Huntington Beach Fourth of July Bike Cruise returns, after the fireworks this year
He's most proud of the event, which launches into its sixth year on Saturday morning, because of people like Michelle Marie West.
He connected with West on social media as she wanted to help him with some sponsors for the event. After a bit of conversation, he found out that her father was a veteran of the armed forces who had just passed away.
Now he wants to give West a medal, lei and wristband for a free lunch at Bruno's Sports Bar & Grille downtown to honor her father, the same things given to all of the other veterans who come to the bike cruise.
Romo told her story to another veteran, Mickey Rat, a surfer whose real name is Mike Ester. Rat responded that he wants West to ride with him in the front car for the event, a cherry red 1947 Ford convertible.
'She just felt so honored and feels like she's doing so much for her father now,' Romo said. 'She's representing him. I just felt really good about that, and I can't wait for her to be there and get in there.
'It just all comes down to love. The love that you feel for the community and that people have for each other is incredible, and that's why this thing got so big. Nobody's making any money on this thing, it's just all for us.'
The free ride, emceed by Mel Craig, has certainly grown in popularity, with around 20,000 bike riders participating in it last year. It is typically held the Saturday before the Fourth of July, but with the holiday on a Friday this year, it will be the day after.
Riders are encouraged to bring a decorated bike and a warm spirit.
The cruise begins at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Main Street and Yorktown Avenue, though riders are encouraged to arrive earlier. It ends at Main and Walnut Avenue.
Romo has lined up six bands that will lead into the city's Main Street Block Party from noon to 7 p.m., which will feature entertainment including Redneck Rodeo and the Ramsey Brothers.
There will also be free face painting for kids this year, done by a group including local artist Melissa Murals.
'I want everybody to be as one, loving our country,' said Romo, whose two adult daughters, Cassidy and Cayla, lead the ride with two big American flags. 'This is the one day, for a couple of hours, where everybody can just love our country as one and love each other as one. No color, no race, no anything. For a couple of hours, let's just grab our kids and everybody feels that love.'
Huntington Beach resident Tina Toulouse, with help from fellow local Diana Sullivan, makes the leis for veterans each year.
Toulouse, whose first husband was a U.S. Marine, will be presenting the leis to the veterans herself this year along with Sullivan, the mother of an active Marine. She said they will be made of ti leaves, with purple orchids added to represent courage and bravery.
'Everybody says Huntington Beach is Surf City and everything, but this is not about surfing,' Toulouse said. 'This is about all of the people who live here, and we get to have almost a small-town expression but it's so big. Everybody knows Surf City the world over, but yet here we are doing this small-town thing. There's just so much love and fun and community and friends. It's great, and it's growing and growing.'
For more information or updates on the Huntington Beach Fourth of July Bicycle Cruise, visit instagram.com/hb_bike_cruise.
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Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Danielle Spencer, the former child actor best known for playing Dee Thomas on the 1970s sitcom What's Happening!!, died on Monday at the age of 60. The actress' death was due to gastric cancer and cardiac arrest, family friend and spokesperson Sandra Jones confirmed to ABC News. The Context Spencer starred in 65 episodes of What's Happening!! (1976–1979) and reprised her role in the sequel What's Happening Now!! (1985–1988). The shows were among the early American television programs to follow the lives of Black teenagers. She later earned a doctorate in veterinary medicine from Tuskegee University in 1993 and practiced in the Richmond, Virginia, area after relocating there from California in 2014, according to ABC News. (L) Actress Danielle Spencer from the TV show "What's Happening!!" poses for a photo in November 1976 in Los Angeles, California. (R) Danielle Spencer, circa 1988. (L) Actress Danielle Spencer from the TV show "What's Happening!!" poses for a photo in November 1976 in Los Angeles, California. (R) Danielle Spencer, circa 1988. Michael; Michael Ochs Archives / Stringer What To Know Spencer died on August 11 at Chippenham Hospital in Richmond. Prior to her death, the sitcom star had a history of health issues. In 1977, Spencer was involved in a car accident that killed her stepfather and manager, Tim Pelt, her website bio states. She was in a coma for three weeks and had broken bones in her arm, leg and pelvis. Decades later, the injuries she endured left her wheelchair-bound, and she underwent physical therapy to learn how to walk again. In 2014, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and in 2018, she had emergency surgery to relieve bleeding in the brain. Spencer was inducted into the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture, marking the first time a child star received the honor. "I still can't believe it," she told in 2014. "That's something people can look at for years to come, long after I'm gone." What People Are Saying Sandra Jones told ABC News on Tuesday: "This untimely death is really hard to process right now. She is a sweet and gentle soul and she is going to be missed very, very much." Jeremy Pelt, Spencer's brother and jazz musician, penned a lengthy message to his sister via Instagram: "August 11, 2025 will forever be a reminder of the day that I lost a big part of myself. After many years, my big sister, Dr. Danielle Louise Spencer lost her battle with cancer." "Many of you knew her as 'Dee,' but she was more than a child actress. She was a friend, an auntie to my three children who adored her, she was a daughter- and in many ways, my mother's best friend, she was a veterinarian, she was someone who always remained positive even during her darkest days fighting this disease. And she was MY sister and protector." "My immediate family, of which there were only three of us had an unusual knack for always being connected even if we weren't always in contact with each other. Dani and I- our bond got stronger the older I (in particular) got. She's 11 years older than me. I used to relish our texts back and forth using unfiltered 'real' talk." "She positively LOVED Milo, Charlie and Amma and constantly dreamed of a time they'd all be visiting her and 'Mimi' (grandmother). The times they made it down south, she was always so encouraging. Always so uplifting. I'm rambling...I'm so fucking fucking gutted... I watched her take her last breath... I'm thankful for that." "I love you, forever." Haywood Nelson, Spencer's What's Happening!! co-star, wrote on Instagram: "Brilliance! It comes in a great many forms. We all have them and we all have this family's - Dr. Danielle Spencer (June 24, 1965 - August 11, 2025)." "Dr. Dee, our brilliant, loving, positive, pragmatic warrior, without fail, has finally found her release from the clutches of this world and a body. We celebrate Danielle Spencer and her contributions as we regret to inform her departure and transition from a long battle with cancer." "We have lost a daughter, sister, family member, What's Happening cast member, veterinarian animal rights proponent and healer, and cancer heroine. Our Shero. Danielle is loved. She will be missed in this form and forever embraced." What Happens Next Spencer is survived by her brother, Jeremy Pelt, and mother, Cheryl Pelt. At the time of writing, no public memorial or funeral plans have been announced.
