Beach Magazine Dec 2015

December 10, 2015 

Volume 46, Issue 19 

John Featherstone 

The Warrior Coach 

A perfect right 

Photo Post 

Steak in Manhattan 

Beach Gift Guide

December 10, 2015 

Volume 46, Issue 19 

ON THE COVER 

310.539.6685 310.884.1870 

310.326.9528 

ECC Camino Warriors carry 

coach John Featherstone off the 

field following his final game, 

after 31 years at El Camino 

College. 

Photo by Brad Jacobson 

866.BEYOND.5 

310.534.9560 

310.539.2993 

310.530.3079 

310.530.0566 

310.977.9100 

www.cflu.org 

CUT * COLOR * STYLE 

310.539.2191 

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310.530.4888 310.534.0220 

310.326.4477 

310.517.9366 

© 

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BEACH PEOPLE 

20 Coach Feather by Randy Angel 

Coach John Featherstone gives thanks to the players and coaches 

he worked with at El Camino College for over three decades. In 

turn, they remember “Coach Feather” with reverence usually 

reserved for legends. 

26 The Right call by Ryan McDonald 

Palos Verdes big wave rider Alex Gray and extreme sports photographer 

Bo Bridges travel to Tahiti on the chance that the surf might 

be good at a spot that almost killed Gray on two previous trips. 

34 A steak in the heart of Mid-Century by Richard Foss 

The Arthur J pays tribute to the Mid-Century era of strong cocktails, 

thick steaks and golf shoes with steel spikes. The namesake’s well 

worn golf shoes are at the front door. 

38 Post panorama by Bondo Wyszpolski 

Photographer John Post memorializes the beach that was, 

in Our South Bay. 

48 Next play focus by Randy Angel 

Sea Hawk outside hitter Megan Rice credits coach Tommy Chaffins’ 

drills on mental focus with her team’s advancement to a second 

consecutive CIF State Division 1 championship match. 

310.530.3268 

310.891.2237 

310.539.3526 

310.539.1808 

TORRANCE 

TOWNE BEAUTY 

CENTER 

310.325.2960 

10 Beach calendar 

12 AMS mock trial competition 

30 Gift guide 

32 HBEF Wine Walk 

BEACH LIFE 

41 Mama Liz Thanksgiving Dinner 

42 Hermosa Historical Society’s 

“Night at the Biltmore” 

46 CSC’s Girls Night Out 

51 Service Directory 

310.530.8411 

WineShoppe 

310.539.1055 

STAFF 

PUBLISHER Kevin Cody, ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Richard Budman, EDITORS Mark McDermott, Randy Angel, David Mendez, Caroline 

Anderson and Ryan McDonald, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Bondo Wyszpolski, DINING EDITOR Richard Foss, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS 

Ray Vidal, Brad Jacobson and Gloria Plascencia, CALENDAR Judy Rae, DISPLAY SALES Adrienne Slaughter, Tamar Gillotti, Amy Berg and 

Shelley Crawford CLASSIFIEDS Teri Marin, DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL MEDIA Jared Thompson, GRAPHIC DESIGNER Tim Teebken, DESIGN 

CONSULTANT Bob Staake, BobStaake.com, FRONT DESK Judy Rae, INTERNS Sean Carroll 

Northwest Corner of 

Crenshaw Blvd. & Pacific Coast Hwy. in Torrance 

~ For Information, Call 310.534.0411 

A LA CAZE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY PROJECT 

EASY READER (ISSN 0194-6412) is published weekly by EASY READER, 2200 Pacific Cst. Hwy., #101, P.O. Box 427, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254-0427. Yearly domestic 

mail subscription $50.00; foreign, $75.00 payable in advance. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to EASY READER, P.O. Box 427, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254. The 

entire contents of the EASY READER newspaper is Copyright 2015 by EASY READER, Inc. www.easyreadernews.com. The Easy Reader/Redondo Beach Hometown News 

is a legally adjudicated newspaper and the official newspaper for the city of Hermosa Beach. Easy Reader / Redondo Beach Hometown News is also distributed to homes 

and on newsstands in Manhattan Beach, El Segundo, Torrance, and Palos Verdes. 

CONTACT 

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4 Easy Reader / Beach magazine • December 10, 2015

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10 

THURSDAY 

DECEMBER 

Walk About 

North Manhattan Beach 

hosts its annual Holiday 

Open House and Walk 

About. Merchants will be 

offering unique gifts, 

refreshments, and raffle 

prizes. Santa will fly in from 

the North Pole, landing at 

the “miracle of 34th Street.” 

5 - 9 p.m., 32nd to 42nd 

streets along Highland Ave. 

northmb.info. 

Let's take a walk 

The Sierra Club offers 

free 2 hour hikes on the 

hilly streets and trails of 

Palos Verdes Thursdays at 

6:30 p.m. Meet in the 

parking lot near Rite Aid 

Drugs at Hawthorne Blvd. 

and Silver Spur Road. For 

questions call Paul 

Rosenberger (310) 545 3531 

or angeles.sierraclub.org. 

11 DECEMBER 

Historical Christmas 

The 9th Annual Victorian 

Holiday Party and Toy 

Drive is hosted by the 

Redondo Historical Society 

and the Redondo Historical 

Commission at the historic 

Morrell House and Queen 

Anne Museum. Entertainment, 

hors d’oeuvres and 

merriment. Admittance is 

an unwrapped toy valued at 

$10 or more. All toys will go 

to Cheer for Children kids. 

6 - 9 p.m. Heritage Court, 

298 Flagler Lane, Redondo 

Beach. (310) 465-7149 or 

redondohistorical.org. 

12 

Boat Parade 

The 24th Annual King 

Harbor Holiday Boat Parade 

ENDAR 

FRIDAY 

SATURDAY 

DECEMBER 

presented by King Harbor 

Yacht Club features Denise 

Austin as the Grand 

Marshall. Paddleboards 

begin the parade at 4:30 

p.m., followed by boats at 

5:45. The parade makes 

multiple trips up and down 

the main channel and is visible 

from throughout the 

harbor. 280 Yacht Club 

Way, Redondo Beach. (310) 

376-2459. 

Yuletide 5K 

The Manhattan Beach 

Yuletide 5K is run on wet 

sand on the beach just after 

sunset. and lit by the light 

of glow sticks. This fun, 

family-oriented race starts 

at 5:30 p.m. on the sand 

north of the Manhattan 

Pier. mb5k.com. 

Santa concert on 

the Redondo Pier 

The 5th Annual Holiday 

Concert and Santa on the 

Pier is presented by the 

Redondo Beach Pier 

Association. Free and open 

to the public. Selfie photos 

with Surfing Santa. Free 

holiday activity book for the 

first 150 kids. 3 - 5 p.m. 100 

Fisherman’s Wharf, 

Redondo Beach. Visit 

Redondopier.com for details 

about free holiday parking 

at the pier. 

Add a Little Light 

A Hanukkah celebration 

presented by Congregation 

Ner Tamid includes candles, 

song and food and begins at 

6 p.m. Del Amo Fashion 

Center, 3525 W. Carson St., 

Torrance. 1st floor courtyard 

near AMC theaters. 

5721 Crestridge Rd, Rancho 

Palos Verdes. nertamid.com 

(310) 377-6986. 

Vistamar open 

house & visit 

Learning with a diverse 

community is necessary for 

students to thrive in a globalized 

society. The Vistamar 

High School curriculum has 

been adapted from the best 

programs in Europe, Asia, 

and the United States. Open 

House Registration: 8:30 

a.m. Program: 9 a.m. - 

noon. 737 Hawaii, El 

Segundo. RSVP by calling 

10 Easy Reader / Beach magazine • December 10, 2015 

(310) 643-7377 or 

VistamarSchool.org. 

13 

SUNDAY 

DECEMBER 

MB Fireworks 

Downtown Manhattan 

Beach holiday fireworks 

celebration begins at 4 p.m. 

with the Skechers snow 

park followed by the 

Hyperion Outfall Serenaders 

and MCHS Jazz 

Ensemble. MBfireworks. 

com. 

The gift of giving 

Make good on your 

Christmas spirit at 

Manhattan Beach Community 

Church's Alternative 

Christmas Fair. Learn 

about and give to a variety 

of local and international 

non-profit organizations, 

including 1736 Family 

Crisis Center, Habitat for 

Humanity, St. Paul's Project 

Needs, Project Learn 

Guatemala, and Church 

World Service. 11 a.m. 303 

S. Peck, Manhattan Beach, 

on the lower patio.Parking 

behind the church on 

Rowell. Admission is free. 

(310) 372-3587 or visit mbccucc.org. 

14 

MONDAY 

DECEMBER 

State of the region 

Congresswoman Maxine 

Waters and Congressman 

Ted Lieu will give presentations 

on national issues and 

their impacts on the South 

Bay. Noon to 1:30 p.m. 

