Crabgrass Terminator

by Sue Murray, Volunteer Spotlight Writer

Jim Brown's journey from northern Illinois to Southern California began in 1984 when his employer sent him to the South Bay on a temporary two-month assignment. What was initially a short-term project has now turned into 40 years and counting. 

In 2016, two years before Jim retired, his wife, Emi, began volunteering with the Beach Cities Health District (BCHD) as a Garden Angel. Jim would occasionally assist as the "Arnold Schwarzenegger Angel," helping with heavy lifting tasks at local schools. His love for the work and the need for more volunteers made it natural for Jim to join the Garden Angels team after his retirement. 

The holidays can be a difficult and lonely time for isolated older adults and adults with disabilities in our community. However, each holiday season since 1998, friendly BCHD volunteers have delivered gift bags filled with practical and fun items to over 250+ Beach Cities seniors and adults with disabilities in the BCHD Care Management program. 

How to Give 

Donate. This can be done in any amount through a credit card or check. Donate $100 or more by December 1st and you may have your family or organization’s generosity acknowledged on our website, in a local newspaper and in a letter that goes to all gift bag recipients.  

Deliver. Volunteer and deliver cheer to an older adult in the Beach Cities this December. The visits help provide clients with joy, companionship and comfort during the holiday season. Signups open October 31st.  

Visit bchd.org/holidaygiftbags for more information. For questions, connect with our Volunteer Engagement Supervisor, Alejandra Sierra, CVA, call 310-374-3426, ext. 8160 or alejandra.sierra@bchd.org 

In November, BCHD will highlight all the great work and programming taking place from this department as allcove Beach Cities celebrates it second anniversary. Learn more about this program by watching the allcove Beach Cities team present at the October Board of Directors meeting or view the presentation slides. 

allcove Beach Cities Talking Points & Upcoming Events: 

What is allcove Beach Cities? 

• allcove Beach Cities is an integrated youth mental health facility that offers mental health, physical health, substance use, supported education and employment, and peer and family support. 
• Services are open to all youth in the South Bay ages 12 - 25.  
• allcove Beach Cities has generated $9.3 million in grants. This includes a $6.3 million grant from the state for the California Department of Healthcare Services’ Behavioral Continuum Infrastructure program for the development of allcove’s permanent home on BCHD’s campus. 
• allcove continues to work with Stanford University and the state to find long-term solutions to address youth mental health and programmatic sustainability in the allcove program by identifying funding opportunities including grants and insurance billing. 

allcove Beach Cities service: Through September 30, 2024, allcove Beach Cities has: 

• Enrolled 1,010 young people in one of its service streams 
• Had more than 8,785 visits by young people to the center 
• Of those enrolled, 54.7% hail from the Beach Cities and 17.7% come from Torrance 

Join us at the next BCHD Board Meeting, Wednesday, November 20 at 6:30 p.m. 

All volunteers are welcome to attend Board meetings typically held on the 4th Wednesday of each month. 

Get information on upcoming meetings and leave public comments on agendas here: https://www.bchd.org/public-meetings. 

Save Your Public Health Services

Keep Public Institutional Use Levels the Same for the Health District and City - Support a 1.25 FAR

A recent change to the proposed City of Redondo Beach General Plan could significantly reduce BCHD’s programs and services. The Planning Commission has proposed a dramatic reduction in the Floor Area Ratio for select public property, targeting BCHD.  

The programs you use, know and love are under attack, including: 

• The Center for Health & Fitness 
• Social Workers for disabled and older adults 
• allcove Beach Cities – youth wellness center 
• Blue Zones Project 
• LiveWell Kids and BCHD’s numerous other free programs and services

Initially, a 0.75 FAR was considered for BCHD’s campus by the Planning Commission, but it was recently reduced – without being studied – even further to 0.50, while select City of Redondo Beach properties, which have the same land use designation, are allowed a 1.25 FAR.  

Get Involved: YOU can help safeguard & preserve our Programs & Services

Your voice matters! Support a 1.25 FAR and fair treatment from the city and save BCHD's programs:

1) Submit a Comment:

• E-comments may be submitted until 3 p.m. on the day of the City Council meeting (Tuesday at 3 p.m.) Tell the City Council what BCHD Programs and Services mean the most to you. eCOMMENT: Comments may be entered directly on the City's website (when the agenda is posted) at: https://redondo.granicusideas.com/meetings

1. Public comments can be entered before and during the meeting.
2. Select a SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEM to enter your comment;
3. Public will be prompted to Sign-Up to create a free personal account (one-time) and then comments may be added to each Agenda item of interest.
4. Public comments entered into eComment (up to 2200 characters; equal to approximately 3 minutes of oral comments) will become part of the official meeting record. Comments may be read out loud during the meeting.

