing Wildfire smoke is a mixture of small particles gases and water vapor and can pose health risks “Predicting where ash or soot from a fire will travel so it's important for everyone to stay aware of the air quality in your area and take action to protect your health and your family's health," said Muntu Davis and those with heart or lung conditions or weakened immune systems.” As of Wednesday multiple fires were decimating LA County from the coast to Pasadena two people have been killed and tens of thousands of people have been evacuated two smaller fires have forced power safety shutoffs for 50,000 residents in the Inland Empire Single family home with an ADU and a JADU to be built on Old Town lot 21 approved a conditional use permit to replace a 10th Street duplex with a single-family home The current property is non-conforming because of parking District Two Planning Commissioner Ben Wong cast the dissenting vote There was no public comment on the issue during the public hearing Six people were in the audience when the meeting began According to the staff report by Assistant Planner Samuel Funes applicant Steven Sennikoff on behalf of owners Mario and Josephine Pinel want to replace a two-story duplex with an accessory dwelling unit and a junior accessory dwelling unit on the second floor The property would be converted into a single-family home the property is currently non-conforming but the requested change would “increase conformity.” An ADU is defined as a complete living space for one or more individuals you should be able to build an ADU that’s at least one-story and 16 feet in height,” according to symbium.com An ADU may be attached to another residence or detached A junior ADU “must be built within an existing single-family residence,” according to sealbeachca.gov.  “The applicant proposes to redesign the multi-unit residential development into a first floor 1,092 square foot single-family residence; and a second floor with a 997.45 square foot accessory dwelling unit and 498.77 square-foot junior accessory dwelling unit development,” Funes wrote the applicant would bring the northern side yard setback into conformity by increasing that setback from the existing 2 feet 8 inches to 3 feet,” Funes wrote.  “The property would remain non-conforming due to the rear yard setback not meeting the 24- foot rear yard setback minimum standard and remaining at 21 feet 3 inches the land use transition from multi-unit to single-family and additions made to the first and second floor would increase conformance of the structure to current Zoning standards,” Funes wrote “The accessory dwelling unit and junior accessory dwelling unit developments would be parking-exempt under current State housing law,” Funes wrote “The project will not result in a loss of dwelling units The remodel of the duplex into a single-family residence with an attached accessory dwelling unit and a junior accessory dwelling unit will result in three dwelling units an increase in the number of dwelling units on the subject property,” Funes wrote Dune Buggy owners re-start New Year’s Eve PCH Buggy Run  A group of local dune buggy enthusiasts have established a new tradition with the 2nd Annual “PCH Running of the Buggies,” which took place on Dec starting with a gathering at the Seal Beach 1st St The first of these events was held six years ago the group is calling it the 2nd Annual event.  who have been buggy enthusiasts for about 10 years They found plenty of other buggy fans around Orange County and when they put the word out to start the New Year run when it rained pretty heavily during the run “I just like the whole aspect of driving in a dune buggy,” Steve said.  dune buggies were crafted from VW floorpans and designed to run on sand off road vehicles were heavy vehicles.  Meyers had the idea of using a lightweight car With a new fiberglass body and the small air-cooled engine the buggy began winning races and gaining notoriety After a Meyers Manx Buggy set a record in the Baja 1,000 the vehicle was featured on the cover of Car & Driver magazine in 1967 Then Steve McQueen commissioned one for his 1968 movie Demand spiked and copycat companies sprang up and began producing look-alike buggies But for all the racing wins and star-studded accolades dune buggies seemed to represent the beach lifestyle The nostalgia for these vehicles is strong and people still acquire or build them all around the world.  Keith initially bought his as a towable option for his RV They’re street legal and can also offer a little off-road fun on a long trip And they can still be found for less money than a traditional compact car “I saw it as a cheap alternative and quickly found out it was a lifestyle,” Keith said.  he wanted in and Keith hunted one down for him Like most of buggy runners on New Year’s Eve morning Steve and Keith took add their own design preferences to their buggies everything from new steering wheel to new suspension there is a lot of checking out the other buggies noticing something new someone may have come up with in their design This year’s run was delayed about 30 minutes when a driver broke a throttle cable on his way to Seal Beach while a few others stood near-by in case they needed and advice and a few minutes later the car was good as new “It’s not a run until somebody beaks.”  Twenty buggies made the trek to Dana Point this year The group has now settled on New Year’s Eve morning and plans to continue their tradition into the foreseeable future.