DoubleTree by Hilton 

Torrance - South Bay, 21333 

Hawthorne Blvd. Reservations: 

call (310) 540-5858 or 

visit torrancechamber.com. 

16 

Santa Sleigh Ride 

WEDNESDAY 

DECEMBER 

The Hermosa Beach 

Neighborhood Watch along 

with the Hermosa Beach 

police and fire departments 

present the 9th annual 

Santa Sleigh Ride. Santa will 

arrive with helpers at five 

stops and will spend 20 

minutes at each stop. 

Watch stand-up paddleboarders and then many of King Harbor’s most 

beautiful boats lit up for the holidays and cruising the main channel, 

beginning at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12. 

Families will be able to take 

pictures of their children 

with Santa. 6 - 6:20 p.m. 

200 Hillcrest, 6:30 - 6:50 

p.m. 1200 19th Street, 7 - 

7:20 p.m. 1500 Golden, 7:30 

- 7:50 p.m. 1000 9th Street, 

8 - 8:20 p.m. Pier Plaza. 

saferhermosabeach.com. 

19 

Toy Drive wrap up 

SATURDAY 

DECEMBER 

The 23rd Annual Beach 

Cities Toy Drive wrapping 

party is today from 10 a.m. 

- 2 p.m. Bring an 

unwrapped toy and help 

wrap hundreds of others. 

Hermosa Beach Community 

Center, 710 Pier Avenue, 

Hermosa Beach. 

20 

Free to Be Me 

Drum Circle 

SUNDAY 

DECEMBER 

Every third Sunday of the 

month, noon - 3 p.m. 

Sabina facilitates a drum 

circle just north of the 

Hermosa Beach pier, on the 

sand. Drums and percussion 

instruments are provided 

so that no one is left 

out. freetobemedrumcircle.com. 

B 

Bring a gift, then help wrap thousands of others at the 23rd Annual 

Beach Cities Toy Drive wrapping party Saturday, Dec. 19, 10 a.m. - 2 

p.m. at the Hermosa Beach Community Center, 710 Pier Avenue, 

Hermosa Beach.

each academics 

AMERICAN MARTYRS LEGAL TEAM 

Appears before Superior Court 

A 

by Werner Foxx 

merican Martyrs School in Manhattan Beach was one of 150 

schools that participated in the 38th Annual Los Angeles 

County Mock Trial Competition last month. The students performed 

the roles of attorneys, witnesses and court personnel in the 

fictional case of the People v. Hayes. Two team members prosecuted 

and two defended mock trial defendant Jamie Hayes, a college student 

on a track and field scholarship accused of murdering a campus 

security officer. 

Each team was judged for their presentation and legal skills by 300 

volunteer judges and attorneys. 

The annual event takes place in the Los Angeles Superior Court 

Stanley Mosk Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles. It is sponsored 

by the Constitutional Rights Foundation. 

“The kids have positive interactions with adults in the judicial system 

while developing their presentation and critical thinking skills,” 

said Lourdes Morales of the Constitutional Rights Foundation. 

Attorney Pat Barrera of Barrera and Associates in Manhattan 

Beach coached the AMS team. The team met on Friday afternoons to 

review the case and prepare their testimony, opening statements and 

closing arguments. 

“They were more poised and polished than some of the attorneys 

that appear in court daily,” he said. 

1 

2 3 

1. The American Martyrs School’s Mock Trial Team gathers for 

the start of trial. 

2. Prosecutor Julia Keller and witnesses Brooke Charlton, Ryan 

Torii, Micah Worner and Avery DeVore. 

3. Defense attorneys Donny MacArthur and Sean Dorr go over 

notes with witness Ryan Torii. 

4. Witnesses Madeline Tello and Yzabella Ramirez prepare their 

testimony. 

5. AMS Mock Trial coach Pat Barrera and American Martyrs 

Principal Dr. Camryn Friel talk trial strategy. 

6. American Martyrs Vice Principal Tim Bersin with Mock Trial 

students Julia Keller and Brooke Charlton. 

7. Mock Trial Judge Kenneth O’Brien Jr. gives instructions to clerk 

Sean Dorr. 

8. Mock Trial Judge Kenneth O’Brien Jr. admonishes witness 

Micah Worner. 

9. Prosecutor Julia Keller with witness Yzabella Ramirez and 

Judge Kenneth O’Brien Jr. 

10. American Martyrs Mock Trial coaches Pat Barrera and 

Richard Lyman with Judge Kenneth O’Brien and the American 

Martyrs Mock Trial team. 

4 5 

6 


7 

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December 10, 2015 • Easy Reader / Beach magazine 13


Coach Feather 

Players carry John Featherstone off the field after he concludes his 31-year tenure as head coach of El Camino’s football program. Photo by Brad Jacobson 

There are no words that can describe what Coach Feather has done for athletics in the South Bay.” 

-- Keith Ellison, former Sea Hawk, Warrior and Buffalo Bill player and current Sea Hawk defensive coordinator 

by Randy Angel 

Coach Feather felt odd standing on the sidelines last month, 

watching Redondo battle West Torrance for the CIF-Southern 

Section Western Division playoffs. He was not accustomed to 

surveying the action on the field simply as a fan and not as a scout 

for future El Camino College players. 

The former gridiron star and coach had recently announced his 

retirement, after 31 years as head coach of El Camino College’s football 

program. 

“It will take some time getting used to. Old habits are hard to 

break,” he said. 

John Featherstone coached his final game Saturday, November 14 

at Redondo Union High School, where his players came up just short 

of their goal to win one last game for their admired coach. (The game 

was at Redondo because a new El Camino football stadium is under 

construction.) Trailing 38-23 heading into the fourth quarter, El 

Camino rallied, only to lose 38-36 to Long Beach City College, the topranked 

team in Southern California’s National Division. 

“It’s been a great ride, but it was time,” Featherstone said. 

Featherstone’s football career began at Mira Costa High School and 

continued at El Camino College and then San Diego State. 

Coach Feather, as he is affectionately known, finished his coaching 

career at El Camino with a record of 214-119-1. His teams made three 

national championship game appearances and won the title in 1987. 

They also won two state titles and 11 conference championships. 

Feather’s teams appeared in 19 bowl games and reached the playoffs 

five straight years, from 2004 to 2008. He was inducted into the El 

Camino College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005. 

“The reason we coach is for our football players. Our goal is to see 

they get to the next level academically,” Featherstone said during the 

halftime ceremony in his honor at his final game. “We work them 

hard academically and when they step on the football field during the 

week, they work hard. That’s what life is all about.” 

In 2008, Featherstone was voted National Coach of the Year for a 

second time. He also received his eighth California State Coach of the 

Year honor that year. 

“The NCAA used to not recognize junior college ball at its national 

convention,” Featherstone said. “The National Coach of the Year 

honor was one of the neatest experiences of my life. They had a 

parade and the auditorium was filled with over 1,000 people. I was 

honored to represent junior college football and El Camino College. I 

always accepted any type of award as a coaching staff award. I didn’t 

ever want to be singled out as the main man responsible.” 

Featherstone coached more than three dozen players into professional 

football, including: Keith Ellison (LB, Buffalo Bills), 

DeLawrence Grant (DE, Oakland Raiders), Antonio Chatman (WR, 

Cincinnati Bengals), Marcel Reece (FB, Oakland Raiders, active), and 

Derrick Deese (OL, San Francisco 49ers). Countless former students 


from Live Oak Park. 

Featherstone smiles when he thinks back on how the lessons he 

learned during countless hours of playing baseball in empty dirt lots, 

catching footballs and making tackles on the grassy fields of Live 

Oak Park, running and jumping in the soft sands of beach volleyball 

courts and surfing formed the foundation for a career that would 

make him one of the most successful junior college football coaches 

in the country 

The skinny, little blond kid who embraced every minute of fun in 

his youth is now 65. At 5-foot-8, he continues a strict fitness regimen 

that keeps him at his high school playing weight of 145 pounds. The 

boyish twinkle in his eyes is also still there and seems to glisten a little 

brighter when he speaks of football. 

Featherstone was raised in a strong athletic background. His 

grandfather and father were both high school football stars. His older 

brother Fred was also an exceptional athlete to whom John would 

look up to. John would later pass on his knowledge to his younger 

brother, Jimbo, who is eight years his junior. 

At Mira Costa, Featherstone competed in track and field, baseball, 

John Featherstone is surrounded by family and friends during his final appearance last month as head coach of the El Camino Warriors. Photo by Brad Jacobson 

were All-American athletes and transferred to universities to continue 

their education and play football. 

