This Week's Top News in the South Bay

Redondo Beach

Son: Triathlete Died Doing What He Loved: Michael Charles Giardino, who died during Sunday's Redondo Beach Triathlon, was following his passion that morning, his son told Patch on Monday. Giardino, 48, of San Pedro, collapsed on the beach next to the Redondo Beach Pier after stumbling out of the water upon finishing the swimming leg of the race.

• RELATED: Swimmer Dies During Redondo Beach Triathlon

Ed Foundation Authorizes $600K+ for School District: After a "record-breaking" annual donor drive and annual fundraiser event, the Redondo Beach Educational Foundation on Monday night authorized more than $600,000 for programs in Redondo Beach Unified School District for the 2013-2014 school year, RBEF President Ted Craddock announced at Tuesday's Board of Education meeting.

BCHD Aims to Continue Blue Zones Project: The Beach Cities Health District is in the midst of negotiations to directly administer and continue the Blue Zones Project, a healthy living initiative that began three years ago under the supervision of Healthways.

Manhattan Beach

Sprinklers Save Building From Catastrophic Fire: Fire sprinklers in a Journey of Faith Church building limited the damage to the facility last week, said David Carmany, Manhattan Beach city manager. Investigators have identified the fire source as heat from a large commercial vacuum cleaner stored near combustible paper goods, he said. 

Manhattan Beach Throat Slasher Found Guilty: Tyler Lee Rodgers was found guilty of attempted murder, kidnapping, robbery and burglary in a Torrance courtroom Monday afternoon. 
 
Sunscreen Film Festival Coming to Manhattan Beach: A west coast version of the Sunscreen Film Festival is set to be staged in Manhattan Beach this October, said Tony Armer, founder and executive director of the festival. The festival, launched in Florida 8 years ago by Armer, is a "natural fit" for Manhattan Beach, he said by phone Wednesday. 

City Adds Two Electric Vehicle Charging Stations: Four Clipper Creek electric vehicle charging stations are now available in the lower Civic Center parking garage at 13th Street and Morningside Drive, said City Manager David Carmany, who noted these are the first public-use stations installed by the city.

Hermosa Beach

Hermosa Beach Man Arrested on Felony Drug Charges: A Hermosa Beach man on his way to the Bonaroo Music Festival is in jail in Nashville, Tennessee, after being arrested on felony drug charges, according to a Nashville Police Department news release. 

Hermosa School Safety Committee Releases Recommendations: A committee charged with making recommendations to improve safety at Hermosa Beach's two public schools has released its report. Among other things, the committee recommended annual walkthroughs of district facilities by all local first responders and strict enforcement of visitation rules at schools.

Leadership Hermosa Beach Unveils 'Walk Hermosa' Project: The 2013 Leadership Hermosa Beach class did something no other class had done: partnered with another non-profit organization for its class project. The "Walk Hermosa" project includes the installation of professional-grade signs throughout the city that encourage healthy living by depicting how many steps there are from one sign to another. 
Ceiling Problems Shutter Hermosa Playhouse for Emergency Repairs: The Hermosa Beach Community Theatre was closed for emergency repairs on Friday and has re-opened for use, said Kelly Teeter, senior recreation supervisor for the city, Tuesday. Teeter told Patch the ceiling was "coming apart" with plaster from it falling to the area below. Recent electrical upgrades that "caused a disturbance" are believed to be responsible.

Palos Verdes

Services Set for Joan Moe, Norris Theatre Founder: Joan Hurst Moe, one of the co-founders of the Norris Theatre, died Saturday after a 13-year battle with breast cancer. She was 78. Moe, a longtime resident of Rolling Hills Estates and a former planning commissioner, established the nonprofit organization that eventually led to the establishment of the Norris with Agnes Moss. The theater itself opened in September 1983 after six years of fundraising.

Ex-'Survivor' Producer's Kids to Get $50K in Life Insurance: A judge has approved the transfer of $50,000 in life insurance funds to be held in trust for the children of former "Survivor" producer Bruce Beresford-Redman and his slain wife. 

Marymount College to Remove Gravel Parking Lot: Work will begin Tuesday to remove the temporary gravel parking lot at Marymount College in Rancho Palos Verdes, according to an email from RPV city staff. The gravel used in the parking lot will be hauled to Abalone Cove Shoreline Park and repurposed throughout the park's existing lot, according to staff. Marymount College is paying to remove the gravel.