Week in Review: Sand Dune Vandals and Plastic Bag Ban Support

Here's a recap of stories covered at Manhattan Beach Patch from Aug. 8 to Aug. 14.

SUNDAY

Manhattan Beach Senior League All-Stars took advantage of a weary pitching staff in a wipeout 15-0 victory at Western Regionals.

MONDAY

Police investigated a report that vandals had taken down some fencing at Sand Dune Park, while dune supporters expressed concern about the potential impact on the area's reopening.

Brett Clark delivered a walk-off single in the eighth inning, and the Manhattan Beach Senior League All-Star Mustangs won Pool B at the Western Regionals with a 2-1 victory over Creekside Ranch, two spots away from the World Series.

The California Supreme Court rejected Roger Hoan Brady's claim of insufficient evidence to support his murder conviction in the 1993 death of Martin Ganz, the third Manhattan Beach police officer killed in the line of duty.

TUESDAY

Getting surfers to talk about their favorite places isn't always the easiest thing to do. A South Bay resident offered us a discreet peek into prime surfing spots.

Austin Henning got the final outs and a big save as the Manhattan Beach Senior League All-Stars eked out a 3-1 victory in the semifinals of the Western Regionals.

Amid the Bell salary scandal, Manhattan Beach officials disclosed compensation and benefits packages for the city manager, city attorney, fire and police chiefs, and City Council members.

WEDNESDAY

Avocados provide "good fats" for your body. Try this avocado-based dessert courtesy of Manhattan Beach resident Rick Barraza.

The farmers market offered plenty of fresh foods for simpler diets, a change from the processed snacks our bodies often crave.

Ian McLoughlin delivered the big hit in the bottom of the seventh inning to push Manhattan Beach past Hilo, Hawaii, 5-4 and into the Senior League World Series. But getting to that point was anything but ordinary for the Mustangs.

The South Bay Tea Party will gather Aug. 22 at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center for a convention as it seeks to attract voters to its fiscally focused cause.

THURSDAY

In this week's police blotter, a man stole a bike from R.E.I., and a resident discovered a burned bottle of soda in his mailbox.

In his weekly op-ed, a columnist questioned the structure of the Environmental Task Force and called for more openness and transparency.

Mayor Mitch Ward joined other government officials at a news conference Thursday morning to discuss a federally funded unemployment program.

FRIDAY

Robert Parucha, a Mira Costa High ace who battled a series of injuries before having a stellar senior season for the Bay League champion Mustangs, will play college baseball at the University of Hawaii.

Youth learn to serve, set and dig at Beach Cities Volleyball camp, which is training players for local middle and high school teams.

Local government officials pushed for the extension of a subsidized employment program, which has led to 19 people being hired in Redondo Beach.

The city of Manhattan Beach is expected to put on a pared-down version of the Manhattan Open, after the AVP announced that it withdrew its sponsorship and discontinued the rest of the season.

A county environmental impact report provided scientific studies that support plastic bag bans, such as the one in Manhattan Beach.

SATURDAY

Manhattan Beach police were called in to help Hermosa Beach officers with a search of six suspected house burglars—five of whom are under 16 years old. At the time the article was posted, one suspect was held on bail, and his five alleged accomplices were released from police custody to their parents.

Five facts you didn't know about the history of Manhattan Beach, from the annals of former Mayor Jan Dennis' book.