“I have known Coach Featherstone since our elementary school 

days when I had to attempt to tackle him on the playgrounds of 

Manhattan Beach,” said Bill Beverly, president of the El Camino 

Community College District Board of Trustees. “He has touched 

thousands of lives and presided over the building of innumerable 

young players into better students, athletes and men. John represents 

all that is best about El Camino College." 

Keith Ellison, a standout player at Redondo Union High School, 

has known Featherstone since he was an 8-year-old watching his 

older brother Chris play for El Camino before transferring to BYU. 

Keith followed in his brother’s footsteps, playing linebacker for 

Featherstone prior to two successful seasons at Oregon State 

University, which led to an NFL career with the Buffalo Bills. 

Keith and Chris have returned to Redondo High as coaches. Keith 

is the Sea Hawk’s assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. 

“Feather is one of the nicest coaches you’d ever want to meet or 

play for,” Keith said. “El Camino is a special place and it has provided 

a second chance for many athletes. There are no words that can 

describe what Coach Feather has done for athletics in the South 

Bay.” 

“He has the right touch with players and I’ve never seen him in a 

bad mood. His positive attitude rubs off on everyone around him.” 

Don Morrow was inducted in the El Camino Athletic Hall of Fame 

in 2003 after an exceptional football career as a quarterback for 

Aviation High School, El Camino College and CSU Northridge. He is 

in his 23rd year as head coach of Mira Costa’s football program and 

has produced numerous players for Featherstone. 

“Feather is a great alumnus of Mira Costa,” Morrow said. “He has 

helped me a great deal over the years, especially with his ideas on 

the passing game. He is somewhat of a legend in that regard. Our 

kids who have gone to play at ECC have loved playing for him. He 

is a true legend in South Bay football and will be greatly missed on 

the field.” 

Paving the Way 

Featherstone grew up on 21st Street in Manhattan Beach, across 

volleyball and football. “Sometimes during the baseball season, I 

would leave between innings and go over to the track to run in a 

relay event or compete in the long jump, then return to the diamond.” 

In 1966, high school volleyball was more than a decade away from 

becoming a CIF sanctioned sport, so Featherstone and a few friends 

founded the Mira Costa Volleyball Club to compete against other 

high schools. 

“We weren’t very good, but we sure had a lot of fun,” Featherstone 

said. 

But Featherstone’s true calling was on the gridiron where he 

played quarterback, running back and wide receiver. At Mira Costa 

in 1967, he earned All-CIF honors as a wide receiver. 

“We were in a rebuilding process when I played there,” 

Featherstone said. “I’m excited to see the Mira Costa program where 

it is today. Donny Morrow has done a tremendous job.” 

The Road Back Home 

After earning all-conference honors at El Camino, the speedy 


eceiver received a scholarship to play for legendary coach Don 

Coryell at San Diego State University. 

“When I played at SDSU in 1970, it was the first year that college 

football went to single digit numbers on uniforms,” Featherstone said. 

“I was the smallest guy on the team and Coach Coryell asked me how 

I felt about wearing number 1. I said ‘Hey, I‘m just happy to wear the 

uniform.’ The lockers in the stadium were in numerical order, so 

mine was the first one in line, next to the coach’s office. Coryell never 

dressed in the coach’s office. He wanted to be close to his players, so 

he would hang up his red coat and get dressed in my cubicle. He was 

very superstitious. Even on road games, he would dress in my locker, 

so we formed a tight bond.” 

As a junior, Featherstone’s offensive prowess helped propel SDSU 

to the 1969 Pasadena Bowl and what would be the highlight of his 

playing career. 

“I had a dream the night before the game about playing in Pasadena 

and having a good game,” Featherstone recalled. “Our star receiver, 

Tommy Reynolds was injured and our second-string receiver pulled a 

hamstring in warm ups, so I was thrust into the starting role.” 

Featherstone scored two touchdowns in the Aztecs’ win in front of 

52,000 fans and was selected as the game’s Most Valuable Player. 

With an unblemished 11-0 record, SDSU finished 12th in the 

National AP Poll. 

Featherstone received a bachelor’s degree from SDSU in 1970, 

majoring in journalism with a minor in physical education. The following 

year, he began his coaching career as the Aztec’s wide receiver 

coach. He said Coryell had the largest impact on his career, not just 

by giving him his first coaching job, but because of his offensive 

genius. 

Featherstone believes Coryell never received the recognition he 

deserved, though he went on to become the head coach of the St. 

Louis Cardinals and the San Diego Chargers. He was the first coach 

to have 100 victories at the college and professional levels. 

Featherstone earned a master’s degree in physical education from 

SDSU in 1973. During the next four years, he served as quarterback 

and wide receiver coach for Grossmont College, helping the Griffins 

win a state championship in 1974. 

At Grossmont, Featherstone became hooked on coaching and 

thinking of it as a career. He traced his decision chiefly to his involvement 

in play calling and the opportunity to coach Player of the Year 

Joe Roth. The talented quarterback would become an All-American 

at UC Berkeley before cancer took his life in 1977. 

“Joe was a tremendous talent,” Featherstone said. “I was the one 

who discovered the mole on his temple. I would see it bleeding every 

day. I asked him if he had ever had it checked? ‘Oh, it’s nothing, it 

scabs over.’ he told me. 

In 1975, Featherstone replaced future St. Louis Rams head coach 

Mike Martz at San Diego Mesa College, where he worked as offensive 

coordinator and mentored future SDSU All-American quarterback 

Matt Kofler. 

Returning to SDSU as wide receiver coach in 1980, Featherstone 

coached under Claude Gilbert and with future NFL coaches Doug 

Scovil and Brian Billick. Featherstone has also worked alongside star 

coaches Rod Dowhower, Ernie Zampese and Ted Tollner. 

In 1982, Featherstone joined the UC Berkeley program under head 

coach and former NFL great Joe Kapp. But one year in the Bay Area 

was enough for the Southern California native. Featherstone 

returned the following year to become offensive coordinator at Santa 

Ana College. In 1985, he returned to the South Bay, replacing future 

NFL assistant coach Jack Reilly as El Camino’s head coach. 

“I was so excited to return to El Camino,” Featherstone said. “We 

had two good seasons when I played for the Warriors under Ken 

Swearingen, who was another great influence on me. I’ve been very 

fortunate to have been associated with good teams, especially good 

quarterbacks. 

“When you look at our offense, we have averaged more than 20 


Coach Feather gives a final pep talk at halftime during his final game as 

coach of the Warriors, last month against Long Beach City College. Photo 

by Brad Jacobson 

points per game in my tenure here,” Featherstone said. “(Assistant 

coach) Gene Engle played here before playing at Stanford under 

Bill Walsh. He and I have played for two of the greatest coaches 

in the history of the game.” 

Despite the long hours — Featherstone devoted 60-70 hours per 

week during the season to football — he loved coaching at the junior 

college level. 

“Playing junior college football is the last time these guys can 

play for fun,” Featherstone explained. “Then it becomes a business. 

They’re getting paid to play at the next level. I tell the players 

to approach each game as if it’s your last, stay focused and 

have fun. Football is not a game for sissies. It’s a violent game and 

we’re part of a chosen few who get to play at this level.” 

Featherstone’s credo on the field and in the classroom is: 

“Dream. Prepare. Endure. Achieve. If the first three pieces of the 

puzzle fit, you will achieve.” 

Although a high-energy coach, Featherstone did not believe in 

using whistles on the practice field, nor did he believe in cussing. 

“You don’t have to cuss to make a player successful. If we have to 

yell and scream, it’s done during the week, never during the 

game. We make the correction, and then give them positive reinforcement.” 

With so much time spent together, players become a family 

unit, with Featherstone playing the role of father. 

“We get a lot of kids who haven’t had a lot of love and discipline. 

One of the highlights of coaching was watching these kids grow 

up to be men and productive, successful citizens.” 

With players being in the program only two years, Featherstone 

had to keep his eyes and ears open in the community. 

He always bought game programs at high school games and 

walked the sidelines, asking players who the best players were on 

each team. 

“I like players who never look at the clock, never look at the 

score,” Featherstone said. “I looked to see if they’re still playing 

hard even though they are down, or ahead by 30 points because 

those are players who love the game. 

“I looked for overachievers. Team guys with discipline and the 

attitude to work hard in all phases of their lives. The only promises 

we gave our recruits is that if you came to ECC and stayed out 

of trouble and become a good role model to your younger brothers 

and sisters, worked hard in the weight room and on the practice 

field and played hard between the lines on Saturday night, we 

would take care of you for the rest of your lives. We wrote letters, 

made calls, whatever it took for players to get to the next level. 

And I think we’ve been successful in that aspect.” 

The Other Family 

Featherstone has an equal affection for the students he has 


taught in his health education classes. 

