International Surfing Day – 2019
An Epic Day to Share the Stoke!
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
From the littlest groms to the most seasoned surfers, the Surfrider tribe came together on International Surfing Day to celebrate the ocean and the sport they love.
In Huntington Beach Tony Soriano was front and center making sure that all went well and everyone had a great time.
Haus of Show kept the good vibes going with yoga on the beach.
There were surf and eco-minded exhibitors of all kinds.
Long-time sponsor Volcom shared the stoke and Derek Sabori told how they ethically source materials.
The LA Video Drone soared high above the crowd.
Surfers morphed into mermaids.
And everyone pitched in to clean the beach…making it beautiful.
Like Tree in Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree story, the Beach gives us everything and now this was a day to give back to the Beach and to celebrate surfing.
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Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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Cowabunga!
Surfrider Celebrates International Surfing Day!
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Surfrider Foundation chapters around the world are heading to the beach on June 15th to celebrate surfing – the sport of Hawaiian kings.
With up to 200 events in more than 30 countries, it’s a day to honor the beach and share the stoke.
Meet with friends, catch some waves, clean the beach and give thanks for this sport that offers so much joy.
When British explorer Captain James Cook arrived in Hawaii in 1778 and saw a Pacific Islander surfing he was captivated by the sight.
Cook wrote in his journal: “I could not help concluding this man had the most supreme pleasure while he was driven so fast and smoothly by the sea.”
So, join the ISD celebration, get on board and enjoy the ride.
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Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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Hands Across the Sand
Event Promotes Clean Beaches
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Surfrider Foundation chapters across the U.S. are gearing up for the annual Hands Across the Sand event May 18, 2019.
Started in 2009 by Surfrider member Dave Rauschkolb, the event brings people together to oppose new offshore drilling and fossil fuel development and to promote clean energy.
Among the organizations involved are Oceana, Healthy Gulf, SoWal Beaches, Earth Ethics, and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.
At 12 p.m. local time participants at beaches and parks around the world will join hands for 15 minutes to demonstrate their support for protecting our coasts and finding new energy solutions.
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Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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Ohana Day – Celebrate Mother Earth!
Family, Friends, Fun & the Future
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
The Surfrider Foundation’s Ohana Day, April 13th, is a Hawaiian-themed celebration of family and Mother Earth that brings people together with beach activities and environmental education.
It’s a day to have fun, learn about the ocean, take a surfing lesson, help clean the beach, listen to music and more. It’s also a time to get the next generation on board to respect and safeguard the environment so we can all work together toward a better future.
That’s happening now with the Surfrider Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter’s new alliance with students from the Talbert Middle School Surfrider Club.
H/SB chapter advisory board director Tony Soriano and education chairman KC Fockler praised the students’ efforts. Fockler said he’s excited about their “passion about being stewards of the ocean.”
Amy Trimm, the club’s advisor, adds that it’s “taking on a variety of projects that would make anyone proud.” In addition to helping with beach cleanups, the students are developing presentations for K-5 students about protecting the environment and are reaching out to restaurants to utilize Ocean Friendly food practices that reduce plastic pollution.
SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel are excited about everything the students are doing, too, and the power of Ohana to make the world a better place.
The word “Ohana” comes from the Hawaiian word for taro plant (oha), the Hawaiian staple of life. In Hawaiian lore it’s believed that, like the plant, we are all connected to a common bulb with shoots sprouting out to create a universal family.
Now, with the addition of the Talbert Middle School Surfrider Club, that family is stronger than ever!
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Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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Boise State Broncos On Board!
Students Help Surfrider Clean Seal Beach
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
The Surfrider Foundation Huntington/Seal Beach chapter was excited to welcome the Boise State Broncos on board for a special beach cleanup in Seal Beach, March 19th.
Twenty Boise State University students came all the way from Idaho – some 900 miles – to enjoy the SoCal sunshine and help clean the beach. Tony Soriano, the H/SB Chapter Coordinator, said, “It was the farthest distance any group has come to join in a cleanup.”
Living up to the school’s motto “You don’t just go to Boise State. You begin an Adventure,” the students fanned out over the beach collecting 379.5 lbs. of trash.
One student alone, Kimberlynn Mumma, picked up 60 lbs. – winning a skateboard as a prize!
The energetic volunteers “learned a lot from the experience,” said Soriano, adding that they were part of Boise State’s TRIO Upward Bound program from Borah and Capital high schools and were all interested in environmentalism and sustainability.
And, thanks to their efforts, the beach was clean again…bringing the students one step closer on their journey to change the world.
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Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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Protecting CA’s Santa Ana River Basin
CSUSB and Surfrider Join Forces
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Surfrider Foundation Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter members Tony Soriano and Pam Conti were featured speakers at California State University, San Bernardino’s Snow to Sea event in February discussing stewardship of the Santa Ana River Basin.
The Santa Ana River Basin, which stretches from the San Bernardino Mountains through the Inland Empire and Orange County to the Pacific Ocean in Huntington Beach, is the largest and most populated river basin in Southern California. Covering 210 sq. miles, it crosses a diverse landscape from Alpine forests to semi-arid deserts and has an impact on agricultural, urban and recreational properties.
Calling on students, faculty and the community to become environmental stewards of the river, the event’s goal was to educate, energize and engage people in learning about the numerous opportunities to experience and protect the unique resources of the river basin.
It was also an opportunity for the university to showcase the effectiveness of utilizing an interdisciplinary approach that draws on everyone’s skills to enhance the river basin and make good use of its environmental resources.
Conti, the H/SB Chapter’s education and Blue Water Task Force chair, has an up-close view of the Santa Ana River where it empties into the sea. To measure pollutants in the ocean, she developed a program for her fifth grade students at the Pegasus School to conduct water testing as part of the curriculum.
Soriano, the director of the H/SB Chapter’s advisory board, helps organize weekly beach clean-ups in Huntington and Seal Beach and works with organizations and the community to build awareness of the need to safeguard our waterways and oceans – from the mountains to the sea.
