Outriggers cross the channel
The Catalina Channel Crossing, U.S. Championship Outrigger Canoe Race, was held Saturday, Sept. 8 and Sunday, Sept. 9.
On Saturday, the women paddled the 45-foot long Polynesian outrigger canoes from Newport Beach. The first canoe crossed the finish line at Casino Point at approximately 1 p.m.
Outriggers cross the channel
The Catalina Channel Crossing, U.S. Championship Outrigger Canoe Race, was held Saturday, Sept. 8 and Sunday, Sept. 9.
On Saturday, the women paddled the 45-foot long Polynesian outrigger canoes from Newport Beach. The first canoe crossed the finish line at Casino Point at approximately 1 p.m.
The event’s organizers were given permission by the city to store the competitors’ canoes at South Beach over night. In addition, this year’s event had live entertainment by the Kalama Brothers and an awards ceremony at Wrigley Stage.
The men’s race began on Sunday at 10 a.m. at Lover’s Cove.
The Grand Marshalls this year were Bobby Puakea and his son Johnny who are both renowned canoe builders from Hawaii.
The event started back in 1959 when a Catalina Channel paddleboard race winner, Tom Zahn, talked to Hawaiian canoe race promoter Toots Minvielle about having an outrigger race in California.
It was to be the first of many crossings in these canoes. Island resident and merchant Reyn Mcullough was also involved with the race. He went on to form his aloha shirt clothing line Reyn Spooner.
Islander paper starts its website
The Catalina Islander launched its new website in September. The new website complements the printed newspaper and a robust social media audience. The new website address is www.thecatalinaislander.com.
Two men are arrested in deer attack case
The Avalon Sheriff’s Station was looking for four outstanding suspects in the beating of a young male deer in mid-August. Two suspects were arrested for animal cruelty.
Local Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department officials submitted the case to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office for prosecution. The fawn had to be put down, according to a representative of the Catalina Island Humane Society.
Ricardo Ramirez, 19, and Robert Tejada, also 19, were arrested for their role in the attack on the deer. The suspects in custody were accused of hitting the deer with blunt instruments.
Catalina Art Fest in its 54th year
In 1959, a group of artists and art lovers decided to have an art exhibition on Catalina Island. Although it was small, they had a mission to promote art.
More than 50 years later, that vision is still going strong.
The 54th annual Catalina Festival of Art was held Friday, Sept. 21, Saturday, Sept. 22, and Sunday, Sept. 23, in downtown Avalon along Crescent Avenue.
The festival is one of the largest annual events on Catalina and the Island’s longest running event. Each year, artists from all over the world enter the prestigious festival and compete for awards and gain recognition.
Visiting football player injured
A visiting high school football player apparently suffered a life-threatening brain injury during a game against the Avalon High School team Friday night, Sept. 21. Dax McGregor, 17, as on life support at UCLA Harbor General Center for a while.
McGregor, the opposing team’s quarterback, was tackled three or four times during the gams.
His mother, Sharon McGregor, issued updates on his condition through a blog maintained by family friend, Tracy Saunders, at giveforward.com. The website was raising money for the McGregor family.
Sharon Privett, principal of Dax McGregor’s school, Wildomar Cornerstone Christian, said she had not had a student suffer this kind of injury during all her years as an educator. A fundraiser was held Saturday, Sept. 29, at the Landing Zone Restaurant in Lake Elsinore. The website giveforward.com is also raising money for the McGregors. Go to giveforward.com, enter Dax Leonhardi McGregor in the search box and click on the “give now” button.
