Start the Year Strong: Tips for Successful New Year’s Resolutions 

The start of a new year often feels like the perfect time to set personal goals. A clean slate offers an opportunity to reflect on the past and decide what you want to do differently in the months ahead. 

New Year’s resolutions are common, but sticking to them can be challenging. According to U.S. News and World Report, about 80% of resolutions fail. Another study shows only 4% of people follow through. 

(Did you know the second Friday in January is known as “Quitter’s Day?” It marks the day when many people abandon their New Year’s resolutions.)   

Don’t let those numbers discourage you. Resolutions can be valuable because they provide a chance for growth and give you a sense of control over your life. 

While reaching your goals can be difficult, there are steps you can take to stay on track. Resolutions can focus on any area of life — career, relationships, mental health, finances, or learning a new skill. 

If you’re ready to start fresh, here are five tips to make your resolutions successful. For each tip, we’ll use personal fitness as an example. 

image of CHF class

1. Choose a Specific Goal 

Be clear about what you want to accomplish. Specific goals make it easier to create a plan and actionable steps. One way to do this is by answering the “w” questions: 

Next, use the SMART acronym: 

S – Specific 

M – Measurable 

A – Achievable 

R – Relevant 

T – Time-bound 

SMART goals help clarify ideas, focus efforts, and increase your chances of success. 

Example: Instead of saying you want to exercise more, set a SMART goal: “I want to work out at the gym three to four times per week for at least 30 minutes.” 

2. Be Realistic 

Set goals that are practical and attainable. Ask yourself: 

Research shows that when goals feel achievable, motivation increases. 

Example: Instead of aiming to exercise every day, start with three to four times per week. Life can get busy, and realistic goals help you stay consistent. 

3. Track Your Progress 

Documenting progress keeps you focused. Try these methods: 

Example: Track which days you exercised and what activities you completed, such as biking or walking, along with the time spent. 

4. Reward Yourself 

Celebrate every achievement, no matter how small. Rewards reinforce positive behavior and help you stay motivated. Ideas include: 

Create a reward system for milestones. Choose rewards that encourage progress without interfering with your goal. 

Example: Break your goal into monthly milestones. If you meet your exercise goal for April, treat yourself to a movie night. 

5. Find an Accountability Partner 

Sharing your goals with someone can boost commitment. Studies show that telling someone you admire makes you more driven. Look for a partner who: 

Example: If a coworker also wants to be more active, check in weekly to track progress. Hold each other accountable and consider working out together. 

Whatever your goals are this year, they’re not impossible. Be patient, stay positive, and encourage yourself along the way. Leave notes around your home, recite affirmations, or visualize success. 

Here’s to a year of growth and achievement. 

A Holiday Note from our CEO – 2025 edition

For some people, the holidays and the end of the year offer a chance to reflect back on their accomplishments, while for others, it’s a time for optimism and looking ahead to the New Year. At Beach Cities Health District, we’re doing both this December.

Earlier this month, in response to an electrical fire and power outage at the Casa de Los Amigos apartment complex, we dispatched a team of staff and volunteers to assist Casa residents, who had to evacuate their apartments, which had no electricity for five days. This assistance included working with property management and the Redondo Beach Fire Department to identify residents who needed physical assistance to get out of their apartments; helping place residents in hotels while the power was out; and providing meals and groceries to assist residents during their time of need.

I am extremely proud of the way our community stepped up to help their neighbors, with staff and volunteers contributing nearly 200 hours of time, from helping move out of their apartments, bringing meals to them while they were displaced, and ultimately helping residents move back in and providing groceries and gift cards to replace items which spoiled due to the power outage.

I am also grateful for the many donors who contributed $15,530 of monetary and in-kind donations (groceries and other supplies) to assist the Casa residents. It was uplifting to see the community respond to this urgent, unexpected need. The Beach Cities’ compassion and quick response helped alleviate a truly difficult situation for these residents.

I would also like to thank the many community members who continue to give in support of BCHD programs, including allcove Beach Cities, Holiday Gift Bags and the Center for Health & Fitness. Your generosity is helping expand access to youth mental health services, support older adults during the holidays and fund new equipment for our fitness center relocation.

Now looking ahead, there are some great things planned for BCHD in 2026.

