Roundup: Redondo Beach Newsmakers

Redondo Beach is full of interesting people, and while Patch tries to recognize everyone, some don't appear on our radar. Fortunately, we're not the only news organization out there. Check out this batch of newsmakers recently featured in local and national publications:

'Mediocre Infantryman' tells his tale

Andrew Goldsmith, who joined the army a year after he graduated from , released his first book this year.

Zarqawi's Ice Cream: Tales of Mediocre Infantrymen recounts stories from Goldsmith's years in the Army. "There's my blood, sweat and tears on every page," he told the Beach Reporter.

The book is available on its official website.

• Full story: Stories of an Infantryman [Beach Reporter]

D-man Festival honors cancer victim

This past week, both the Beach Reporter and the Easy Reader profiled Darren "D-Man" Marsee, who died in 2005 after battling Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. An annual festival hosted by his old employer Dive N Surf raises money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society on behalf of a team that participates in his honor in the society's Light the Night Walk.

The D-Man Festival is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday.

• Full story: Remembering a friend [Beach Reporter]  | Remembering D-Man [Easy Reader]

Cross-country friendship formed in 9/11's wake

In 2008, a 300-pound piece of steel from the World Trade Center was dedicated at City Hall in Redondo Beach, thanks to the efforts of Redondo beach Fire Department Capt. Robert Franck and retired New York City fireman Bobby Senn.

The pair met in 2002 when Senn visited Redondo Beach to tell his story of what happened on Sept. 11, and soon became friends, according to a story in the Beach Reporter. When Franck requested a piece of steel from the trade center, the FDNY asked if any Redondo firefighters went to New York after the attacks. None had, but Senn and other NYC firefighters convinced the FDNY to give them the piece of steel anyway.

• Full story: Sept. 11 brings two firemen together [Beach Reporter]

Know a newsmaker? Tell us! Send editor Nicole Mooradian an email or click "Send us news tips" under the "Contribute" heading toward the bottom of the page.