World War II Submariners Remembered

To say that  the 34^th “Tolling the Boats” was an emotional experience – – – doesn’t do justice to the Service  held at the World War II National Submarine Memorial – West , at the Naval Weapons Station in Seal Beach.

World War II Veterans of the sub-service were there as were the widows of some who were lost during the war and those that had passed on since.

This was the 34^th Memorial Service at the base and considering that the first boat lost was a few days after Pearl Harbor, (the Sea Lion on December 10^th, 1941)….there was a surprisingly large group present.  Almost 400 people by our estimate.

The Memorial has been upgraded recently by donations from many groups and one of the upgrades has made it much more friendly to wheelchair visitors.  In addition there is a reflecting pool and a surprisingly peaceful ambience considering it is next to a busy highway. (This reporter has visited it many times over the years…and I’ve always been the only visitor there.)

Following a wonderful talk about the Submarine Service by the Commander Brien Dickson of the Fast Attack Sub….the Jefferson City, (SSN-769) ex-submariners, widows, family members and those with ties to the men on the 52 ‘boats’ lost in WW II went to stand at each memorial for each boat.  In all over 3,500 US Navy men lost their lives.

As Joe Koch read off the name of each submarine lost..the date and the number of men lost or survived,  Kay Staggs ‘tolled the bell’  and a volunteer who knew someone on the boat walked slowly and placed a flower next to the Memorial for that sub.  There was someone there for each of the 52 subs lost!

There were not many dry eyes in the crowd and that included many future submariners  in Sea Cadets and Boy Scouts.

The first U.S. submarine was bought by the U.S. Navy and commissioned in 1900 and on December 7, 1941, when the Japanese failed to attack the sub-pens at Pearl Harbor, they left a tiny fleet of subs that reeked havoc on them in the Pacific. Today the U.S. has a fleet that is without equal.  The new nuclear submarines played a major role in winning the Cold War and continue to protect U.S. interests worldwide.

In a future issue What’s Up In Seal Beach intends to do a more in depth article on the submarine fleet and the Naval Weapon’s Station.

Today, however, we honor “..Those still on patrol”

Memorial Day Services at WW II Submarine Memorial

MEMORIAL DAY SERVICES TO BE HELD AT WWII SUBMARINE MEMORIAL   . . . ABOARD NAVAL WEAPONS STATION SEAL BEACH

SEAL BEACH, CALIF. The United States National Submarine Memorial West, located at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, will be the site of annual public Memorial Day services Monday, May 30.

The 11:00 am observance will include the emotional “tolling the boats” ceremony, during which the name of each of the 52 U.S. submarines lost during World War Two is read aloud, along with the fate of each crew, as a bell is tolled.

The guest speaker will be Commander Brien W. Dickson, the Commanding Officer of the attack submarine USS Jefferson City (SSN 759).

The free event will be open to the public and is hosted by the Los Angeles Area “Diesel Boaters” Chapter of the U.S. Submarine Veterans of World War II, and the Los Angeles-Pasadena Base of the United States Submarine Veterans, Inc.

The submarine memorial is located aboard the Naval Weapons Station at 800 Seal Beach Boulevard, between Westminster Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway, in the City of Seal Beach.

(Editor’s note: We’ve gone to the submarine memorial on Seal Beach Blvd. on several occasions.  It is a very emotional monument when one looks at the losses these brave men had during the early years of the war.  One can only imagine what a moving experience this will be for all those present next Monday.)

For more information contact the Naval Weapons Station Public Affairs Officer, Mr. Gregg Smith, at (562) 626-7215.  More information about the National Submarine Memorial site is also available online at http://www.cnic.navy.mil/SealBeach/index.htm.

Seal Beach Run nominated for Governor’s Award

( A note from Marc and Elisabeth Loopesko)

Dear Neighbors,

The April 2nd RUN SEAL BEACH event has been nominated for the CA Governors Award (we are honored Tim !) (see attached).  Will you take a few moments and post a comment of support on the race and the fund raising aspect which supports city & school fitness and recreation programs, teams (just under $700,000.00 in past 10 years and another large amount to be given out this coming June 13th !)