“I loved teaching as much as coaching,” Featherstone said. “I’m as 

involved with my 250 students each year as I am with my football 

players. I send letters home to parents with tips on feeding their kids, 

like I do my players. 

“I tell the kids how important exercise is, to make it the same discipline 

as brushing their teeth. Take a walk, ride a bike, do something 

you like and don’t be afraid to try new activities. Make a 

lifestyle change, which may include a change in diet. Adult diabetes 

is raging and everything is super-sized. Americans eat way too much 

man-made foods, laden with sugar, salt and fat.” 

Featherstone lives by his 8-8-8 theory: Eight hours of sleep, eight 

hours of work or school, and eight hours of play. “There has to be a 

20- or 30-minute window in there to exercise. I’ve always looked at 

exercise as a reward, not a punishment. In the last 40 years, we’ve 

gotten into man-made foods and with natural evolution, kids are getting 

bigger. Whether they’re healthier or not, I don’t know. America 

still has the highest cancer and heart disease rate. Americans are 

hard workers, but don’t take time to relax. If you don’t find time to 

exercise, you’re too busy and need to cut something out of your life.” 

Sands of time 

Despite the many hours Featherstone devoted to football and 

teaching he always found time to enjoy his youthful passion for the 

beach. 

Featherstone began playing beach volleyball at 15. He and his 

brother Fred played many years on the California Beach Volleyball 

Association (CBVA) tour, finishing in the top 10 in five open tournaments. 

“I would get out of the water after surfing and see these guys play- 

Coach Feather cont. on page 51 

John Featherstone was twice named National Coach of the Year. Photo 

by Dwight Ueda/El Camino Athletics 


The wave gets Alex Gray’s attention. 

The journey began with a weather chart showing a 

“purple blob” in the South Pacific, indicating an 

intense storm. The swell was headed to Tahiti. 

Longtime North Shore lifeguard Dave Wassel called 

Alex Gray, asking if he had seen the forecast. The prime 

attraction in Tahiti is a left-breaking wave called 

Teahupoo, a heaving slab that unloads deep-water swells 

on to a very shallow, coral reef. 

Teahupoo is one of the most critical waves in the world. 

It is also one of the most photographed. Professionals and 

underground chargers alike flock to the French Polynesian 

break to score waves and sponsor shots. 

But Wassel had another place in mind. He suggested 

pursuing a nearby wave that breaks right instead of left. 

It would be an opportunity to surf epic waves with little 

competition. But Gray did not exactly have the best history 

with the wave. 

“The first time, I surfed it was with Kelly Slater,” Gray 

said. “I got a concussion and took a plane ride home with 

my head bleeding against the headrest. The second, I 

surfed it with Shane Dorian and had one of the worst 

wipeouts of my life.” 

Nonetheless, Gray trusts Wassel, and decided to go for 

it, despite the fact that Wassel had to back out of the trip. 

Gray reached out to several photographers. But they 


Photographer 

Bo Bridges and 

big-wave surfer 

Alex Gray talk 

about landing 

the November 

Surfer Magazine 

cover 

story by 

Ryan McDonald 

photos by 

Bo Bridges 

were skeptical about passing up Teahupoo to shoot a wave 

so fickle it did not even have a proper name. (“The Right” 

is already claimed by a slab in Western Australia.) 

Coincidentally, Bo Bridges was called off a shoot in 

Colorado due to sleet at exactly the same time. He phoned 

Gray and the duo set out for Tahiti within hours. 

“I just love surfing more than anything,” said Bridges. 

“So whenever I get the opportunity to shoot pros, I can’t 

turn it down.” 

Bridges and Gray set out for the wave early on the first 

morning of the swell. The swell charts indicated that the 

second day of the three-day swell would be the biggest. 

Gray and the crew loaded into a panga and snuck past 

Teahupoo, which was already crowded with surfers. 

“We ducked our heads down as we were going by 

Chopes,” Gray said. 

“People think Tahiti, they presume it’s this pristine tropical 

paradise,” Bridges said. “But storms come in fast, so 

I’m looking for garbage bags, anything I can to protect the 

equipment.” 

Gray surfed alone and occasionally found himself wishing 

for companions — if only to better his chances in case 

any wildlife showed up. 

“I’m thinking, are there tiger sharks on this side of the 

reef?” Gray said.

Too late on a perfect wave.

Patience pays off with 

a Surfer Magazine 

cover photo. 

On the second day, Gray rode a 

fuller-volume board for paddling into 

large, fast-moving waves. But when the 

right one came, he paddled out too far 

and found himself out of position. 

Unlike Teahupoo, which has a predictable 

paddle-in, the right’s takeoff 

zone is “the size of three football fields,” 

Gray said. Judging where to takeoff is 

further complicated by the uniformity 

of the shoreline: a mass of jungle-covered 

mountains. 

Missing the wave left Gray crestfallen. 

“As a surfer, to invite a photographer, 

knowing he’s spending money and 

time away from his family and miss the 

wave we came for...that’s what I was 

thinking,” Gray said. 

Gray said he couldn’t sleep that 

night. On the third morning, the final 

day of the swell, Gray decided to take 

out a jet ski to better cover the takeoff 

zone. 

The forecast predicted the third day 

would be the smallest. The forecast 

was wrong. Huge sets were still rolling 

through. 

Yet the wave, while displaying flashes 

of brilliance, suffered from interminable 

waits between sets, sometimes 

lasting up to 90 minutes. 

Waiting was made all the more difficult 

by the knowledge that a worldclass 

wave was a few minutes away. 

“Chopes was going off,” Gray said. 

“Do you gamble on a place with 90 

minute lulls?” 

But each time he and Bridges got 

ready to leave, another amazing wave 

would appear on the horizon. 

“It seemed like every time Alex paddled 

over to the boat, a set would roll 

through and he would head back out,” 

Bridges said. 

The crew intended to do a short session 

and be back in camp for lunch. 

Again, expectations were overturned. 

They arrived 6 a.m. and did not return 

‘till 4 p.m. Gray had come unprepared 

for the long day and fueled his 

marathon session with granola bars. 

The persistence paid off. Gray 

stepped off the jet ski and onto the 

cover of Surfer. 

But even that perfect wave had its 

wrinkles. A boat with Hawaiian pro 

surfer Ian Walsh, loaded with photographers, 

dropped anchor directly in front 

of where Bridges was stationed. 

Fortunately, Walsh and his crew grew 

impatient with the long lulls and left, 

not a moment too soon. The departing 

boat’s wake sent ripples up the face of 

the wave that made the cover. 

The trip convinced Gray that there is 

still room for old-fashioned adventure 

in the search for a great ride. 

“It was perfect, why would you 

leave?” Gray said, referring to those 

fighting for waves at Teahupoo that day. 

“Well, maybe to surf a perfect wave all 

by yourself, and get a Surfer Magazine 

cover.” B 

Bo Bridges and Alex Gray 

celebrate getting the 

November Surfer Magazine cover. 


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each education 

WINE FLOWS IN THE STREET 

for HB Ed Foundation 

P 

by Richard Foss 

eople used to big charity events in the South Bay might be 

forgiven for thinking they had gone to the wrong place 

when they approached the site of the Hermosa Beach 

Education Foundation Wine Walk on October 10. There was 

plenty of parking right by the entrance and no valets in sight. 

The Wine Walk has an unusual venue – two blocks of Powers 

Street. 

“That’s what you get for living in a small, supportive community,” 

said event organizer Lynn Barr. “I’d estimate that 95 percent 

of the people who attend here live in Hermosa. They’re 

parents of Hermosa View or Hermosa Valley students. They 

bring family and friends, and they’re the ones who get the word 

out.” 

Those amateur promoters are sharing news of a unique, 

annual event that draws 350 people for two blocks of tables 

laden food, beer and wine from dozens of area restaurants. It 

was sold out as usual, when the capacity crowd gathered on the 

unseasonably warm evening. Entertainment was provided by 

guitarist Joe Cipolla who sang classic pop hits from the 1940s 

onward. 

“I’m a crossing guard at Hermosa Valley School and a noon 

aide at Hermosa View school. I’ve loved music all my life, but 

didn’t do it as a career. I owned clothing stores. Now, I also 

teach guitar to children,” Cipolla said. 

Other benefactors include the Uncorked wine store, which 

has donated over a 1,000 bottles of wine over the years and has 

mobilized wineries to participate. 

“We don’t have kids in the schools, but we own two businesses 

here,” explained co-owner Cathey Knoll-Bonafede. “The Ed 

Foundation is our number one charity. To keep our little 1.3 

square mile community strong, we need strong schools.” 

“Not everybody on this street has kids in the schools, but 

they’re incredibly tolerant and supportive,” said HBEF 

President Allie Malone. “We try to do the same. Earlier today, 

after the road was already blocked off, someone needed to get 

out and we moved everything out of the way so they could move 

their car.” 

