Coordinating Council Recognizes Service to the Arts

The guest speaker and the Students of the Month featured at the Nov. 15 Manhattan Beach Coordinating Council luncheon all have ties to the arts.

James Blackman III, the executive director/producer of the Civic Light Opera of South Bay, chronicled, with energetic humor, the revival plans for the Civic Light Opera after it was forced to leave its Redondo Beach home of 19 years because it could not pay for an increase in rent. He told about accidentally discovering a perfect new home at the corner of Manhattan Beach Boulevard and Inglewood in Lawndale, a city he and his mother settled in many years ago. He also thanked El Segundo for offering him a place to perform while the final accommodations are being completed at the Lawndale facility. He said the Civic Light Opera is now like “a heart sitting in an ice chest waiting to be installed.”

The three student honorees have also contributed to the arts. Will Riordan of American Martyrs plays guitar and is in the school church band, a commitment to both music and his faith. He is always willing to learn new songs and happy to give it one more try. The “one more try” attitude exhibits itself in other facets of his life, too, including the varsity football team and his volunteer work with Hearts for the Hungry and Friendship Circle.

Julia Sheth was instrumental in starting a literary magazine at Manhattan Beach Middle School. The journalism adviser mentioned the idea and Julia and another student picked up the ball and ran with it. They obtained funding and advertising and then collected magazine submissions from students and faculty that they edited and published. Julia is a quiet leader who has a knack for solving problems before they happen.

As editor of the Mira Costa High School yearbook, Jill Thompson must conceptualize the artistic look of the end product and handle the details leading to its publication. In addition to this responsibility, she is the student representative to the school board and a member of the Associated Student Body Board. She plays soccer and is a member of the S-Club, an organization that strives to improve the lives of women and girls. Jill handles her duties in a pleasant, helpful manner.

The Coordinating Council luncheon was held at Verandas on Rosecrans Avenue in Manhattan Beach. The program was presided over by Jill Brunkhardt, president of the council. Wayne Powell of the Manhattan Beach City Council led the pledge of allegiance and Rabbi Hyman of Congregation Tikvat Jacob in Manhattan Beach gave the invocation.

Student representatives gave updates on each school’s activities—Sam Holtze for American Martyrs School, Mura Nagpal for MBMS, and Jason Rupp and Ben Sands for MCHS. The next luncheon will be Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012.

Lynne Gross is co-vice president, publicity/newsletter, for the Manhattan Beach Coordinating Council.