Thank you,

Marc & Elizabeth Loopesko

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Dear Tim,

Thank you for submitting a Spotlight Award nomination for Run Seal Beach in our Event of the Year category.

You can now view your nomination on our website by clicking on this link: http://calgovcouncil.org/spotlight/events/4273/?nomination=1.We encourage you to share the link above with family, friends, associates and colleagues so that they may write comments of encouragement for your nomination.

Note: The deadline for nominations and comments is June 30th at midnight.
Good Luck!
Kimberly Selman
Program Associate
Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
www.CalGovCouncil.org <http://www.calgovcouncil.org/

Run Seal Beach is an annual 5K, 10K and Kids Fun Run 1K that serves over 5,000 runners annually. The event is coordinated by a very committed volunteer committee that is dedicated to producing a high quality event that has become a source of pride for the city and its residents.

The event consists of a 5K and 10K run that features divisions ranging from 10 and under to 80 and older. For youth participants the committee offers a 1K Fun Run and Kid’s Fun Zone. The fun zone offers crafts and games for kids to participate in while the other races take place. Each child that enters the fun zone is issued a wrist band and they can only be released from the fun zone when a parent with a matching wrist band arrives to release them. This allows parents and guardians to participate in the other running events without having to worry about the safety of their children. All events are held along Seal Beach’s beautiful coastline and provide runners a unique opportunity to enjoy ocean views while participating in a first class event.

In addition to creating a great event for all participants the Run Seal Beach Committee gives all proceed back to the local community to support recreation, physical fitness and wellness purposes. This year’s event raised over 110,000 dollars for the Seal Beach Community.

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Comments:Feel Free to add your own comment to those below

Seth Eaker: It is an incredible event which engages a tremendous number of participants, volunteers and sponsors. Perhaps the best event which takes place in Seal Beach because of the amount it gives back. All volunteer produced! A true highlight is the kid’s fun run, fun zone and special t-shirts to encourage youth engagement and whole family participation.

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Carla Watson: Not only is this a great active sports event that attracts participation from folks of all ages with different running/walking ability, it is the # 1 philanthropic event
where at least $100,000, is given back to the community every year.

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Philip Gonshak: Easily the most sincere and genuine form of volunteering in Seal Beach history! Volunteers, children, families, and competitors come out in the thousands to support, run, and get involved. As a citizen and employee of the city, hands down this event deserves this award.

Aerial Photos of Sunset Beach Fire

What’s Up In Seal Beach has exclusive aerial photo’s of Friday’s Sunset Beach fire that consumed one home entirely and heavily damaged two others.

Fire Ravaged Homes (photos by Jerry Rootlieb)

Fire Chief Kris Concepion said that first estimates are that the fire was caused by an overturned charcoal Bar-B-Que.

The occupants had just finished preparing the food and took it inside to cut it up before serving.  Apparently the wind blew over the charcoal burner and the conflagration erupted quickly and burned for almost 24 hours.  Fire workers stayed overnight putting out hot spots and it was still burning Saturday afternoon.

Estimates are that  repairs for the three damaged homes could exceed $10 million dollars.

Mark Atkinson, a renter the home that was totally destroyed said that he lost everything.  He stoically said, “Everything except what I’m wearing.”

District 1 News from Deaton

Budget:
The City Council and the staff have worked together for the last couple months to cut expenses and balance the budget while including citizen requests for expenditures and suggestions on savings. Jill Ingram, the Acting City Manager and her staff are to be commended for their hard work, long hours, and thoughtful approach to budgeting so that we have been able to keep our services at the same high levels to maintain our quality of life as the budget was reduced over last year’s by $2.2 million.  The budget is scheduled to be put before the City Council for approval at the City Council meeting of June 13th. (Editor’s Note:  Jill Ingram was made City Manager at last Monday’s meeting.)