For more information, visit HBEF.org. 

1 2 

3 4 

1. Hermosa Beach 

Education Foundation president 

Allie Malone, wine 

walk chair Debra Luckey 

and publicist Laurie Baker. 

2. Lisa Cassity and twin sister 

Lauren Copelan of Hook 

& Plow. 

3. King Harbor Brewing’s 

Tom Dunbabin forces a 

brew on winemaker Doug 

Burkett of Rebel Coast 

Winery. 

4. Jennifer Oliver, Amber 

Kyle, Steve Kyle, Hermosa 

Beach Mayor Carolyn Petty 

and Corinne Timms. 

5. Uncorked owners Kathy 

Knoll-Bonafede and Jeff 

Bonafede with HBEF events 

chair Lynn Barr and Wine 

Walk chair Debra Luckey. 

6. Joe Cipolla entertained 

the crowd with his voice 

guitar and sax. 

7. Standing Room’s 

Jonathan Baran, Lowell 

Bakke and Skip Bakke. 

8. Mediterraneo chef Pedro 

Pureco and server Corey 

Cardinal. 

5 6 

7 

8 


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dining 

The Arthur J owner Mike Simms with a portrait of his 

grandfather Arthur J. Simms. Photo by Brad Jacobson 

A steak in the Mid-Century spirit 

Executive chef David LeFevre brings 1950s era of 

steaks and cocktails to downtown Manhattan Beach 

by Richard Foss 

Eating steaks has been a symbol of affluence 

for hundreds of years and not just 

on this side of the Atlantic. Beefsteak 

clubs were established in London as early as 

1705. Wealthy members dined on steaks, 

baked potatoes, wine and beer, a menu that 

would delight their counterparts today. It was 

such a national trait that the guards at the 

Tower of London were nicknamed beefeaters 

and a French slang word for Englishmen was 

“rosbif.” 

Still, the place we associate with big steaks 

is the USA and the era is not the 1750s but 

the 1950s. It was an era of cool music, strong 

cocktails, big steaks, and big dreams. Even 

people who weren’t born yet can get nostalgic 

for the era of optimism and opulence. 

The place to do that today is The Arthur J. 

It’s mid-century visually and the kitchen 

serves up dishes in that spirit, but made 

attractive to a contemporary palate. 

The restaurant is an homage by the Simms 

brothers to their late grandfather Arthur J. 

Simms, who was a restaurateur and whose 

portrait hangs by the front podium. The 

grandfather is also oddly but touchingly 

remembered with a pair of battered golf 

shoes by the front door. 

Executive chef David LeFevre taps into 

nostalgic and historic veins both with what is 

served and how it’s presented. Some very 

modern items are served in the blue-flowered 

Corningware baking dishes that were in 

every kitchen when Eisenhower was president. 

These and other touches show a genuine 

affection for what’s going on here. 

The menu is heavy on steaks, naturally, but 

there is much more here. I have visited The 

Arthur J twice — once with someone who is 

a connoisseur of cow, the second time with 

someone who hadn’t eaten beef for decades 

and both visits were successful. Both times 

we were served by a cheerful pro named 

Rachel who was an excellent guide to the 

subtleties of the menu. 

The starters are mostly classics. We tried 

an emmental popover, split pea soup, 

Hamachi tartare and a grilled Treviso salad. 

The popover and soup were on different visits, 

but I wish I had ordered them together 

because they would complement each other 

well. The very light, savory roll with funky 

cheese filling would have been great with the 

soup, which had a slight peppery tang and 

extra flavor from rye croutons and the 

chunks of Virginia ham. A note to those who 

haven’t had it before: Virginia ham is saltier 

and chewier than most other hams, so adjust 

your expectations when you bite into one of 

those nuggets of meat in the soup. Including 

it in this soup adds a rare flavor of Colonial 

America in a California beach town. The 

only modern element was the garnish of 

smoked chicharrones, which added a rich 

crunch to the mix. 

The flavor of the Hamachi was another 

coast and another century; marinated 

chopped yellowtail with micro-greens, tomato, 

radish slices, cucumber, Thai chili, peaches, 

and peanuts. A puffed rice chip with 

sesame on the side adds an additional texture, 

if one is needed. Those items don’t 

sound like they should work together but 

they do. There’s a slightly different balance 


The Arthur J brings a Mid-Century 

style to downtown Manhattan 

Beach. Photo by Brad Jacobson 

in every bite. 

We wavered between a classic Caesar 

and the Treviso salad, but decided on the 

latter because we were intrigued by the 

combination of bitter lettuce with ricotta 

cheese, mission figs and pine nuts with a 

sherry vinaigrette. It was interesting but 

not entirely successful. Our server had 

mentioned that the Treviso had been 

marinated and seared, both of which 

usually diminish the bitterness of this 

heirloom lettuce variety, but it still had a 

rather sharp flavor in bites that didn’t 

include the cheese. Using the velvety, 

aged ricotta rather than the usual parmesan 

was an inspired move, but I would 

have preferred more of it, and that it be 

cut in smaller pieces so it was spread 

through the dish more evenly. The idea 

of bitter radicchio with figs and cheese 

was excellent, but at least that day the balance 

was a bit off. 

Unusual variations on classic cocktails are 

offered, under inexplicable names. A sidecar 

is renamed “Gromit’s whip,” a blood and 

sand “Ultimate Degradation.” The fact that 

they have any variation of blood and sand is 

near miraculous — it’s a mix of scotch 

whisky, vermouth, cherry liqueur and 

orange juice that was invented in the 1920s 

and is unjustly obscure. If you have ever 

enjoyed good cocktails, you must try them 

here. The booze is top shelf and the people 

behind the bar are masters of their craft. 

Wine is better with dinner, of course, so 

we asked the sommelier to suggest something. 

He suggested Champagne with the 

split pea soup and a white Montrachet with 

the salad. The pairings were spot on. I’m 

going to want sparkling wine with pea soup 

from now on. 

The main courses here are served on an a 

la carte basis, though you wouldn’t know 

that from the menu. The vegetables and 

starches that are mentioned on the same line 

as the chops and seafood are mere garnishes. 

On the visit with the carnivore we ordered a 

ribeye and the sea bream, on the second visit 

rack of lamb and a pork chop. (I had been 

attracted by an artichoke and cheese dish 

that someone at an adjacent table was eating 

with gusto, but couldn’t resist the pork.) 

The meats followed a simple formula: top 

quality product minimally seasoned and 

expertly cooked. The pork is from a rare 

crossbreed of Hungarian and English 

breeds, the meat darker, sweeter and more 

richly flavored than even most heritage 

breeds and the Colorado lamb will make 

you forget that bland stuff from the 

antipodes. 

The sea bream was less exotic, but used an 

interesting, modern preparation. It had been 

dusted with fennel pollen, which lends a 

delightfully sweet, spicy scent. Bream is similar 

to bass but is more sustainable. The 

moist, rich fish came away from the bone 

easily. Scottish salmon and lobster are also 

offered and based on this meal I’d like to 

explore their other seafood options. 

As for the steaks, the item that is the centerpiece 

for most meals here, both prime 

dry-aged beef and wet-aged Angus beef are 

available. Supermarket beef is wet-aged and 

not for very long. It has an agreeable, mild 

flavor. Dry aging intensifies the flavor and 

adds a funky richness that is generally associated 

with lamb and game meats. Dry-aged 

steaks are also more expensive because they 

lose volume in the process. We decided on 

the dry-aged ribeye and after dithering over 

the 13 sauces and eight toppings to choose 

from, decided to have none. We wanted to 

experience the meat by itself. It was a 

superlative steak, and as we ate it we mused 

that The Arthur J is missing a bet. They 

should offer small portions of both wet and 

dry aged steak so that customers could learn 

the difference. Offhand, I think that they’d 

sell more of the dry-aged to repeat customers 

because they will have a basis for comparison. 

The Arthur J is at 903 Manhattan Avenue 

in downtown Manhattan Beach. Open daily at 5 p.m., 

close 10:30 p.m.. Sun-Wed., 11 p.m. Thu-Sat. Street 

parking, wheelchair access good, full bar. Some vegetarian 

items. Reservations suggested at 

thearthurj.com, phone 310-878-9620. 

A variety of sides was offered and these 

change with the seasons. A terrific fava 

bean dish that I enjoyed on the first visit 

was gone on the second, replaced by acorn 

squash with candied pecans. The mustard 

spaetzle was gone too, though I know of no 

reason German handmade noodles would 

be seasonal. Perhaps they weren’t popular 

because nobody knew what they were. 

A steakhouse favorite that seems to have 

a perennial place on the menu is creamed 

spinach. The version here is the classic – 

cooked down with real cream and topped 

with crisp fried onions. 