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Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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Last Cleanup of the Year!
Surfrider and Costa Clean the Beach
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Surfrider’s Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter came together on Saturday, December 8, for one last beach cleanup in 2018.
With sponsor sunglass company Costa del Mar on board, the cleanup capped an amazing year of beach cleanups with 260 volunteers collecting 501 lbs. of trash.
Costa, who’s celebrating its 35th anniversary, is a member of the Surfrider Foundation’s Coastal Defender’s program, a collection of leaders who have aligned to strengthen Surfrider’s mission to protect and enjoy our oceans, waves and beaches.
In addition to removing trash from the beach, the year-end cleanup was a fun-filled day for everyone and a chance to educate the community about the need to keep the environment clean.
Working together to get rid of pollution is critical for us and for Planet Earth.
Let’s make a New Year’s resolution to: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
That’s the purrfect solution so we all can enjoy clean beaches!
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Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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Surfrider’s Ocean Friendly Garden
Blooms At Shorebreak Hotel
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Surfrider’s Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter dropped by the Kimpton Shorebreak Hotel this fall – not to check in, but to plant an Ocean Friendly Garden (OFG).
In addition to being beautiful and adding to the hotel’s beach vibe, the garden focuses on three principles to protect the environment: Conservation, Permeability, and Retention.
Utilizing low-maintenance, drought-resistant plants, it conserves natural resources and guards against irrigation runoff, keeping pollutants out of our waterways and oceans.
The Shorebreak – a surf-inspired Huntington Beach resort that’s one of Condé Nast Traveler‘s top ten Southern California hotels – prides itself on being eco-friendly. Utilizing sustainable practices, it uses nontoxic cleaning supplies, extensively recycles, and minimizes its water consumption.
SurfWriter Girls Sunny and Patti are excited about the hotel’s new garden and what the Surfrider volunteers and partner SiteOne Landscape Supplies did to bring it to life.
With its coastal feel, open-air patio with firepits, and beach-chic dining, The Shorebreak is the perfect spot for an Ocean Friendly Garden to bloom.
Thanks to Surfrider and LA Video Drone for photos!
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Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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Celebrating Tony and Ben!
A Surfrider Salute During Surfing Open!
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
The Surfrider Foundation’s Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter had a lot to celebrate during this year’s Vans US Open of Surfing.
Tony Soriano was honored for his 12-years of service as the chapter’s chair, working to keep our oceans, waves and beaches clean.
Surfing is in Tony’s DNA and he loves the challenge and the thrill of it. “Surfing isn’t a team sport. It’s you against nature,” he explained to SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel. He joined the Surfrider Foundation to help clean up the environment and to educate others about the need to protect it.
The chapter thanked Tony with a big splash at a pool party on the first day of the Open.
At the same time, chapter member Duke Aipa’s father – legendary Hawaiian boardshaper Ben Aipa – made headlines for two prestigious awards: his induction into the Surfing Walk of Fame and Surfers’ Hall of Fame.
Ben, a former professional surfer who was mentored by Duke Kahanamoku and is known for his innovative swallow tail surfboards, has coached many top surfers. He took up surfing at the age of 23 and says that it “forever changed my life.”
The Open does more than focus on world class competition. It focuses on the things that bring us together and the people who are making a difference in the sport of surfing and the ocean environment.
In this week of awards and honors in Surf City USA, it was exciting to see the recognition Tony and Ben received!
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Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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International Surfing Day – June 16, 2018
Surfing, Summer Solstice, New Sponsor and More!
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug & Patti Kishel
The Surfrider Foundation’s Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter is excited to celebrate International Surfing Day and the Summer Solstice all in one while welcoming a new eco-minded sponsor on board – Yachak Organic, maker of Yerba Mate beverages.
So mark your calendar and join in the festivities at the Huntington Beach Pier from 8 – 1 pm! It’s a tri-chapter event with Newport and Long Beach and everyone’s welcome. There will be lots to celebrate as surfers come together to share in the joy of this sport of Hawaiian kings and give back to our oceans and beaches.
“There will be paddle-outs, surfing lessons, SUP demos, yoga on the beach, surf industry displays, beach cleanups, and music,” says Duke Aipa, the H/SB Chapter’s Surf Ambassador.
An annual event started in 2005 by the nonprofit Surfrider Foundation and Surfing magazine, there are now ISD events around the world.
“Surfrider’s H/SB Chapter is in good company this year with ISD Title Sponsor Yachak Organic because they share the same commitment to protect and give back to the environment,” says Chapter Chair Tony Soriano.
SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel learned that Yachak is the name the indigenous Kichwa people of the Sarayaku in the Ecuadorian Amazon give to their Shamans in honor of “the one who knows.”
Like the Shamans, Yachak Organic upholds high standards. Its Yerba Mate products are certified Fair Trade through the Fair for Life Organization. Its supply chain ingredients include Fair Trade Organic Yerba Mate and FTO sugar from Brazil and contribute to over 3,000 Fair Trade jobs in local communities. Plus Yachak Organic products are certified Non-GMO by the “Non GMO Project”, certified Kosher through the Orthodox Union, and are Gluten-Free and Vegan.
Yachak Organic is glad to be part of Surfrider’s family and able to share the stoke on ISD. It says, “As a new company our goal is to protect endangered species and the environment. Yachak Organic proudly supports the Surfrider Foundation, Mali Elephant Project, Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, Save the Elephants, Orangutan Project and the Orangutan Conservancy.”
With a whole host of other sponsors out in force for ISD, as well – including longtime supporters Vans, Volcom, Kind, Rubio’s, Chick-fil-A, and more – it’s sure to be a sunny day!
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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Reduce Reuse Recycle Surf Off
Event Promotes Clean Oceans!
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Surfrider Foundation Huntington/Seal Beach member Seth Matson does more than focus on keeping his local beaches clean. Through the non-profit Drains to Ocean organization he started he works on getting litter and pollution out of the waterways that lead to the ocean.