Click here for City Council Meeting Information.

2) Email the Redondo Beach City Clerk and City Council:

Tell them you support keeping public institutional land uses the same for BCHD and the City with a 1.25 FAR in the General Plan update.

To participate by written communication, EMAILS MUST BE RECEIVED BEFORE 3:00 P.M. THE DAY OF THE MEETING. Public comments may be submitted by email to cityclerk@redondo.org. In addition to emailing the City Clerk, cc: the Mayor and City Council members on your comments:

Mayor Jim Light: james.light@redondo.org

District 1: Council Member Nils Nehrenheim: nils.nehrenheim@redondo.org

District 2: Mayor Pro Tem/Council Member Todd Loewenstein: todd.loewenstein@redondo.org

District 3: Council Member Paige Kaluderovic: paige.kaluderovic@redondo.org

District 4: Council Member Zein Obagi, Jr.: Zein.Obagi@redondo.org

District 5: Council Member Scott Behrendt: scott.behrendt@redondo.org

It is important for Beach Cities Health District to be out in the community sharing our programs and resources to our residents. Share with friends and family and volunteer together! 

Sign-up on the event form to get information about upcoming events. 

A Word From Our Community Partner – South Bay Parkland Conservancy 



If you are interested in volunteering directly with the Conservancy, please check out these opportunities here: South Bay Parkland Conservancy Calendar

Please note that BCHD is not involved with these programs and will not be participating onsite. Should you have any questions please contact the SBPC directly at info@southbayparks.org. 

Interested in volunteering (getting back to it or taking the next step to volunteer) with BCHD? See below for what’s currently available and please stay tuned to our newsletters and website as new opportunities arise! If you are or have been a BCHD volunteer or if you have questions, you’re invited to email us at Volunteers@bchd.org.

Administrative Office Front Desk Volunteer 

Our Admin and Community Services departments are looking for volunteer help including telephone coverage; front desk screening of staff and visitors; periodic disinfection of shared spaces; mail and package distribution; badge making; supplies inventory; assembling marketing packets; assisting with Help Desk Ticket tasks and projects. Must be 18+ and commit to weekly 4-hour shift on a regular basis. Shift needed: Wednesdays, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 

Brain Buddy: Support Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities 

Volunteers (18+) are matched with older adults and/or adults with memory loss and conduct weekly in-home visits to lead structured activities such as art, music, or games, providing socialization and engagement. Weekly 1-1.5-hour shift commitment. 

Center for Health & Fitness Front Desk Volunteer 

Volunteers (18+) will check in and greet members as they arrive at the gym as well as provide additional assistance to front desk staff. Weekly commitment is 2 hours a week. Shifts needed: Tuesday, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.; Sunday, 9 – 11 a.m. 

Conversation Companion: Support Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities 

Volunteers (18+) are matched with older adults and/or adults with disabilities to visit and engage in socialization activities such as life review, watching movies at home or in the theater, playing card or board games, taking walks, going for lunch, etc. Weekly 1-1.5-hour commitment. 

Errand Volunteer: Support Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities  

Errand Volunteers (18+) are matched with one of our Care Management clients and do weekly shopping for basic needs like groceries and prescriptions. Weekly 1-1.5-hour shift commitment for at least 3 months required.   

LiveWell Kids Garden Angel

Volunteers (18+) maintain school gardens in Redondo Beach and Hermosa Beach by weeding, watering, planting and doing other projects on a rotating basis to support programming that promotes healthy eating through hands-on nutrition lessons. This is a physically active role that involves bending, kneeling, light lifting, gardening activities and working outside. Minimum one-year commitment and at least two shifts per month on Monday, Wednesday and/or Friday between 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. 

Volunteer Hours



We appreciate all the commitment of our community to help others in 2023. We are grateful for the 26,520.87 reported hours of BCHD volunteer service in 2023. This number includes groceries shopped for, prescriptions picked up, calls made, visits to our older adult clients, Center for Health & Fitness front desk check ins, committees met, administrative support, intern projects, gardens kept, allcove support and more. Thank you all!

January: 2,945.13 

February: 2,418.82 

March: 2,551.08 

April: 2,028.23 

May: 2,299.75 

June: 2,285.00 

July: 3,207.50 

August: 2,556.60 

September: 2,192.92



Total: 22,597.45

Volunteer Anniversaries 

Thank you to these fabulous volunteers for their years of service! We’re so fortunate to have volunteers who are so committed to making this a healthy beach community! Congrats on your anniversary!  

