November 1, 2024

Manhattan Beach celebrates centennial, disputes upcoming Beach Ball

By Taylor St. Germain
Staff Writer

Manhattan Beach recently paused plans for the “Centennial Beach Ball”, an event that consists of a dance and dinner on the beach, which was originally part of the city’s centennial celebrations.

The city council disapproved of the planned event. The dance was planned for Sept. 22 and would be open to sponsors and donors of the centennial committee.

“I support the city council in denying the idea for the event, as the restrictions on the Centennial Beach Ball would only cause problems for the town,” freshman Charlie Durham said.

The event was rejected because it would have permitted alcohol and performance bands on the beach and would also have been an exclusive celebration.

“The city council came up with plans for a ticketed event on the beach,” Manhattan Beach city councilwoman Amy Howorth said. “The last plan that was put before us was ticketed, allowed alcohol and paid for by sponsors.”

At the moment, the centennial committee is trying to coordinate another event for the city as a whole. The size and expense of the event will depend on the funds that the committee has left.

“Right now, it’s a matter of whether the committee has enough money left to run a different event,” Howorth said. “If they do, it will happen. If not, they will either scale down or take a grant from the city.”

The ball is only one component of the many festivities that Manhattan Beach has offered to celebrate the centennial anniversary. On May 19, Manhattan Beach held a parade starting at Pacific Elementary School and ending at Polliwog Park. Several organizations, including Costa clubs, drove floats in the parade.

“The centennial parade has been inclusive and has allowed the Mira Costa Partners for the Planet Club to have a float in the parade,” Costa Partners for the Planet Club President junior Adam Gerard said. “We were excited to be showcased.”

Manhattan Beach was established in 1912 but was originally split into two divisions, Shore Acres and Manhattan Beach. The two parts were owned by George Peck and John Merrill. When they decided to combine the land into one town, a coin was flipped to decide the name. Merrill’s choice, Manhattan Beach, won, and the name still stands 100 years later.

“I have lived in Manhattan Beach my entire life, and even I have seen it evolve over only 16 years,” Costa freshman Aaron Chelliah said. “I can’t even imagine how much Manhattan Beach has changed over all the hundred years of its existence.”

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