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“Timing is everything. Show me the smartest man in the world without timing and I’ll show you a man with nothing” boasted oilman Roy Stinnett in 1988. In the early 1970s, he had purchased four oil wells in Hermosa Beach just a year before oil prices increased tenfold; recently, however, the Fire Department shut his operations down due to a large leak from one of his sites. From debates over the first ban on oil drilling in 1932 to the “Measure ‘O’” vote in 2015, grassroots community organization, strong personalities, and backdoor dealings have driven decisions around oil in Hermosa. To hear these stories and explore our exhibit on oil history in Hermosa, join presenters Mark Shoemaker and Ryan Basford on Thursday, February 20, at the Hermosa Beach Museum! Doors will open at 6:00pm and the presentation will begin at 6:30pm; light refreshments will be provided. $5 admission; please register here!