To help build awareness of upstream pollution, Matson and former pro surfer Jeff Deffenbaugh teamed up to host this year’s Drains to Ocean eco-friendly Reduce Reuse Recycle Surf Off event in Huntington Beach on May 19th to promote clean waterways and beaches.
One of the key ways to get pollution out of the ocean is to “stop it at its source,” says Matson, noting that the major cause of ocean and beach pollution is from upstream water runoff bringing discarded trash.
SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel have seen first hand how hard Matson works keeping our beaches clean. It’s a big job. Every time someone throws a wrapper, cigarette butt or other trash on the ground it ends up somewhere…often at the beach.
Eight million pieces of trash enter the ocean everyday. Cigarette butts are the number one item. Worldwide over 4 1/2 trillion cigarette butts are littered each year, many of them ending up in the sea.
With its grassroots network of volunteers, Drains to Ocean is helping to reduce the level of pollution in our rivers, lakes and oceans and to protect the environment for everyone to enjoy.
The organization’s annual RRR Surf Off brings family and friends together for a day of surfing contests, beach cleanup, educational activities, awards ceremony, art show and more.
This year’s surfing finalists got a free pair of Vans shoes and the winners got unique trophies – artwork collages made from recycled materials found on the beach.
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Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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Help Your Harbor!
Surfrider Fights Inland Pollution
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Surfrider’s Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter members do more than keep the beaches clean. They’ve taken their cleanup efforts upstream to Huntington Harbour.
Under the direction of Help Your Harbor chair Shane Coons, shown here with Councilwoman Jill Hardy, volunteers are cleaning Huntington Harbour.
They are also raising awareness about the link between pollution in inland waterways and ocean and beach pollution that comes from water runoff. Most ocean pollution begins on land and flows to the sea.
Exchanging surfboards for kayaks, volunteers can be seen on the first Sunday of every month removing trash from the harbor and talking to locals about the need to properly dispose of waste and use biodegradable materials that don’t harm the environment.
In February action sports company VANS and Surfrider joined forces to clean the harbor – removing 68 lbs. of trash!
Together they made the harbor look beautiful and helped protect crucial ecosystems – a win/win for everyone!
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Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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Surfrider Rings in the Holidays!
Tri-Chapter Party Celebrates the Season
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Surfers from Long Beach to Newport Beach were on board for Surfrider’s annual Tri-Chapter Holiday Party at Campus JAX restaurant in Newport Beach.
With Newport Beach hosting the event, chapter chair Darrel Ferguson greeted everyone who walked in the door. Heidi Schaible (Long Beach chair) joined in.
And Tony Soriano (Huntington/Seal Beach chair) helped keep the festivities going.
There were stories to share and updates on all the year’s events and achievements.
Campus JAX was the perfect place to ring in the holidays.
It’s Newport Beach’s first certified Ocean Friendly Restaurant.
That definitely added to to the holiday cheer!
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Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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Surfrider Presents Insider Look At Sharks In SoCal
An Epic Evening With Dr. Chris Lowe
Sharks are becoming more ever-present at SoCal beaches. To find out more about this phenomenon, Surfrider invited Dr. Chris Lowe of the CSU, Long Beach, Shark Lab to address October’s tri-chapter meeting of the Huntington/Seal Beach, Long Beach and Newport Beach chapters.
Dr. Lowe is just the one to explain and discuss all things shark.
He and his team of students have been monitoring and tagging Great White Sharks with high-tech transmitters and receivers since the early 2000s and observing shark behavior up and down California’s coast from Ventura to San Diego County.
Studying their migratory patterns, Dr. Lowe has seen firsthand what many people are talking about – the influx of juvenile sharks into SoCal waters. Attracted by warmer waters and an abundant food source, these “beach babies” appear to have no desire to leave the cradle.
Everyone gathered for Dr. Lowe’s talk was eager to learn more about these giant sea creatures that both intimidate and fill us with wonder.
As the meeting began, SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel could feel the anticipation and excitement in the room.
Sharing scientific data, personal experiences and photos, Dr. Lowe took the audience into the shark’s world and showed the role that sharks play in ocean ecosystems.
As Dr. Lowe pointed out, sharks – as apex predators – help to maintain a necessary balance among different types of sea life. One of the reasons we’re seeing more of them is because of the healthiness of California’s coastline, which creates a desirable environment for them.
Rather than being afraid of sharks, he emphasized the importance of being educated about them and gaining an understanding and appreciation of them.
With more beach babies to come, the more we know about sharks the better we can prepare for their arrival.
Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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International Surfing Day 2017
An Epic Day to Celebrate Surfing
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Surfers around the world were up with the sun to ride the waves, clean the beaches and celebrate the Summer Solstice (June 20).
In Huntington Beach, CA (Surf City USA) Surfrider Foundation members were excited to share the stoke and get the community on board to protect the oceans, waves and beaches.
Family, friends, environmental groups, surf industry leaders and more came together to enjoy the summer vibes.
The kids were excited, too, to hear Joel Harper read from his books All the Way to the Ocean and Sea Change, which both tell about the need to protect the ocean and marine sea life.
SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel could feel the energy all around us.
You couldn’t ask for a more purrfect day for ISD. It was out of this world.
Definitely the cat’s meow!
To see more about ISD & its Guinness World Record, click: ISD Guinness
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Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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Ohana Day – 2017
Surfrider Enjoys Wave of Aloha Spirit!
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug & Patti Kishel
Sounds of Hawaiian music could be heard coming from the beach in Seal Beach, CA on Saturday April 15th as everyone came out to join in the Surfrider Foundation’s annual Ohana (Family) Day celebration hosted by Surfrider’s Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter and Kohl’s.
Surfrider members were out in force, organizing beach cleanups and leading the kids in educational and hands-on activities to learn more about the ocean and how to protect the environment.
There was so much to see and do.
Cotton candy to eat and waves to catch.
SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel always love this fun-filled day that celebrates family and friends and Mother Earth.
The Three Amigos!
The beauty of ohana is that it doesn’t just last for a day. It lasts a lifetime
To see the complete story about Surfrider’s Ohana Day celebration, click: Ohana Day
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Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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Surfrider Builds Wave of Support Around the World!
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
The non-profit Surfrider Foundation is protecting the world’s oceans, waves and beaches with a grassroots network that circles the globe.
Working with members, volunteers, partners and sponsors, Surfrider is turning the tide on environmental pollution and safeguarding our natural resources for generations to come and for all to enjoy.
From cleaning up beaches and protecting sea life to educating the public on ways to reduce, reuse and recycle, Surfrider is making our coastal communities better.
2016 marked a decade of accomplishment – 400 environmental victories!
SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel can’t wait to see what’s next. It’s amazing what you can do when everyone’s on board!
To see more about Surfrider’s victories, click on: 400
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Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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Coastal Cleanup Day – 2016
Surfrider Foundation Cleans Up!
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Volunteers around the globe participated in the non-profit Ocean Conservancy’s annual International Coastal Cleanup Day, Saturday, September 17.
The Surfrider Foundation joined with other environmental and community groups to pick up trash and help to make the beaches clean.
In Surf City, 308 volunteers in Huntington Beach collected almost 400 lbs. of trash, including bottle caps and straws, single-use plastic bags, discarded children’s toys…
and more than 7,000 cigarette butts.
By the end of the day, the beach was sparkling and picture-perfect beautiful!
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Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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Kids Stoked at Stoke-O-Rama!
Surfrider Helps at Event for Young Surfers
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Just as Vans US Open of Surfing 2016 was getting started in Huntington Beach, north of the pier another surfing event (July 23) was attracting a crowd – Stoke-O-Rama, the fun surfing competition for groms ages 12 and under.
Created by the Gudauskas brothers – pro-surfers Dane, Tanner and Pat – and sponsored by Vans, the event, which is more about camaraderie than competition, aims to give young surfers the kind of support and friendly rivalry that the three brothers had among themselves growing up.
Getting kids involved in surfing is something the Surfrider Foundation does, too. So, when Jenny Lamott, Vans Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility, called for volunteers to assist at the event Surfrider’s Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter Chairperson Tony Soriano got the chapter to lend a hand.
Duke Aipa, H/SB Chapter Surf Ambassador, was especially excited to help out because he wants to get kids stoked about surfing and helping to protect the environment. Recently he launched Surfrider’s SR-F program to reach out to kids.
This is essential, agrees Soriano.”They are the future of our surfing community, the Surfrider Foundation…and the ocean is theirs.”
Since starting Stoke-O-Rama four years ago, the Gudauskas brothers have held events at their home surf break San Clemente, Hawaii, Canada and now Surf City. They also started the Positive Vibes Warriors Foundation related to it that raises money from sponsors to go toward youth water safety programs and ocean education in local communities.
Talking about being in Surf City during the USOS, Dane Gudauskas said, “We couldn’t be happier to be hosting a Stoke-O-Rama in Huntington Beach. Having grown up just down the road, we always loved coming up to Huntington and surfing with the local crew.”
Tanner adds, “I love seeing the kids high-fiving each other, cheering each other on and making new friends.”
With the Gudauskas brothers, Vans, Surfrider, sponsors and more all pitching in, now even the youngest surfers have a cheering section just for them.
Some photos courtesy of Alex Soriano, Surfrider and Vans
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Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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Cool Vibes at Huntington Beach
International Surfing Day 2016
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
While inland Orange County was sweltering hot, the 70 degree temperatures in Huntington Beach made it the perfect place to chill and enjoy this year’s International Surfing Day – an annual event that celebrates the great sport of surfing and marks the beginning of the summer solstice.
The non-profit Surfrider Foundation, which is dedicated to protecting the world’s oceans, waves and beaches, pulled out all the stops with a tri-chapter ISD event hosted by the Huntington/Seal Beach, Long Beach and Newport Beach chapters.
With the cool sounds of Erik Innes of DJ StreetGroove playing, Surfrider volunteers and beachgoers checked out educational displays, surf industry booths, participated in beach cleanups, and more.
Tony Soriano, H/SB Chapter Chairman, said, “448 volunteers picked up 562 lbs. of trash! It was a great day at the beach with clear skies.”
For some of the exhibitors it was their first ISD. Joey Carrillo, the owner of Oceanside-based Life’s Rad, had his family with him to showcase their “California vibe” T-shirts.
Roland Verdugo, at local business Quivers, was eager to explain its unique subscription program that lets members test and/or rent surfboards.
Slyde, the handboard company that wowed the investors on TV’s Shark Tank, was back at ISD for the third time.
Co-owner Angela Watts said, “Working with the sharks is like a dream. Everything has been non-stop since the show.” She emphasized that “no matter how busy it gets, though, it’s important to stay involved in the community.”
The Long Beach Kettlebell Club demonstrated building upper body strength with their kettlebell weights and passersby gave it a try.
Seth Matson, of the non-profit Drains to Ocean, asked people to take the pledge to cut back on water usage.
There were Cabo Chips and Kind Bars to munch.
Manuel Florence, the owner of Brewbakers, had their latest beverages on display and…
High Brew gave out iced coffee to drink.
Marivon Messina told SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel “The coffee tastes like a dessert and is only 60 calories or less. The cold-brewing method makes it less bitter and less acidic.”
LA Video Drone provided a bird’s eye view of the action.
Throughout the day, Surfrider volunteers were busy educating the kids about the need to protect the environment and to keep trash and cigarettes off the beach.
Everyone was stoked because the beach was clean and ISD means summer is here!
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Surfrider Shares Ohana Day Spirit
April 16, 2016
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
The sounds of laughter and Polynesian music filled the air in Seal Beach on Saturday for the 9th Annual Ohana “Family” Day celebration hosted by the Surfrider Foundation Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter and Kohl’s department stores.
