Lawndale Tribune AND lAwNDAle News The Weekly Newspaper of Lawndale Herald Publications - Inglewood, Hawthorne, Lawndale, El Segundo, Torrance & Manhattan Beach Community Newspapers Since 1911 - Circulation 30,000 - Readership 60,000 (310) 322-1830 - March 2, 2017 Mitchell Students Promote Healthy Eating with Crops Harvested at School Last fall, students in Lawndale’s Billy Mitchell Elementary School’s Before and After School Program (RAP) ) planted the seeds that blossomed into the crops they used to create six veggie burritos using six different vegetables they grew in their garden—with lettuce leaves instead of a tortilla, and radishes, carrots, celery, broccoli and bok choy as the filling. The entire student body participated in this activity. It is a goal of the RAP Program and Lawndale Elementary School District to provide their students with active learning opportunities that stimulate their innate curiosity and expand their horizons—and promote healthy eating habits! (Photo Courtesy of Lawndale Elementary School District) Potholes Turn Roads into Obstacle Courses By Rob McCarthy South Bay drivers can be forgiven if they seem jumpier than usual this winter. The sudden urge to weave and change lanes is natural after February’s rainstorms that pocked streets and freeway lanes with potholes--lots of them. Avoiding them can save a trip to the repair shop, or the emergency room. Southern California’s roads are in horrible shape, according to the national transportation research group known as TRIP. From Los Angeles to Santa Ana, two-thirds of the streets and highways are in poor condition. That survey was done in 2013, so the droughtbusting rain this winter is certain to add to the woes of drivers and the workloads for city and county street maintenance crews. Potholes are signs that the nation’s infrastructure is aging and needs greater attention to build new roads and bridges, according to the website Pothole Info.com. Pavement crumbles and potholes form over time because of rainwater, excessive heat, and the wear and tear of traffic. Low spots where water collects cause potholes, though heavy truck traffic and poor street maintenance get some of the blame too. The Automobile Club of Southern California cautions drivers to watch for potholes after these winter storms. Because swerving or a sudden lane change can endanger other drivers, the AAA says more following distance from the car ahead allows drivers to see potholes sooner. Hitting the brakes at a pothole can cause more damage to a vehicle because the weight shifts to the front. When a pothole cannot be avoided, slow down to reduce the chance of damage to tires, wheels and the suspension, according to the AAA. It also reduces the chance of losing control of the steering, especially when the road is lined with potholes. The danger is greater on curved or uneven roads. Watch for water pooled on the pavement, which can conceal a deep pothole lurking in the lane ahead, according to the AAA. “Alert drivers having plenty of time to avoid potholes,” it says. Americans shell out more than $6 billion per year on repairs to their cars and trucks from potholes. These repairs run from the gamut from fixing a flat tire to replacing an accidentally deployed air bag. While a flat repair is under $20, the airbag can run $2,500. Many people simply can’t afford that. Though potholes and road damage is often associated with cold weather areas, California leads the nation in poor-quality roads. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim is slightly ahead of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay area in a ranking of roads in poor condition. The national group TRIP placed San Jose third and San Diego fourth on the list of metropolitan areas with the roughest roads for driving. On average, poor roads and potholes cost a single drive $377 per year in vehicle repairs. Businesses will incur $240 billion in costs between 2013 and 2022 because U.S. roads are wearing out. Pothole Info.com notes that the lion’s share of highways and freeways were built before the 1970s and were expected to last 50 years. Poor road surfaces claim lives and contribute to 11,000 traffic fatalities per year, according to Pothole Info.com. Cities and counties face multi-million-dollar lawsuits because of bicyclist accidents and injuries on poorly maintained streets. Local cities have set up hotlines for reporting potholes. Los Angeles: To report storm-related emergencies such as trees down, landslides, potholes, and road erosion, call (213) 473- 8410 or (800) 996-2489. El Segundo: Call the El Segundo Maintenance Facility at (310) 524-2709. Manhattan Beach: Report a pothole using a service request form found online at www. ci.manhattan-beach.ca.us/residents/servicerequest. Hawthorne: Asks citizens to report street damage online at www.cityofhawthorne. org/contact/ Torrance: Call (310) 781-6900 during business hours or email Public Works at Publicworksinfo@torranceca.gov. • Though potholes and road damage is often associated with cold weather areas, California leads the nation in poor-quality roads. Inside This Issue Certified & Licensed Professionals.......................2 Classifieds............................2 Community Briefs...............3 Community Letter................3 Finance..................................4 Hawthorne Happenings....3 Legals................................ 6-7 Pets........................................8 Police Reports.....................3 Seniors..................................4 Sports....................................5 Weekend Forecast Friday Sunny 73˚/50˚ Saturday Mostly Sunny 64˚/52˚ Sunday Mostly Sunny 59˚/47˚ Potholes created by recent rains damage vehicles and contribute to more roadway crashes.
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