We are taking multiple steps forward with the Healthy Living Campus project, beginning with two renovation projects at 510 N. Prospect Avenue, creating a new home for our Center for Health & Fitness (CHF) and bringing a new Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly provider, or PACE. Both of these projects are expected to begin work in the first half of 2026 and be complete by early 2027.

This fall, the BCHD Board of Directors directed staff to move forward with construction of a permanent allcove Beach Cities facility at the corner of Beryl Street and Flagler Lane. Our team is hard at work with planning and taking steps to make the construction as cost effective as possible, to meet the needs of 12–25-year-olds in the South Bay. This construction is expected to begin around midyear. (In related news, allcove Beach Cities is expecting to reach the milestone of 2,000 enrolled young people during the first quarter of 2026!)

Finally, in November the BCHD Board named Mar Ventures and Continental Development Corporation as its preferred development team for the upcoming redevelopment of the former South Bay Hospital site. We are working to prepare a Letter of Intent to initiate discussions for a ground lease agreement with Mar Ventures/Continental, and will report back to the Board with an update at their January 28 meeting.

As we downshift over the holidays, let’s celebrate what we’ve been able to accomplish together and the services we’ve been able to provide for others. Let’s also ready ourselves for the new projects and programs coming our way. 2026 is shaping up to be an impactful year for BCHD!

Best wishes to you and yours during the holidays, and here’s to a happy, safe and productive 2026!

In health,

Tom Bakaly, CEO

Beach Cities Health District

Mar Ventures and Continental Development Corporation tabbed to pursue Ground Lease Partnership with BCHD

Local developer to work with Health District on project to redevelop campus; revenues will support community health programs

Last night (Nov. 19), the Beach Cities Health District Board of Directors named Mar Ventures and Continental Development Corporation as its preferred development team for its upcoming redevelopment of the former South Bay Hospital site. The Board authorized BCHD CEO Tom Bakaly and staff to prepare a Letter of Intent to initiate discussions to pursue a ground lease agreement and report back at the Board’s January 28 meeting with an update on discussions.

El Segundo-based Mar Ventures/Continental was one of three final proposals reviewed by the Board, following initial review by a BCHD consultant and Advisory Working Group comprised of community members, a board member, and BCHD staff.

BCHD plans to utilize a ground lease model, keeping the land publicly owned while partnering with a developer to bring new health-related services to its campus at 514 N. Prospect Ave. in Redondo Beach. This proven approach has successfully generated revenue for BCHD programs and services for 54 years, creating sustainable funding to support health and wellness programs and ensuring the campus continues to serve the community for years to come.

The Mar Ventures/Continental Proposal includes:

Project Notes:

Here are some preliminary details residents should know about the redevelopment proposal submitted by Mar Ventures/Continental for the former South Bay Hospital site:

allcove Beach Cities’ New Location Moving Forward

In other BCHD Campus news from the November Study Session meeting, the allcove Beach Cities permanent location will move forward with plans to build a scaled-down, value-engineered facility at the southwest corner of Beryl Street and Flagler Lane, adjacent to the main BCHD Campus. The Board of Directors is reviewing methods to bridge a roughly $4 million gap in funding, utilizing debt, loans or charitable donations to complete the project.

Chevron Refinery Update & Air Quality Notice: 10.3.2025

A fire occurred last night at the Chevron Refinery in El Segundo. The City of Manhattan Beach issued a shelter-in-place order overnight, which has since been lifted. There is no reported public threat at this time.

Beach Cities Health District (BCHD) relies on air quality data from the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to guide decisions about outdoor activity and operations.

As of 5:00 a.m. Friday, both agencies report that air quality in our area remains in the green or “good” range.

Based on this information, BCHD operations will continue as normal, including:

We are continuing to monitor air quality levels closely and will adjust operations if conditions or guidance changes. The safety of our community and staff remains our top priority. We’ll keep you informed of any updates.

FEMA Approves BCHD’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

Federal approval ensures eligibility for project grants under FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance programs

REDONDO BEACH, California (July 16, 2025) – A Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) created by Beach Cities Health District (BCHD) with extensive feedback from the public has been approved by the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA). The approval ensures BCHD’s eligibility for project grants under FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance programs until June 26, 2030, at which time BCHD will have to submit an updated plan for another five-year period.

FEMA’s action clears the way for BCHD to apply for critical grants through a variety of federal programs, including the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), HMGP Post-Fire, and Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund (STORM RLF).