Now it will be up to the Department Heads to live within the established budget and up to the Council not to authorize non-emergency budget amendments.  We will be reviewing the budget again in February to be sure we are living within our means and to make adjustments as needed.


DWP Proposed Project:
In other news, the DWP Property is now beginning the public process of review on the proposed open space/residential project.  Two dates you may want to put on your calendar:  June 13th and June 20th.  At the June 13th Council meeting, the Planning Director, Mark Persico, will be discussing the Settlement Agreement.  It will be televised.  June 20th will be a scoping meeting with the consultants doing the EIR (Environmental Impact Report.)  At this meeting all who are interested in this project will be given the opportunity to speak to what they believe should be included in the study of the proposed project.  The EIR will evaluate traffic, noise, soil quality, etc. from the project.  Please attend June 20th if you would like to participate in the beginning of the EIR process on the DWP Property.


Freeway Construction Traffic:
As you know the traffic on Seal Beach Blvd., Studebaker and the surrounding areas is heavily impacted by the freeway construction projects.  Sean Crumby, our Public Works Director is working diligently on getting the signals timed for good traffic flow.  Unfortunately, it seems to be a moving target as the traffic is erratic due to so much freeway traffic being routed onto our streets.  But, Public Works will continue to monitor the situation and are doing the best they can in a difficult situation.


New Red Curbs/Reduced Parking:
In order to facilitate emergency services by Fire Engines to the east side of Old Town, red curbs have been painted at the corners of the north east side of Old Town.  Soon red curbs will be painted at the corners of Dolphin and Marine on the south east side also.  In addition to those red curbs, the new storm drains require red curbing as well.  This has created a loss of parking in areas already hurting from parking shortages.  The city will be holding a public hearing(s) about ways to help ease the parking problems created by the removal of so many parking spaces in these neighborhoods.  I’m aware of the problem and will let you know as soon as I know the date for the public meetings.  In the meantime, if you would talk among your neighbors and be ready to attend the meeting(s) with some ideas to remedy the situation, that would help us work together toward a solution.

New Pier Restrooms:
The Eisenhower Restrooms renovation is now complete.  There is a new ventilation system, new lighting, plumbing fixtures and doors.  And they were given a thorough cleaning.  What an improvement! (Editor’s Note- Whoopee!)

Marina Park Improvements:
Have you been down to Marina Park lately?  The improvements to the Basketball Courts have been completed.  There are now new backboards, improved lighting and resurfaced courts.

City Manager:
The City Council has spent many hours interviewing and working on hiring a new city manager.  We hope to have a city manager in place very soon.  As soon as one is appointed, I’ll send out a special newsletter (and a Tweet.)

This newsletter was authored by Councilmember Ellery Deaton at sealbeachdistrict1@gmail.com.

NEW Navy Radio System May Disrupt your Garage Door Openers?

Seal Beach, Calif. A new radio system operating at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach may interfere with nearby garage door openers in the surrounding community.

Called Enterprise Land Mobile Radio (ELMR), the system is being fielded at most U.S. military installations.  ELMR uses radio frequencies between 380-399.9 megahertz that have long been reserved for use by the Department of Defense, but had been underutilized until now.

Some radio-controlled garage door openers operate, on an unlicensed basis, on these same frequencies.  Such devices operate legally under Part 15 of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules, at very low power, with the requirement that they do not interfere with government communication systems.

Because garage door openers are unlicensed devices, they are not offered any protection from interference by licensed users in the same frequency band, and in fact are required by federal law to accept interference from licensed users.

The Department of Defense was required to move into these underutilized frequency bands to meet its own 21st century communications needs, at the same time that the explosive growth of wireless communications networks has dramatically decreased available free bandwidth.

Base commanding officers do not have the authority to modify their ELMR systems because of local complaints, or to offer compensation to unlicensed users affected by the new system, however, many garage door opener manufacturers offer replacement transmitters and receivers that operate on frequency bands not used by the ELMR system.  Affected homeowners should contact their garage door manufacturer or installer for more information.