Eric with DJ Street Groove, “John “Kiki” Pal and his Hawaiian Steel Guitar, and Tommy Twang Acoustic Guitar kept the good vibes going.
And the dancers from Mahana Polynesian Entertainment really knew how to shake things up.
Surfrider members got the kids involved in marine biology and the environment and led beach cleanups.
All in all, 295 volunteers picked up some 320 lbs of trash, leaving the beach a pristine blanket of sand.
Eco-friendly vendors and organizations set up booths on the sand…
and did demos and gave away samples.
Frank Dubbs emceed the festivities while Surfrider’s Gina Maslach handed out the raffle prizes.
Beach-goers surfed, swam, played on the sand, relaxed, talked and laughed.
And everyone basked in the warmth of the 84 degree temperatures and ohana spirit – on a special day where strangers became friends and friends became family.
Thanks to Tony and Alex Soriano for their photo contributions
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Cigarette Butts No Match for Alex & Norma Sellers!
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Surfrider members Alex and Norma Sellers could paddle out early on weekends to catch some waves, go out to lunch or a movie, or just relax. But, instead they are out in the Huntington Beach community removing cigarette butts from the beach and streets.
To get to know the husband and wife team better and why they are part of Surfrider’s activist volunteer network, check out these personal photos they shared with SurfWriter Girls.
In talking to Alex and Norma, it’s clear that they are passionate about getting trash off the beach…no ifs, ands or butts!
You can see more about the Sellers and what they are accomplishing to keep our beaches clean. Just click on the story in SurfWriter Girls.
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Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
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Snake, Rattle and Roll!
Surfrider Volunteers Find Rare Snake on OC Beach
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
You never know what you’re going to find washed up on the shore at a beach cleanup.
Surfrider Foundation volunteers definitely weren’t expecting to find a highly-venomous, Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake, rarely seen in California, at their December 12th cleanup at Bolsa Chica State Beach.
Surfrider’s Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter Chairperson Tony Soriano put the dead snake in a Ziplok bag and stored it in his refrigerator at home for safe-keeping. Then he contacted the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County to find out more.
Before long the museum’s Curator of Reptiles and Amphibians, Gregory Pauly, was examining the snake, which he declared “an extremely important and rare find.”
The snake typically lives in warmer, southern waters off the coasts of Mexico, Africa, Asia and Australia. But, Pauly theorized that the snake’s appearance in the OC could be a predictor of California’s coming El Nino storm cycle that results from warmer ocean waters.
In talking to Pauly, Soriano said he found out,”this is only the third documented record of a Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake washing ashore in California.”
On this historic day Soriano calculated the beach cleanup resulted in:
275 – volunteers (98 students from LA Serena H.S.)
306.57 lbs – trash picked up
20 lbs – Styrofoam collected
1 – Sea Snake
Quite a haul…and a day for the record books!
For more on El Nino storms, see Surf’n Beach Scene Magazine’s Home Page.
Photos and Video courtesy of Tony Soriano and LA Video Drone.
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Ocean Friendly Garden Blooms at SoCAL Edison
Huntington Beach OFG is OMG!
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
The world’s biggest Ocean Friendly Garden is blooming in Huntington Beach.
Southern California Edison’s Huntington Beach Substation just unveiled its new Ocean Friendly Garden – an eco-friendly garden developed with the help of the Surfrider Foundation Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter – that is the largest OFG in the world.
Greg Goran, the H/SB Chapter’s OFG expert, and Chapter Vice Chairperson Jeff Coffman encouraged SCE to replace over 36,500 sg. ft. of turf with drought-tolerant plants that require only minimal water, fertilizers or pesticides.
This not only saves water, but keeps toxic water runoff from entering our waterways and polluting the ocean. “Urban runoff (from residential and commercial landscapes) is the #1 source of ocean pollution and the primary reason our water is so much dirtier now,” Goran explains, excited about being able to help make SoCal’s beaches cleaner.
SCE couldn’t have done it alone. As they say, “It takes a village.” And that was true here with SCE, Surfrider and local businesses, organizations and community volunteers all donating time, money and supplies to turn the substation’s grounds into a thing of beauty.
Viewing their handiwork at the official ribbon-cutting this week, everyone marveled at the transformation that had taken place.
SCE also added permeable (porous) surfaces to the garden that allow water to sink into the ground so that it isn’t wasted. This will enable SCE to save some 1.6 million gallons of water annually that would have been needed for irrigation. And for when the amount of rainwater isn’t enough, they installed a smart irrigation system that utilizes satellite technology to track moisture levels and provide water as needed.
Now, instead of a dull expanse of mottled green turf, the area around the substation is vibrant and alive with wild grasses, succulents, trees and shrubs, rock configurations, and more.
It is definitely an OFG to make you say, “OMG!”
Photos courtesy of SCE and Tony Soriano
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Volcom Supports Surfrider’s Mission
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
The Surfrider Foundation Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter has had a long relationship with action sportswear company Volcom, who support’s its mission of protecting the world’s oceans, waves and beaches.
Volcom, which specializes in surf, skate and snow merchandise, emphasizes eco-friendly, Green Marketing methods in its core practices.
Derek Sabori, Volcom’s Vice President of Sustainability, believes in hands-on community involvement, which includes sponsoring local beach cleanups and helping out at environmental events.
SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel had the opportunity to meet Sabori at Volcom’s headquarters in Costa Mesa and saw firsthand how the company is reducing its carbon footprint in the products it makes and its operations.
Surfrider’s H/SB Chapter Chair Tony Soriano is grateful for all the help Volcom has given it throughout the years, its sponsorship of the Chapter’s beach cleanups, and continuing efforts to promote sustainability.
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Barefoot Wine and Surfrider
A Toast to the Coast!
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Barefoot Wine and the Surfrider Foundation Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter joined forces this summer for a beach cleanup and wine party in Huntington Beach.
Chapter Chairperson Tony Soriano said that more than 450 volunteers showed up during the morning and removed close to 500 lbs. of trash from the beach.
