This Week's Top News in the South Bay

A visit by the Stanley Cup to Hermosa and Manhattan Beach, a protest against a teacher's resignation in Redondo Beach, and beach cleanliness in Palos Verdes are among the items that made headlines this week in the South Bay. Here is a look at those stories and more:

Hermosa Beach

Thousands of hockey fans and curious onlookers lined Pier Avenue and packed into Pier Plaza on Monday morning as the city welcomed the Stanley Cup to Hermosa Beach for only the second official public appearance of cup since the Kings' victory parade in downtown Los Angeles on June 14. The cup was accompanied by Kings center and Hermosa Beach resident Jarret Stoll for the public rally and trip through Hermosa.

Witness reports of an argument between Pamela Walsh and her husband prior to Walsh's shooting death in her Hermosa Beach home on June 19 were "grossly overstated," according to an attorney representing her husband. Prominent Redondo Beach defense attorney Tony Capozzola, who is representing Walsh's husband, William Edward McPherson, told Patch that he does not expect Walsh's death to be ruled as a homicide.

The Hermosa Beach City Council voted 4-1 on Tuesday to approve a $36.6 million city budget for the 2012-2013 fiscal year, which includes a $2 million surplus. , councilman Kit Bobko cast the only dissenting vote on the budget, arguing that cost-cutting measures were not being looked at by the city, including his proposal to outsource the city's parking enforcement services to a private company. 

Manhattan Beach

Police were looking for three individuals who attempted to rob South Bay Gold Monday around 10:50 a.m., said Manhattan Beach Police Detective Michael Rosenberger. The store is located at the corner of Sepulveda Boulevard and Marine Avenue. One of the suspects pointed a firearm at store staff who were able to hit the silent alarm button. Seeing that, the suspects then fled in a black Chrysler, said Det. Rosenberger.

Los Angeles Kings team captain Dustin Brown feted city firefighters and police personnel in Manhattan Beach Monday in the apparatus bay of Fire Station No. 1 downtown. The Manhattan Beach resident brought the Stanley Cup to the ceremony, at which he expressed his thanks for the support he has received.

Hamptons in downtown Manhattan Beach has opened its doors to the dining public. Located where Sun & Moon Cafe held forth for years, 1131 Manhattan Ave., the place has been renovated to a quaint East Coast casual feel.

Redondo Beach

Students in the Band showed up at Tuesday night's meeting of the to protest the resignation of their teacher, Scott Sutherland. In a comment posted on Patch, Sutherland said he was given the choice to resign or be dismissed after receiving a low score on his evaluation. He believes the low score was due to an "impassioned" email he sent to school administrators in December after he discovered an acoustic band shell would not be in place in the auditorium in time for the band's concert.

Preparations for the June 15 visit to Redondo Beach of former President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton read like a novel—a cross between high comedy and a thriller, with Secret Service agents dressed like "Men in Black" conducting walk-throughs of local facilities; warnings of possible bomb threats; and President Clinton insisting the focus be kept on local festivities and away from himself.

Apiophiles, rejoice—beekeeping is now legal in Redondo Beach. With a unanimous vote Tuesday, the city council took another step in allowing beehives in back yards when it approved the proposed fee for beekeeping permits.

Palos Verdes

Area beaches could use some improvement, according to a report released Wednesday by the Natural Resources Defense Council. The NRDC's 22nd annual report analyzed government data on beach-water testing from 2011 at more than 3,000 beaches nationwide.