By Jessica Beeli
Staff Writer
From time capsules to clock towers, Leadership Manhattan Beach has made concerted efforts to beautify and enhance the Manhattan Beach community. This year, LMB is aiming to encourage environmental awareness by implementing new state-of-the-art water dispensaries throughout Manhattan Beach.
In Leadership Manhattan Beach, adults and students work together to implement new projects that benefit the Manhattan Beach community. This year, three Costa students are participating in the program: senior Adam Gerard and juniors Maddy Miketa and Sarah Silverman.
“We do a different project with new people every year,” LMB program facilitator Kathleen Terry said. “Some people want to feel more involved in the city and get to know how the city works. Some people want to give back. That’s what those projects do.”
This year, LMB has chosen a project that aims to enhance environmental awareness in Manhattan Beach. LMB plans to replace traditional drinking fountains with state-of-the-art water dispensaries. These new water stations will be multi-dispensary units that include a bottle filler and traditional drinking spout. The goal of this project is to reduce the use of plastic bottles and promote the consumption of tap water.
Some locations where LMB is planning to implement this new water system include the Strand at Manhattan Beach Boulevard, Polliwog Park, Mariposa Pathway on the Greenbelt, the basketball courts at Marine Park and the Manhattan Village field. These new water fountains will include both a bottle filler and a traditional drinking spout. In high dog traffic areas, units will also have a third dog fountain.
“These bottle refilling stations are great environmental investments because they encourage people to use reusable water bottles,” Gerard said “I love that you can just insert the water bottle into the fountain, press the button and it fill right up.”
This year’s group includes 30 adults and five high school students. Both students and adults, while working together on the project, often form connections with other members that are helpful outside of the program and in the business world. High school students themselves are often given a chance to shine with specific jobs within the project.
“I’m on the Environmental Education Committee with Adam Gerard, and it’s our job to inform the selected demographics about why our project is beneficial to the community,” Marymount High School senior Carly Klein said.
Leadership Manhattan Beach graduates a new class every year and accepts applicants from both juniors and seniors in the fall. Candidates submit an application, and a select few are interviewed by LMB alumni. Along with reviewing applicants, program alumni like senior Noelle Claycomb continue to give back to the program.
“As a member of the Board of Directors for LMB, it is my job to connect Costa students with the program,” Claycomb said. “LMB is a great opportunity to get involved and really leave your mark on the city.”
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