Afterward, Surfrider volunteers enjoyed wine and appetizers provided by host Barefoot Wine at the Huntington Beach surfing-themed Shorebreak Hotel.
The event was part of the Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue Project – a community-based program started in 2007 to clean up the nation’s coastal areas.
Barefoot Wine and Surfrider are working together to clean and restore America’s beaches, lakes and rivers to keep them “Barefoot friendly.” In 2015 the Beach Rescue Project plans to cover 12 beaches in 10 states across the country.
Brand Manager Daryl Skimae, a self-proclaimed “Barefooter,” told SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel , “The company isn’t just about money, it’s more like being able to make a difference for the environment whenever we partner beach cleanups with Surfrider.”
Along with pork sliders and mini-Angus beef hamburgers, there were three different types of Barefoot Wine to try: Crisp White Spritzer, Summer Red Spritzer, and Sparkling Brut.
Canadians Matthew Johnston and Mike Curtis, who were visiting the beach, ended up helping with the cleanup and staying on to join in the party.
So did new Surfrider member Mao, who is from Japan.
And the team from LA Video Drone, which was on the scene taking aerial photos and videos.
SurfWriter Girls learned that the Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue Project has hosted more than 130 cleanups, removed more than 15 tons of trash from our coasts and has done so with the help of over 10,000 volunteers.
Barefoot Wine and Surfrider keeping our beaches and oceans clean – it’s the perfect pairing!
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Surfrider Keeps Beaches Clean
Volunteers Give Time – Come Rain or Shine
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
On early weekend mornings, up and down the coast, the Surfrider Foundation’s volunteers are out in full force cleaning the beaches – come rain or shine.
No matter how foggy, cold, hot or windy it is, the Surfrider team is out picking up trash…
and educating people about the environment
To keep SoCal’s beaches clean hundreds of people from the community, schools, businesses, and organizations volunteer their time each week because they know it makes a difference.
You never know who you’ll run into. At one beach cleanup SurfWriter Girl Sunny Magdaug even saw Huntington Beach local, champion surfer Brett Simpson.
Tony Soriano, Surfrider’s Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter Chairperson, is always leading the charge…and capturing the moment with his photographs.
“What a day! – It was cold and windy… but didn’t stop the dedication of environmentally concerned people to clean the City of Huntington’s beaches,” Soriano said, describing the weather conditions of a recent beach cleanup.
“We had 443 volunteers that picked up 387 lbs of trash.”
Soriano said people came from all over. Students from UC Riverside and Bakersfield High School; volunteers from Southwest Airlines; YMarketing; United Healthcare; Pacific Dental Service; City of Stanton; the DEA; Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and more.
In addition to leading weekly beach cleanups, Surfrider members set up education booths and environmental displays to show the damaging effects of trash, cigarettes and plastics in the ocean.
Rise Above Plastics Chairperson Jessica Budica and Butts Out Co-Chairpersons Norma and Alex Sellers can be counted on to get the word out about what it takes to get pollutants out of the environment.
Surfrider volunteers also clean the Huntington Harbour now, going out in kayaks to gather the trash floating in the water.
Huntington Harbour Cleanup Chairperson Shane Coons coordinates all the harbour activities. From mapping the cleanup route to getting the kayaks lined up, Coons makes sure that everything is ready to go so volunteers can start cleaning the harbour.
Cleaning the beach isn’t just work; it’s fun. When you join the Surfrider crew you get to meet your neighbors and the community and enjoy the beach at the same time.
And, wherever the beach cleanup is, you can count on Surfrider member Gilbert Castillon to be there, providing volunteers with his own special Java Jaws coffee brew to jumpstart the day –
come rain or shine.
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California Coastal Commission Honors Surfrider
Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter
The California Coastal Commission recently honored the Surfrider Foundation Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter for participating in the Commission’s Adopt-A-Beach program.
As part of its mission to protect the world’s oceans, waves and beaches, the H/SB Chapter adopted Huntington and Bolsa Chica state beaches. H/SB Chapter Chairperson Tony Soriano commended the chapter members for their continuing efforts to keep the local beaches clean and create environmental awareness in the community.
Respect the Beach!
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Surfrider Celebrates the Season
Surfrider’s Holiday Party – Good Cheer…and Beer!
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
The mood at Brewbakers craft brewery and restaurant/bakery in Huntington Beach was warm and festive during the annual Surfrider Foundation’s Tri-Chapter Holiday Party Saturday, December 6th.
SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel were excited to see Surfrider members and guests from the Huntington/Seal Beach, Long Beach, and Newport Beach chapters.
Brewbakers owner and Surfrider member Manuel Florence made sure that everyone tasted the craft beers and sodas that his brewery is known for.
The Coffman family – Jeff, Sherrie, Will and Charlie – zeroed in on the root beer and cream soda.
Darryl Ferguson and Halie Schmidt liked the pumpkin beer.
So did Mike Balchin, Seth Matson, Pam Conti, Shane Coons, and the rest of the Surfrider crew.
There were bratwurst sandwiches and pizzas, too…
freshly made in the kitchen.
Greg Kishel tried both and declared them a hit.
Now that the year is almost over everyone was talking about 2015 and the new surfing spots they want to explore and ways to protect the ocean and beach environment we all love.
Tony Soriano and Sona Coffee, the Environmental Programs Manager for Manhattan Beach, said there’s much work still to do.
With holiday shopping on people’s minds, we all agreed that a Surfrider membership would be just the gift for the people on our lists.
It’s easy to wrap and is a gift that gives all year. What could be better than that?
In keeping with the holiday spirit shared at Brewbakers, SurfWriter Girls Sunny and Patti wish you this Irish toast:
A Merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year,
A pocket full of money
And a cellar full of beer!
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Paradise Found – Thailand
Sharin’ the Dream
A Surfrider Member Profile
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Photos by Don MacLean
Don MacLean, the Surfrider Foundation Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter’s former Hold On To Your Butt! Chairperson, is in Thailand now – Livin’ the Dream.