“This approval demonstrates BCHD’s on-going commitment to hazard mitigation and keeping the public safe,” said BCHD CEO Tom Bakaly, “The District takes seriously its responsibility to identify mitigation goals and actions to reduce and eliminate long-term risk to BCHD property and community members throughout the Beach Cities from the impacts of future hazards and disasters.”

Bakaly said BCHD’s commitment to hazard mitigation is a big part of why the BCHD Board voted to vacate the building at 514 S. Prospect Avenue by 2027.

The 283-page LHMP was borne out of a nearly nine-month effort that began in October, 2024 and included not only professional risk analysis, but an extensive public survey asking local residents about their concerns regarding hazards in the Beach Cities, their personal experiences with these hazards, and thoughts about what mitigation projects BCHD should focus on to make the community more resilient.

Ultimately, the plan aims to identify and reduce the impacts of natural hazards – everything from flooding and wildfires to earthquakes and droughts – that can affect our homes, businesses, and overall safety. It will serve as a guide for decision makers as they commit BCHD resources to minimize the effects of natural hazards. The plan is intended to integrate with existing planning mechanisms such as building and zoning regulations, long-range planning mechanisms, and environmental planning.

“The Local Hazard Mitigation Plan is an important component of keeping our community safe, and provides a perfect opportunity to remind the public to have their own emergency plan that includes preparation of an emergency kit, plans for an evacuation and how they will communicate with friends and family during an emergency,” Bakaly said. “The recent wildfires are a stark reminder that being prepared saves lives.”

BCHD Board Issues Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEOI) for Former South Bay Hospital Redevelopment

Effort Seeks to Find New, Innovative Uses for the Site on the BCHD Campus

As Beach Cities Health District (BCHD) continues advancing its Healthy Living Campus vision, the BCHD Board of Directors has announced that it will release a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEOI) for potential partners to redevelop the former South Bay Hospital Site. At its June 25 meeting, the Board held a public study session regarding the upcoming RFEOI – the first step in soliciting new ideas from potential partners about how to redevelop the site and what kinds of health services could be offered where the former hospital building now stands. That building is slated to be vacated in 2027.

The District’s overarching goal is to find a partner and a plan that aligns with BCHD’s mission and vision to meet the community’s ongoing health and wellness needs. Any redevelopment plan must also create sustainable revenue to support BCHD services, address the seismic safety of the aging former hospital building, and take into account community feedback.

“Over the years, we’ve gathered valuable input from our community, and that feedback will help shape the District’s evaluation of the RFEOI responses,” said BHCD CEO Tom Bakaly. “The document includes guidelines addressing building height, density, and placement to ensure that any future development aligns with community and neighborhood expectations. Our aim is to balance community concerns with innovative possibilities that enhance local access to health-related services.”

Bakaly added that the public feedback the District has received since 2017 includes:

Potential future uses could include Residential Care for the Elderly (RCFE), affordable senior housing, or medical office and wellness services – all options that align with the scope of services BCHD is authorized to provide under California Healthcare District law.

The complete RFEOI document can be found starting June 30 at  www.bchd.org/rfq

“Through this RFEOI process, we hope to spark fresh, forward-thinking proposals that meet local health needs and complement the character of our community,” Bakaly said. “There will be many opportunities for public engagement during the process, and we look forward to working together to address the former Hospital building and shape the future of the Healthy Living Campus and the overall well-being of the Beach Cities.”

The RFEOI will be issued June 30, with responses due by August 7. During the selection process, a BCHD committee will evaluate the submissions, including community engagement opportunities for public input. The committee will then deliver their recommendation(s) to the Board for approval and to determine next steps.

About Beach Cities Health District

Beach Cities Health District (BCHD), named the 2021 “Healthcare District of the Year” by the Association of California Healthcare Districts, is focused on preventive health and serves the communities of Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach, California. Established in 1955 as a public agency, it offers an extensive range of dynamic health and wellness programs, with innovative services and facilities to promote health and prevent diseases across the lifespan. BCHD also operates allcove Beach Cities, a youth mental health center for ages 12-25, AdventurePlex, a health and fitness facility where kids play their way to good health, and the Center for Health & Fitness, a comprehensive fitness center that is one of just two Medical Fitness Association-certified facilities in California. Visit www.bchd.org or call (310) 374-3426 for more information.