Life + Culture

Grassroots on the Greenway

How Jeff Rowe Turned a Simple Cleanup into Five Years of Community Impact. Article by Lesley A. Rollo | Photography by Lesley A. Rollo and Provided On the second Saturday of every month, while many people are easing into their weekend, Redondo Beach resident Jeff Rowe can be found unloading gloves, trash bags, water, snacks, and trash grabbers from the back of his SUV beside the Greenway path in North Redondo Beach. By 9 AM, neighbors arrive. Some stay for two hours. Some stay for 45 minutes...

Sports + Recreation

Poise Under Pressure

From Olympic Gold to Family, Steve Lewis Proves Mindset Goes the Distance. Article by Lesley A. Rollo | Photography by Provided At 19, most people are still discovering who they are. Not Steve Lewis! Steve was becoming one of the best in the world. At the 1988 Seoul Olympics, the UCLA freshman shocked expectations by winning the 400 meters, then added a second gold medal as part of the 4x400-meter relay team. Four years later, after illness and setbacks nearly derailed his career, he returned...

Life + Culture

Built by Hand, Driven by Hustle

How Two 16-Year-Old Friends Turned a Business Class Project into a Growing Business. Article by Lesley A. Rollo | Photography by Provided At a time when many teenagers are figuring out weekend plans, Jack Pascual and Wyatt Andrade are deciding how much product they can produce in a week, which client to follow up with next, and how to turn a backyard shed into something bigger. They are 16-year-old students at Redondo Union High School and proof that ambition does not come with an age...

Arts + Culture

Finding Her Voice

Fitz and the Tantrums’ Noelle Scaggs on Self-love and Expanding Music Industry Access. Article by Lesley A. Rollo | Photography by Provided When Fitz and the Tantrums take the stage at Redondo Beach’s BeachLife Festival on Friday, May 1, co-lead singer Noelle Scaggs returns to a place that feels like home. The band performed at BeachLife in September 2021 when the festival resumed after the pandemic. Though she now lives in Nashville, Southern California holds a strong sense of belonging for...

Life + Culture

Weathering Life with Grace

KTLA Meteorologist Vera Jimenez on Loss, Humility, Faith, and Building a Life She Loves in Redondo Beach. Article by Lesley A. Rollo | Photography by Provided Vera Jimenez lights up a room the way she lights up the set—with energy, warmth, and electricity. The longtime KTLA meteorologist forecasts Southern California weather, but off camera, she embraces challenges, invests time in her community, and moves through life with grace. The youngest of six children, Vera learned early what strength...

Local Services

Women Build The South Bay

Readers Pick Their Favorite South Bay Female Entrepreneurs. Article by Lesley A. Rollo | Photography by Provided Clients, friends, and fellow businesses flooded us with Instagram nominations for inspiring female business owners. While we couldn’t feature every nominee, these women represent the passion and perseverance shaping the South Bay every day. We asked them: What does building something in the South Bay mean to you?   Ali Gold “What building something in the South Bay means to me...

Life + Culture

Love Notes to Moms

Local Middle Schoolers Share Heartfelt Thoughts About the Women Who Shape Their World. Article by Lesley A. Rollo | Photography by Provided For our May “Ladies” issue, we wanted to hear from a group whose perspective on the women in their lives is refreshingly honest: kids. We asked students at Richardson Middle School to anonymously write down one thing they love about their moms. No overthinking, no editing — just a few handwritten words straight from the heart. The responses were sweet...

Finance + Legal Services

Mastering the Long Game

How Vahram “V.” Amayakyan Brings Discipline, Focus, and Commitment to Every Client. Article by Lesley A. Rollo | Photography by Provided Before Vahram Amayakyan—known simply as “V.” to his clients—ever analyzed tax returns or structured complex loans, he learned how to prepare, how to focus, and how to show up—day after day—on a basketball court. “I used to sleep with my basketball,” he said. “It was my escape.” That level of devotion carried him far beyond local gyms. As a player for...

Entertainment

Investing in the Next Generation

How Springfest Empowers Students and Creates Memories that Last for Generations. Article by Lesley A. Rollo | Photography by Joy Daunis Spring has always been a season of renewal, and in Redondo Beach, that renewal arrives each year in the form of Springfest — a carnival that has grown into one of the community’s anticipated traditions. As the primary fundraiser for the North Redondo Beach Business Association (NRBBA), the event blends classic carnival fun with a mission: supporting students...

Finance + Legal Services

Protecting Your Greatest Investment

Managing Estate Planning Up and Down the Family Tree. Article by Lesley A. Rollo | Photography by Provided Estate planning isn’t just about documents — it’s about protecting the people and life you’ve worked hard to build. Estate planning attorney Seth Bier helps families move forward with a clear, compassionate approach. Here’s what everyone should know now to safeguard their future.   REDONDO BEACH CITY LIFESTYLE: Many people delay estate planning. How do you help clients move past that...