More than that, Don’s Sharin’ the Dream, helping to keep Thailand the tropical paradise he wants it to be.
Just as Don made it his goal to get cigarette butts off the beaches and streets in Orange County, he’s committed to getting trash off the beaches in Thailand and to continuing to carry out Surfrider’s mission.
“This is a huge challenge,” says Don. “The people don’t realize the need to pick up the trash around them and there aren’t any trash cans on the beaches.”
He has been working to raise money for trash cans and is busy organizing the locals to participate in beach cleanups at Phuket’s Surin Beach.
Together, they have removed cigarette butts, assorted trash, plastic bags, Styrofoam, fishing lines and nets from the beach.
SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel are always excited to see the photos Don sends us from Thailand showing the beautiful beaches – and the trash that has been collected.
Don is also educating people about the need to protect the coastal environment and the things they can do to safeguard it for the next generation. “It’s especially important to educate the kids,” Don told SurfWriter Girls.
Cigarette litter may seem like a minor problem to some, but not to Don. He points out that “cigarettes are the most littered item in the world.” Several trillion butts are tossed worldwide. What’s more, the toxic residue in the cigarettes damages the environment, getting into eco-systems and water supplies…threatening the quality of our water and aquatic life.
This year Don staged the very first Phuket International Surfing Day celebration and beach cleanup. “The turnout was beyond our expectations,” he said, adding that he recruits everyone he can find, including people he sees on the beach.
Don has even spoken to the Governor of Phuket, who was eager to learn about the work Don is doing.
Along with educating kids about the environment, as an added incentive to get them to Respect the Beach, Don gives surfing lessons after the beach cleanups.
Then, at the end of the day, he goes home to his ocean-view house on the hill, on the edge of the lush, Thai jungle…
and enjoys the vibrant sunset on the horizon.
Overcoming language and cultural barriers isn’t easy, but Don MacLean is up to the task. With over 20 years experience conducting environmental compliance audits for the U.S. Army, Navy and Coast Guard, he is just the one to restore Thailand’s beaches, returning them to their natural beauty…
So everyone can be Livin’ the Dream.
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Beware the Bag Monsters!
On Halloween it’s in the Bag!
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
With the sounds of Halloween here and little ones eager to take their trick-or-treat bags door-to-door, SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel are thinking how nice it would be to keep those bags out all year.
Not just for Halloween candy, apples and treats, but for everyday items, dairy and meats.
When you bring your own reusable bag on shopping trips, instead of using plastic bags from the store, you can reduce the amount of plastic pollution in our environment.
Did you know that each reusable bag equals 400 single-use plastic bags?
Or that 600 plastic bags are thrown away every second in California?
Every year 500 billion plastic bags are used worldwide. Of those, 100 billion bags are used in the United States alone.
That’s a lot of plastic bags…most of which end up littering our streets and polluting our waterways and oceans, endangering sea life, who get tangled in the bags or ingest them , and ultimately entering the food chain.
That’s even scarier than the ghosts and goblins roaming around on All Hallows Eve.
Fortunately California got an early treat this Halloween – the passage and signing of Senate Bill 270 – authorizing the nation’s first statewide ban on single-use plastic bags at grocery and convenience stores.
The Surfrider Foundation Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter has long supported legislation to ban plastic bags. Its Rise Above Plastics Chairperson Jessica Bechtold explained to SurfWriter Girls that building awareness is the key – informing the public of the environmental problems caused by plastic bags and getting people out of the habit of using them.
The bill phases out plastic bags at grocery stores and supermarkets in the summer of 2015. Convenience stores and pharmacies will follow in 2016.
When the plastic bags disappear, so will Bag Monsters – ghostlike, spooky spirits made from discarded plastic bags.
For now, though, they’re still out there. So, heed this Halloween warning:
Beware the Bag Monsters…and Don’t Litter!
Stash Your Trash on Halloween
When you’re dancing around the fire
watch out for goblins, ghosts and gyres.
It’s nice to have a yummy treat…
Good and Plenty’s, Reese’s Cups, and candy corn to eat.
But, don’t toss your trash on the beach
when recycling cans are in reach.
Remember that Bag Monsters are always near.
You never know when they’ll appear.
With bulging eyes and shark-like teeth to chew,
If you litter, they’ll get you!
Happy Halloween!!!
SurfWriter Girls Patti and Sunny
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Brewbakers Huntington Beach Grand Opening
Manuel Florence Goes from Banker to Brew Master
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Photos by SurfWriter Girls and Tony Soriano
The Grand Opening of Brewbakers craft brewery and bread shop in Huntington Beach (7242 Heil Avenue) drew a big crowd October 17th as people turned out to enjoy the shop’s micro brewed beer and crafted soda selections.
Along with HB city representatives and the media, the Surfrider Foundation Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter members were on hand for the ribbon-cutting and to support Surfrider HB/SB Chapter member Manuel Florence, the owner of Brewbakers.
Florence, a long-time beer aficionado who worked in the banking industry, was excited to trade his banker’s suit for a brew master’s apron. Now Florence is sharing his passion for beer and root beer with the community, teaching others how to create their own personalized brews, and providing a place where friends and family can come together.
Brewbakers also offers a variety of breads (from Chocolate to Jalapeno Cheese and Cranberry Walnut), cinnamon rolls and pretzels baked daily and handmade pizzas with a selection of toppings “for your personal touch.”
So, when you’re celebrating a special occasion or just want to sample the latest brews on tap, make Brewbakers your destination!
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Surfrider Foundation Turns 30!!
Surf Activists Protect the Environment
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
The Power of One. Books and films have long celebrated the power of one person to make a difference – from the lone stranger riding into a lawless frontier town on a horse to the dedicated teacher standing alone in a troubled classroom.
The Surfrider Foundation, with its activist, volunteer network of independent-minded surfers, epitomizes the power that one person – joined by others – can have to make a difference.