Desserts were offered, but here the menu 

is out of balance. With the exception of 

some sherbets, everything was heavy and 

rich. Had something light like a fruit tart or 

other, similar pastry been offered we would 

have ordered it, but on both visits we didn’t 

see anything that called to us. 

Dinner at The Arthur J is on the high side 

by local standards. The less expensive of the 

two meals ran just over $250 for two, with 

two cocktails and four glasses of wine. That 

could have been much less if we had 

watched the wine budget. One the sommelier 

suggested was almost $25 for a threeounce 

pour. It was a splendid pairing, but 

there were other good ones at more modest 

prices. 

The Arthur J is a temple to a certain kind 

of dining, the mid-century modern décor 

in harmony with the ideas on the menu. At 

their best both are about simple ideas elegantly 

executed. In one case it’s wood polished 

and sculpted to show its beauty, in 

the other dishes crafted to show off minimally 

enhanced, excellent ingredients. One 

could only wish that the patriarch of the 

family could have lived to see it. B 


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Before the last 

Carnival Cruise 

sailed 

Who we were and where we lived 

by Bondo Wyszpolski 

It wasn’t long ago, in 2012, that John Post published a book of his 

photographs to commemorate the Manhattan Beach centennial. 

The John Post Gallery has been a staple of downtown Manhattan 

Beach for many years and it’s a safe guess that very few people of 

Post’s caliber have taken note of the city’s physical growth and 

changes as closely as he has. The 2012 book, by the way, was nicely 

received. 

Afterwards, Post says, “People asked me how come I didn’t do 

Hermosa. Well… it wasn’t Hermosa’s centennial.” 

Which probably got him thinking about the larger picture, in every 

sense of the word. 

“So in 2013 I decided to do a South Bay book. These books take 

anywhere from two to three years, and three months, no matter 

what the book is.” 

The “three months” part seems puzzling at first, until one realizes 

it’s the two to three years that contains all the groundwork. “Until 

you make the commitment, it’s all in your head and some notes on 

paper. Then it’s crunch time; then you’ve got to come through.” 

Postmodern, of course 

“The original thought was Our South Bay,” Post says. “But the trick 

is always what do you leave in and what do you leave out? Do you 

put in every street corner in town? It kept narrowing itself down 

until finally it became the coastline, strictly the coastline.” 

And so, within 100 pages, Post has given us his best images of five 

different cities, beginning with El Segundo to the north and curving 

down around the Peninsula to the south. Not surprisingly, the bulk 

of the work focuses on Hermosa, Manhattan, and Redondo Beach 

and Torrance (which lays claim to a sliver of sand called Rat Beach). 

Also not surprisingly, the ocean seems to be present even when it’s 

not in the frame. 

Post explains his approach, his basic philosophy, when it comes to 

hefting a camera and venturing outdoors: 

“I rarely shoot a photograph for myself; all my photographs I take 

for the viewer. I get to have the experience. As I’ve told people over 

the years, if I wasn’t a photographer I probably wouldn’t even have 

a camera. It’s too much work. But I take my pictures to capture the 

moment for other people to experience who either don’t have the 

chance to make have experience, whatever that image may be. 

“So, to go back to the book, it’s about sharing. Sharing where we 

live with the residents.” 

It may seem like an easy enough endeavor, as if any shutterbug 

with a couple of weeks on their hands could go out and get enough 

shots of the Beach Cities for a book, but we need to remember that 

John Post has been making images of the area for 40 years. These 

pictures are culled from the best of the best. 

“Sunset surfer at the Cove.”

“Hermosa Beach Plaza in the rain.” 

“I believe it’s the first book of its 

kind,” Post says, at the same time not 

failing to mention Robi Hutas, whom 

Post feels was the original trailblazer. 

Hutas has been documenting the 

South Bay in pictures since the 

1950s. 

“I consider myself the first one to 

document the beach as art,” Post continues, 

in contrast with Hutas whose 

pictures range from the Redondo 

Beach waterfront (before the city 

ruined it) to nearly every major volleyball 

tournament in Manhattan 

and Hermosa Beach. Another difference 

is that the vast majority of what 

Hutas photographed was in black 

and white whereas with Post it’s 

pretty much all color, and usually a 

vibrant color at that. 

For our children’s children’s 

children 

Another reason for Our South Bay, Post says, is for the sake of 

posterity, and not just so that we will be able to recall the various 

buildings and opens spaces that define the look of an area. At the 

end of the book are several pages in small print containing the 

names of current residents — those who responded to ads and 

announcements to submit their own names and sometimes those 

of family members. There’s a reason why this was important. 

“We always see photographs of our times accompanied by the 

names of city officials,” Post says. “Rarely if ever are photographs 

of an area (accompanied) by the names of the average citizens who 

make up the communities. I wanted this book to contain a record 

of those people.” 

Kind of like the Titanic, I reply, kidding him. You’ll have the passenger 

list; ‘cause we’re all going down with the big ship, right? 

Post laughs. “I think it’ll be more like Carnival Cruises, sailing off 

into the sunset.” 

“Longfellow Avenue, Hermosa Beach.” 

The ever-changing landscape 

Although it never enters the book, there’s an underlying theme 

that those who leaf through Our South Bay may not even notice and 

that’s the issue of gentrification or, less politically charged, the simple 

fact of change. I’m not so sure that Post was eager to discuss this, 

because his pictures — with very little text; only a short introduction 

— bypass the subject altogether. And yet what we see is always 

accompanied by what we don’t see. The past nips at our heels no less 

than the future. 

But of course Post has been around long enough to witness firsthand 

how the cities around us have grown and grown. 

“This might be the first and only book to document the beaches 

and the coastline before they go Miami Beach,” he says with a grin. 

In particular, he mentions the AES Power Plant in Redondo Beach, 

the site of which will one day be quite different and, you can count 

on it, anything but open land. 

This is yet one more reason why Our South Bay is important as a 

visual document of the area. Who hasn’t come upon a suddenly 

vacant lot and then wondered what had been there? “These things 

just disappear,” Post says, “and you can’t go back. 

“They’re always trying to keep the small town atmosphere,” he 

adds, “but that train left in the ‘90s, after the first home went for over 

$5 million. They want to keep the symbols, but they want everything 

that made the symbols gone.” That also includes former residents. 

“The people who made the place can’t afford to live here.” 

As mentioned, that’s not really what the book is about, although 

the topic sits quietly in the 

background of every page. 

Also, the photos are aesthetically 

pleasing and uplifting for 

the most part, paradise on 

parade, with no drunks stumbling 

out of bars or people 

scrounging through recycling 

bins. That’s a series for someone 

else with a different purpose 

and sensibility. 

What John Post has set out to 

do is give us a bit of permanence 

between cardboard covers, 

the Beach Cities preserved. 

“This book,” he says, “is not 

a cell phone, not a selfie, not a 

moment you can tweet and be 

done with it forever. This is 

hard copy. This is not something 

you keep on your phone 

and thumb and thumb and 

“Hermosa Beach storm surf, 1988.” 



thumb and waste time. This is 

something to take you away 

from the cell phone, to take you 

away from digital entrapments.” 

Post gestures to the large format 

photographs on the walls 

around him. “Drama is in the 

detail,” he says and he points out 

the detail in his work. “Too 

many pictures nowadays focus 

on the drama and not the detail 

and as soon as you look beyond 

the drama the picture’s just an 

average picture.” 

John Post makes photographs 

that tell us, and will tell those 

who come after us, who we 

were and where we lived. His 

new book is a vital document of 

the Beach Cities as they exist 

now, today, before the last 

Carnival Cruise sails into the 

sunset. 

Our South Bay (100 pp., 114 

full-color photographs) is available 

online at Johnpost.com, by phone 

(310) 376-6982, or by email 

John@JohnPost.com. The current 

price is $109. The John Post 

Gallery is located at 808 

Manhattan Ave., Manhattan 

Beach. Hours, Wednesday through 

Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. B

each 

community 

MAMA LIZ 33RD ANNUAL 

Thanksgiving Dinner 

O 

ver 400 guests enjoyed a sit down dinner 

with all the fixin’s at the 33rd Annual 

Mama Liz Thanksgiving dinner. The 

Hermosa Beach Kiwanis and Rotary clubs donated 

their halls in Valley Park and guests were 

served by community volunteers. Donna Dawick 

organized the volunteers and Misty Dawn gathered 

up over 40 cooked turkeys from fellow 

Berkshire Hathaway Realtors. Sandpipers donated 

over 50 pies and Jonathan Coleman served as 

music director. 

1 

2 

Photos by Kevin Cody 

1. The carving crew Mark and Evan Hamilton 

and Jess Aispuro. 

2. Jim Jones on banjo, Bob White on trumpet 

and Jerry Rothschild on piano. 