October

Claudia Lindwall, 22 

Andrea Hughes, 15 

Carolyn Jurk,14 

Don Luke, 9 

Debbie Martin, 6 

April Diedrich, 5 

Linnea Bucher, 3 

Heidi Barnett, 2 

Patricia Bellas, 2 

Colleen O'Neill, 2 

Kimiko Fujisaki, 2 

Mark Korsmo, 2 

Paula Steinhoff, 2 

Leslie Whittet, 1 

Tricia Lee, 1 

*Official years of service in BCHD system.

Mindfulness Connections Wellness Workshops 



Mindful Connections is the go-to place for you to gain valuable insight and practical tools to help shift your mindset and improve your quality of life. Workshops will cover topics such as taking control of stress, goals, physical health and more.  

By completing this registration form once, you are welcome to attend one or multiple sessions. We ask that all participants be age 18 and older to receive services at South Bay Adult School. Once registered, you will receive email reminders for each session. 

This 7-week series starts will take place every Tuesday from 12 – 1:30 p.m. through November 12 with a different topic each week:

Self-Care, Gratitude and Mindfulness (Nov. 5)

Zumba Fitness Class and Celebration (Nov. 12)

South Bay Adult School 

3401 Inglewood Avenue, 

Redondo Beach, CA 90278 

Room 10 and adjacent patio 

Sessions will not be available online or recorded. 

Social Hour with BCHD Care Manager

Charlotte Barnett 

If you have a question regarding community resources, want to learn more about Beach Cities Health District or share and learn ways to keep busy, please join us! These meetings are for all, a place to connect and feel heard. 

First & Third Tuesday of the Month, Virtual 

(November 5 & 19) 

10 – 11 a.m. 

Zoom link: https://bchd-org.zoom.us/j/87651635014  

2nd Mondays, In person  

(November 11) 

2 – 3 p.m.  

Manhattan Beach Joslyn Center, Sunset Room  

1601 N Valley Dr., Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

Virtual Mindfulness Drop-In

Take 30 minutes to downshift and practice mindfulness techniques. The guided session will be led by a trained Beach Cities Health District instructor.



First Wednesday of the Month

(November 6)

4 – 4:30 p.m.

Moai Social Events: Plant & Potluck

Join South Bay Parkland Conservancy and BCHD in maintaining, watering and weeding at the park. Gloves and tools are provided, but volunteers are welcome to bring their own.

Afterward, we will have a vegetarian potluck where you can chat and share your favorite healthy recipes with other volunteers. We recommend bringing a dish that does not need to be refrigerated and comes in a reusable container to reduce waste. Reusable serving utensils will be provided for attendees in addition to compostable utensils and plates.

Tuesday, November 19

10 a.m. - 1p.m.

Hopkins Wilderness Park

1103 Camino Real

Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Hybrid Board of Directors Meeting 

Residents are encouraged to attend BCHD Board Meetings either via Zoom or at 514 N. Prospect Avenue. Details about the meeting and agenda can be found online. Residents are encouraged to attend board meetings and may also contact board members directly with questions or comments.    

Wednesday, November 20

5:00 p.m. 

Beach Cities Health District 

514 N. Prospect Ave. 

Redondo Beach, CA 

Lower Level, Beach Cities Room 

Screenagers: Elementary School Edition 

Join us for a free movie screening of “Screenagers: Elementary School Age Edition.” The new version of the original Screenagers movie addresses issues that elementary school-aged kids, parents and educators are facing – smartwatches in class, unhooking from and monitoring video gaming, social media pressures and exposure too young. This screening and discussion are intended for parents and caregivers to learn about existing research around these topics and potential solutions to these and other challenges in order to address and support mental well-being in the digital age. South Bay parents and caregivers are welcome to attend any event date. Free childcare offered by Adventure Plex staff (for children able to use the restroom independently). Find more information on the registration form. More showings will be offered throughout the 2024-25 school year. 

Tuesday, February 4, 2025, 5:30-7 p.m.

Lincoln Elementary School

2223 Plant Ave., Redondo Beach

Monday, February 10, 2025, 5:30-7 p.m.

Beryl Heights Elementary School

920 Beryl St., Redondo Beach

Monday, March 3, 2025, 5:30-7 p.m.

Jefferson Elementary School

600 Harkness Ln., Redondo Beach