Dedicated to protecting the world’s oceans, waves and beaches, the non-profit Surfrider Foundation, started in 1984 with a handful of surfers in Malibu…
is now a worldwide organization that’s over 60,000 strong.
Demonstrating that surfers care about more than catching waves and rays, Surfrider’s members spend countless hours cleaning beaches, monitoring water pollution, and educating the public about conservation and sustainability.
Who are the faces of Surfrider? Why do they volunteer? SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel found that Surfrider’s members are as varied as grains of sand on a dazzling beach.
Surfers, environmentalists, artists, board shapers, entrepreneurs, families, neighbors and friends…anyone who cares about keeping our beaches clean and protecting the ocean wildlife…these are the faces of Surfrider.
If you want to find Surfrider’s Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter Chairperson Tony Soriano, just look where the waves are breaking. Tony has been surfing since he was 16 and loves the challenge and the thrill of it.
Just about the only thing Tony doesn’t like about surfing is the trash he sees in the water and on the beach. “When I first started surfing the water was blue and clear. There used to be mussels we could eat right off the rocks. We used to pull crabs off the rocks and cook clams on the beach. Now the ocean is green and the mussels are gone. I want to get the ocean back to that clean look from when I grew up.”
So, on any given Saturday, Tony is likely to be at the shoreline leading volunteers in a beach cleanup or talking to kids about the environment.
Norma Sellers, Huntington//Seal Beach Butts Out Co-Chairperson (with husband Alex), can be found at beach cleanups, too. She became a Surfrider volunteer because “I love protecting our beaches, especially for sea animals and children and for everyone to enjoy.”
Toward this end, Norma was excited to send 40 lbs. of cigarette butts – collected over two-months this summer – to the recycler.
On cold beach mornings volunteers are always glad to see Gilbert Castillon, another face of Surfrider, setting up his coffee pot at Surfrider’s tent and serving strong cups of Java Jaws Surfers Blend coffee. A surfer and coffee entrepreneur, Gilbert is usually manning the scales and weighing and keeping track of the amount of trash collected.
Don MacLean was used to being right in the middle of SoCal beach cleanups. Then last year he started “livin’ the dream” in Thailand. Now he’s Surfrider’s Man in Phuket, getting the locals on board in cleaning up the beaches there.
Having moved to paradise, Don wants to keep it a paradise. Summing up why he’s a surfrider volunteer, he shared this Dr. Seuss quote with Surfrider Girls: “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
Craig Cadwallader, Surfrider’s South Bay Chapter Chairperson, is definitely someone who “cares a whole awful lot.” In recognition of his tireless work to protect the marine environment, California’s State Assembly and the City of Manhattan Beach both named him an Environmental Hero.
A familiar face at beach cleanups and chapter meetings up and down the California Coast is Surfrider’s Southern California Regional Manager Nancy Hastings. “Who am I?” she asks. “I’m a surfer, musician, artist, and activist. I am simply nuts about the ocean.”
Nancy can’t remember a time that she wasn’t connected to the coast and ocean in some way and says, “Surfrider members have a fiery and unstoppable passion for protecting their stretch of coastline that never ceases to amaze me.”
Hawaii Coordinator Stuart Coleman, author of Eddie Would Go, the story of Hawaiian big wave surfing pioneer and lifeguard Eddie Aikau, has this same connection to the ocean.
Stuart, who is committed to Surfrider’s mission, says, “I enjoy writing articles about the coastal environment and those eco-activists who are fighting to protect it.”
Kyle Lishok, Surfrider’s Marketing Manager, feels just as strongly about the environment. He spent many of his childhood years camping and says, “Preserving beautiful and meaningful places for people to recreate is something I hold close to my heart.”
So does Laura Lee, a Texas girl who eventually became Surfrider’s Director of Marketing and Communications. “Thanks to my mom’s huge love of our oceans and my dad’s passion for fishing, I grew up with a deep appreciation for our coasts and all bodies of water.”
Surfrider is about more than beach cleanups. It’s about keeping pollutants from reaching our beaches and waterways in the first place – a job that Ocean Friendly Gardens expert Greg Goran takes personally.
Greg, who has overseen garden installations in homes and commercial locations, says,” choosing plants that don’t demand a lot of water and paying attention to drainage, fertilizers and pesticides makes a big difference in protecting the environment.”
In the 30 years since it was started, The Surfrider Foundation has learned an important lesson: Education is the key.
In order to achieve its goals of “Conservation, Activism, Research and Education” (CARE) and promote its environmental programs – Rise Above Plastics, Ocean Friendly Gardens, Butts Out, Know Your H²O, Blue Water Task Force, and more – Surfrider’s volunteers have become educators.
“The way to protect the environment is to educate people about pollution problems and get them involved in fixing them,” says Tony Soriano. “From water run-off to plastics and trash, the public has to be made aware of the impact these have on our oceans and beaches.”
So, Tony organizes beach cleanups and works with the community, reaching out to new Surfrider members. And, at the end of the day, he makes time to catch some waves, fish off the pier with his son Alex…and enjoy the sunset over the water.
The faces of Surfrider are many and varied. And for 30 years the Surfrider Foundation has been protecting the environment so that generations to come can experience the wonders of our world’s oceans, waves and beaches.
If you love the coasts, this is the place for you. If you love the coasts, do one thing before you do anything else: Join Us.
Jim Moriarty, Surfrider Foundation CEO
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Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.
Vans US Open of Surfing – In Style!
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Surfrider’s Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter Chairperson Tony Soriano, Alex and Norma Sellers, and friends shared a front row box for the 2014 Vans US Open of Surfing.
After all the work they put into beach cleanups, it was nice to kick back and watch the surfing action.
The surfers not only competed for waves with each other, but with sponsor Fiat’s cool 500Ls floating in the ocean.
Thanks to Tony for the photos!
Congratulations to the 2014 champions Tyler Wright and Felipe Toledo
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