3. Chef Pascal Allaire. 

4. The Harrow family Michael, Cora, Becca, 

Talia and Abigail. 

5. Dinner director Donna Dawick begins the 

dinner with a Thanksgiving prayer. 

6. Yvette Ford. 

7. Dennis "The Balloonman" Forel. 

8. The Bolls family Steve, Camille, Catherine 

and George. 

9. The kitchen crew Michael Harrow, Julie 

Sherman, Michele Coleman,Tracy “The Brit” 

Powelcz, and Jessie Kay Kravik. 

10. Musical director Jonathan Coleman. 

11. Chris Rodriquez and Mike Pinera. 

12. The pie crew Tracey Coe and Kathy and 

Kirra Troeger. 

3 4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 10 11 

12 


each society 

HERMOSA HISTORICAL SOCIETY 

RELIVES BILTMORE HOTEL DAYS 

V 

isions of ballroom dancing at the Biltmore 

Hotel in the 1920s were evoked by the 

Hermosa Beach Historical Society last 

month with a party that began in the museum and 

then moved to the upstairs ballroom (converted 

earlier in the day with considerable creativity 

from a basketball gymnasium). 

For more information on the historical society 

visit HermosaBeachHistoricalSociety.org. 

1 

2 

1. Joan Roney, Rachel Nyback, Dorothy 

Courtney, Beverley Baird and Carol Reznichek. 

2. Carol Reznichek with the room key from her 

last night at the Biltmore Hotel. 

3. Hermosa Beach Historical Museum curator 

Christopher Uebelhor and his wife Stacey with 

councilman Hany Fangary. 

4. Lance and Christine Widman. 

5. Doug Neilsen. 

6. Jackie Tagliaferro, Krista Capo and Kim 

Chafin. 

7. Barbara Gunning, Janice Brittain, Annie 

Seawright-Newton, Brigid Dowd and Dani Hart. 

8. Jake and Trish Courtney. 

9. Chris Miller and Bob Courtney. 

10. Friend and Connie Roderick. 

11. Kim MacMullen (right) with fellow You Can 

Dance Studio dancers. 

12. You Can Dance owner Irina Trebunskaya 

and her husband. 

13. Susan and Harold Cohen with HBHS 

president Norm and Lorna Rosen. 

14. Harold and Susan Cohen. 

15. Betsy Ryan and Jennifer McNally. 

16. Mick Felder with his 1934 Ford Roadster, 

which he built from spare parts in 1962. 

17. Will Watson and Brigid Dowd. 

3 4 

5 

6 

7 

8 


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11 

12 13 

14 15 

16 17 


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each charity 

CSC’S GIRLS NIGHT OUT 

Comedy & Magic Club event 

Cancer Support Community Redondo 

Beach hosted its 13th Annual Girls 

Night Out at the Comedy & Magic Club 

October 6, 7 and 8 in celebration of Breast 

Cancer Awareness Month and “the women 

in our lives who have been touched by 

breast cancer.” This 3-night affair raised 

over $150,000. 

Photos by Adrienne Slaughter 

1 

2 

1. Waiting in line 

before the Comedy & 

Magic Club doors 

open are Dolores 

Jaime, Kathryn 

Crookston, CSC’s Meli 

Padilla, Khryste 

Langlais, Laurie 

Glover, Mary Lou 

Giebel, Lorine Testa 

and Maureen Lewis. 

2. CSC’s employees 

and volunteers Molly 

Reichle, Meli Padilla, 

LIsa Jensen, Mindy 

Stogsdill and Nicole 

Padilla. 

3. Active South Bay 

residents Lisa 

Burkhart, Maureen 

Lewis, Lisa Raymond 

and Dorothy Yost. 

4. CSC’s Co-founder 

“Matriarch” Jean 

McMillan and Theresa 

Plakos. 

5. Sponsor Macy’s 

Angela Berardo, Nikki 

Saffrey and Shereen 

Bedier. 

6. King Harbor 

Association’s Victoria 

Corradi and Joann 

Turk with guest 

speaker/survivor 

Sarah Kirsh and End 

Results’ Mudaser 

Hakami and Dominic 

Amici. 

7. CSC’s CEO Judith 

Opahl with Kimberly 

Caballero and Danielle 

Boujikian. 

8. Emmy Award 

winner and volunteer 

David Plakos with 

Hermosa Beach’s 

Dorothy Yost and 2- 

time cancer survivor 

Easy Reader’s 

Adrienne Slaughter. 

9. Bidding on the 

silent auction items 

are Laura Kauls and 

Jill Ashley. 

10. CSC Redondo 

Beach staff Pam 

Martis, Paula Moore, 

Amy Martinez, Molly 

Reichle, Nancy 

Lomibao, CEO Judith 

Opdahl, Nida Padilla 

and Theresa Plakos 

11. CSC board 

member Guido 

Rietdyk with president 

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Kazan entertained in 

many costumes during 

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each sports 

The 

brain 

game 

Powerful kills by Megan Rice have impressed spectators on both sides of the gym. 

Photo by Ray Vidal 

by Randy Angel 

Two years ago, Redondo girls volleyball 

coach Tommy Chaffins asked his players 

whom they thought he was toughest on 

and made the most uncomfortable. They all 

pointed at sophomore Megan Rice. 

Chaffins knew Rice had the athleticism and 

competitiveness to become a vital cog in 

Redondo’s volleyball program, but she needed 

to strengthen her mental game. 

“There is a process about learning mental 

toughness and as far as I can tell, there isn't 

any ‘nice and easy’ way to learn it,” Chaffins 

said. “An athlete has to go through struggles 

and learn how to respond to failure and most 

importantly, how to move on to the next play. I 

was tough on her as I have been on every player 

I have coached. When I say tough, it isn't 

yelling, but holding the athlete accountable if 

they aren't moving on to the next play.” 

The lesson was well learned. The hardswinging, 

6-foot outside hitter has led Redondo 

to a second consecutive appearance in the CIF 

State Division 1 finals while enjoying an All- 

CIF caliber season as the team’s leading scorer. 

Chaffins is known for his credo “next play 

focus” and he knew when Rice had reached 

that level. 

“I can pinpoint the moment when I felt she 

had it. It was last season at Mira Costa,” 

Chaffins recalled. “We were down 0-2, and she 

led our comeback win. We wouldn't have won 

state last year without Megan having superior 

‘next play focus.’ After that night, I didn't have 

to make her feel uncomfortable any more, 

because she had it and I was so happy for her.” 

Rice’s positive attitude and steady play have 

been key factors in Redondo’s success. The Sea 

Hawks entered the State finals with a 36-4 

record, in what has been a pressure-packed 

season. 

As defending State champions, Redondo has 

had a bullseye on its back throughout the season 

and with the graduation of stars Yaasmeen 

Bedart-Ghani (Texas), Abril Bustamante (USC), 

Kristen Hamlin (Cal Poly) and Hayes Honea 

(Amherst), the load put on Rice’s shoulders 

would have slowed most players down. 

Prior to the season, Chaffins named Rice cocaptain 

along with fellow senior Norene Iosia, 

a four-year varsity starter who is arguably the 

best setter in the nation. 

“I knew the pressure was coming,” Rice said. 


“Chaffins made my junior year super hard. He has always 

challenged me at practice and I think the experience of 

playing in so many important matches last year prepared 

me for this season.” 

Chaffins said most people didn’t expect the Sea Hawks 

to reach the State championship after losing four talented 

seniors from last year’s squad and Redondo did drop a little 

bit this season. The Sea Hawks lost their bid for backto-back 

CIF-SS Division 1AA titles, losing to Mater Dei in 

the championship match and they finished the regular season 

sharing the Bay League crown with rival Mira Costa. 

“There is no secret to our team this season. We count on 

Megan to do so much for us offensively: serve, receive, and 

blocking,” Chaffins said. “She has had one of the best seasons 

of any outside hitter since I have been at Redondo. 

Before Megan Rice could play up 

to her championship level potential 

she had to learn ‘next play focus’ 

She is in the same conversation as any of the Dykstras 

(Devon/Lara/Skylar) and Yazzie (Bedart-Ghani). A top 

national program can't exist without an outstanding outside 

hitter and we’re blessed to have one of the best in the 

country. 

“Last year, teams couldn't just focus on Megan due to the 

other players. This year, every team’s number one focus is 

to stop Megan. No one has.” 

Rice’s volleyball success developed over a relatively brief 

time. She didn’t begin playing volleyball until she was a 

seventh grader at Hermosa Valley School, which is late for 

Megan Rice’s all-around play has helped Redondo reach the 

State Championship for the second consecutive year. 

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a player in the South Bay. 

