Another Candle – Every Four Years

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Kevin Korenthal, who runs a new public relations company in Santa Clarita, is celebrating his 10th birthday this month.

If you’re thinking 10 is a bit young to own a PR company, you’re right. Korenthal actually is turning 40. But he was born Feb. 29, 1972, which means that this Feb. 29 will mark the 10th time he’s celebrating his actual birth date. In other years, he celebrates Feb. 28.

Korenthal said being a leap-year baby has always been a conversation starter.

“In elementary school this was very useful because I was kind of an awkward kid,” he said.

As a youngster, Korenthal did see Gilbert and Sullivan’s operetta “Pirates of Penzance,” in which lead character Frederic, who was also born Feb. 29, discovers that he is indentured to a pirate band until his 21st birthday, or through his 84th year.

“But I didn’t grasp the relevancy of this to my life until I saw the movie version as an adult. I was in a dead-end career at that time, so I could definitely identify with Frederic’s extended apprenticeship,” he said.

So what is Korenthal planning for this year’s birthday celebration?

“My original plan had been to jump out of an airplane, but money is tight these days, and 10 birthdays old is too young to die, especially with the launch of my brand-new business,” he said. “So I think I am just going to celebrate with close family and friends.”

Oh, and for the record he stated, “I don’t feel the least bit uncomfortable turning 10 years old. I know some people feel it is over the hill, but I don’t feel old at all!”

Civic Rebooters

Cy Serrano spent a recent Wednesday evening walking the streets of Santa Monica for the city’s annual homeless count.

Serrano, a sales operations analyst for Santa Monica startup BetterWorks, was there as the leader of a group called the Silicon Beach Volunteer Brigades that hopes to inspire the L.A. tech community to become more civically engaged.

He started the group in December because he said the tech community – dubbed Silicon Beach – didn’t have a way to give back to the city.

“I was trying to find ways to get involved in Santa Monica that would also provide networking opportunities,” Serrano said. “I know Silicon Beach is a very outgoing and enthusiastic group of people. I thought it would be great to leverage that energy to do something good.”

The city conducts the count to receive federal funding for its homelessness programs. It was the first time out for the Volunteer Brigades. He said about 12 people from the group showed up, but his next event should draw more: There are 30 people signed up to participate in a beach cleanup Saturday.

Serrano, 25, said introducing activism to the tech community was a way to bridge his passion for volunteering with his professional life.

“Volunteering has been a huge part of my life,” he said. “I definitely wanted to make it a big part of my career development as well.”

Staff reporters Howard Fine and Natalie Jarvey contributed to this column. Page 3 is compiled by Editor Charles Crumpley. He can be reached at [email protected].

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