She played soccer and was a star player 

on her basketball team, but would often 

attend the club volleyball practices of her 

older brother Nathan, who subsequently 

played for Redondo. 

“Nathan’s coach Dale Smith got me 

interested in volleyball by involving me in 

his practices,” Rice said. “I was only 5- 

foot- 5 in middle school and hadn’t really 

thought about playing volleyball. My dad 

wanted me to stick with basketball, but I 

really liked volleyball because it is a noncontact 

sport and truly a team sport. It 

takes every player to win.” 

“Megan was so good at basketball,” her 

father Jeff said. “When you watch your 

kid, since the age of five be the player all 

the other kids would throw the ball to and 

then see her shoot three-pointers as an 

eight-year-old, it’s hard to make that transition. 

But when she started playing volleyball, 

it was obvious she would bring 

that same level of athleticism to the new 

game and I haven’t looked back at all.” 

Rice was placed on the frosh/soph team 

to give her playing time although she 

could have battled for a spot on the JV 

team. 

“She needed to play 100 percent of the 

time since she hadn't played much volleyball,” 

Chaffins said. “I knew, she would be 

on varsity the following year because of 

her athleticism and competitiveness.” 

During her first year at Redondo she 

began a friendship with Iosia who, 

although also a freshman, was an assistant 

coach for her father Moe on the 

Frosh/Soph team. 

“I still learn from Norene all the time,” 

Rice said. “Even though we’re the same 

age, I have always looked up to her. I’m so 

lucky to have a setter like her. She plays at 

a collegiate level and is a giant reason why 

we are where we are.” 

“Megan has come a long way and has 

worked very hard the last few years,” Iosia 

said. “She’s been a rock for us and our goto 

player this season. She can handle any 

type of pressure and always has a positive 

attitude on the court. When I get a little 

down, I can look at her and know that, 

hey, we got this.” 

Rice feels her strength is her front row 

play and playing intelligently. She credits 

Chaffins and assistant coach Tiffany 

Rodriguez for finding new ways for her to 

score. 

“Megan’s always had the ‘home run’ 

swing, but swinging for the fences isn't 

always the right choice,” Chaffins 

explained. “I have been so pleased with 

her decision making and ability to score in 

a variety of ways, not just with the fastball. 

There are many of times when the 

right play is to snap the ball in, hopefully 

to an uncomfortable spot for our opponent 

and give our defense a chance to extend 

the point.” 

Rice said last year’s five-set win over 

Mater Dei to win the Southern California 

Regional championship and upsetting 

Torrey Pines – the top ranked team in the 

state – on the road in the second round of 

this year’s regional tournament as her 

most memorable matches. 

“The entire run to State title last year 

was something I’ll never forget,” Rice said. 

“That experience helped me become a better 

player. Playing in front of the giant 

crowd and having 32 kills at Torrey Pines 

was also a huge match for me.” 

She said her favorite moment came 

when she killed the last point in 

Redondo’s come-from-behind, 5-set victory 

over rival Mira Costa to win the 2014 

Bay League title. 

Rice will take her talents to UC Santa 

Barbara next fall but has another goal set 

before she embarks on her college career. 

“I really want to medal in the Junior 

Olympics,” she said, who will play for the 

Sunshine 18’s club team. “I’ve played for 

Nike West for the last three years and we 

made the Open Division at the Junior 

Olympics each year. It’s been a great experience 

playing against the best club teams 

across the country.” 

Wanting to stay in California, Rice 

talked with coaches at a Loyola 

Marymount and San Diego State but chose 

UC Santa Barbara because of its beach setting 

and its proximity to her Hermosa 

Beach home. 

“It’s far enough away from home but 

close enough so my family can watch me 

play,” Rice said. “I should be able to earn 

a starting position as a freshman. Many 

schools consider me too short at outside 

hitter and I love the game so much, I just 

want to play. I hope to help the team reach 

the NCAA tournament.” 

Along with Dale Smith, Rice credits 

Tiffany Rodriguez as playing vital roles in 

her volleyball career. 

“Tiffany was my first coach at Hermosa 

Valley,” Rice said. “She came to Redondo 

to coach when I was a sophomore, so 

we’ve been through a lot together.” 

Yet it is the bond between Rice and 

Chaffins that has produced yet another 

player on the list of Sea Hawk greats. 

“He holds the bar so high for me,” Rice 

said. “I appreciate him working with me. 

Other coaches might focus on players 

needing more work but he gives me just as 

much attention.” 

Chaffins said Rice’s enthusiasm for the 

success of her teammates along with her 

leadership, traits are what make a champion. 

“Megan always gives full effort on 

every play, sacrificing her body every 

practice,” Chaffins said. “It sets the tone of 

a gym culture when your best athletes lay 

it out in practice like Megan does.” 

Megan Rice makes a block during Redondo’s 2014 

Southern California Regional Championship win 

against Mater Dei. Photo by Ray Vidal 

They joke about it now, but every so often 

Chaffins will ask Rice if she remembers how he 

used to make her feel uncomfortable – usually in 

front of the team when another player has to go 

through the same treatment. 

Rice says it made her better but admits it wasn’t 

any fun. 

“Credit should also go to her parents, Jeff and 

Lisa, for allowing her to go through that process,” 

Chaffins said. “I think many parents today are 

quick to try to ‘fix’ their kid’s athletic/school 

issues. They allowed Megan to go through the 

process of personal growth.Young people have to 

learn to advocate for themselves, go through the 

learning process and figure out ways to be successful. 

I knew Megan's competitiveness would help 

her figure out what she needed to do so I would 

get off her back." B 


Coach Feather cont. from page 24 

ing volleyball. It looked like fun, so I gave it a try and fell in love with 

the game,” Featherstone recalled. “It turned out to be the best thing 

I ever did for all my other sports. It helped my surfing and it helped 

my football immensely because when the season rolled around, I 

reported to practice in great shape. Because of the great workout of 

running in the sand, I’ve never had problems with my lower extremities 

or joints.” 

During the summer of 1975, when Featherstone was taking advantage 

of an off-season lull from his coaching duties in San Diego, he 

joined forces with three friends to form the Mission Beach Volleyball 

Clinic for adults. It was an immediate success and the program was 

packed for five summers. 

Just as the athletic days of his youth would prove valuable for 

Featherstone later in life, the experience gained from the adult volleyball 

clinic would pay dividends down the road. 

Featherstone’s future would include four daughters. 

“I’m very lucky with all my daughters,” Featherstone said. “They 

didn’t get into the drink and drug deal. Plus, they all love football so 

we support each other.” 

Although athletics didn’t appeal to his oldest daughter Terre, sisters 

Ivy, Keegan and Arianna all played volleyball. Keegan is the girls 

volleyball head coach at Bishop Montgomery High School. 

Even though the girls fall volleyball season coincides with football, 

Featherstone attended as many of his daughter’s athletic events as 

possible. 

“I know how important it is for parents to go to back to school 

nights and other school functions. Unfortunately, a lot of kids on my 

football teams didn’t have that kind of support growing up and that 

breaks my heart.” 

After Featherstone became a parent, he saw how popular volleyball 

was becoming for girls. “We had the facilities right here,” he 

said. “So I started coaching and started my own club, the Manhattan 

Beach Tidal Waves.” 

Last summer, Featherstone celebrated the 21st year of his beach 

volleyball clinic, which includes two sessions. “Kids taking Junior 

Lifeguards in morning take my class in the afternoon and vice versa. 

Parents can drop their kids off for an entire day at the beach. I see 

how much fun kids have playing the sport. I’ve been overjoyed 

teaching young kids the great sport of beach volleyball. I’ve loved 

every second of it.” 

If playing recreational and master’s competition in beach volleyball 

along with coaching the sport wasn’t enough for Featherstone, 

he found time to serve as a referee for many years. 

“I refereed a lot in the ‘80s and enjoyed the high caliber of competition,” 

Featherstone said. “Professional beach volleyball players are 

some of the best athletes in the world and can match up with those 

in any other sport.” B 

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Classifieds 

www.CabrilloWay-Marina.com 

2293 Miner St., San Pedro, CA 90731 

• Ice Machines & Laundry 

• Pumpout - Public & In-Slip 

• Ample FREE Parking 

NOW 

OPEN! 

424.269.2830 

Additional classifieds inside Easy Reader publication 

PLUMBING 

TILE 

Simply Tiles Design Center 

Fine Ceramics, Natural Stone, Hardwoods, Cabinetry, Faucetry. 

Kitchen & Bathrooms Specialist. 

3968 Pacific Coast Hwy., Torrance • (310) 373-7781 • www.simplytiles.com 

License #904876 

your space in this 

Reserve section for 

the next 

Beach Magazine 

Pub Date: January 14, 2016 • Deadline Date: December 31, 2015 

424-269-2830

Beach Magazine Dec 2015

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