The Weekly Newspaper of Torrance
Herald Publications - Torrance, El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Hawthorne, Lawndale, & Inglewood Community Newspapers Since 1911 - (310) 322-1830 - Vol. 8, No. 7 - February 15, 2018
Inside
This Issue
Calendar of Events.............2
Certified & Licensed
Professionals.......................2
Classifieds............................6
Crossword/Sudoku.............6
Legals.................................6,7
Pets........................................5
Police Briefs........................2
Real Estate...........................8
Sports....................................3
Weekend
Forecast
Giordano Honored by Council
Last week, the Torrance City Council honored Assistant City Manager Mary Giordano upon her retirement after 30 years of service. She originally joined the City of Torrance in the spring of 1987 as the
finance director. Photo Courtesy of City of Torrance.
Torrance Chamber Keeps Businesses and
Leaders Informed, in Touch with Issues
By Liz Spear
Del Amo Fashion Center. American Honda
Motor Corporation, Inc. Torrance Bakery
and Sandwich Shop. Palos Verdes Bowl.
Van Lingen Towing. Frank Scotto Towing.
Sunrider International. Dal-Tile Distribution
Inc. Dandoy Glass Company. Du Bunne
Salon. Rainforest Flora Inc. Southwood
Pre-School. Fox Drug of Torrance. Bobit
Business Media Inc. Sushi Boy. Antique
Attic. West End Tennis and Racquet Club,
Inc. Ideal Upholstery Company. Ganahl
Lumber. Torrance Airport.
These are just a few notable landmarks
and businesses that demonstrate the diversity
found in the Torrance’s 21 square miles.
Add in the city’s six libraries, two medical
centers, art museum, parks and recreation
facilities, one-and-a-half miles of beach,
and a population of approximately 146,860
residents that grow to some 250,000 people
during the day when shoppers and workers
descend on the city and it’s easy to see
what a wide swath the Torrance Chamber
of Commerce needs to embrace as it works
to support the local business community.
Enter Donna Duperron, the Chamber
president and CEO since 2010 who leads
an organization that has grown since its
inception in 1913 to count some 751 businesses
among its members. “The multitude of
different businesses who are a part of the
Torrance Chamber makes the organization
very unique,” Duperron said. “From small
business to large business, the Chamber
partners with the individuals within these
businesses to create a chamber that continually
remains relevant.”
And what is relevant today in 2018?
For starters, the city is preparing to hold
an election on June 5. Seats up for grab
include the position of mayor, three city
council slots, city treasurer, and city clerk.
And since the actions city government may
take impact businesses in town, the Torrance
Chamber strives to inform and play a role in
those decisions. Chamber leadership meets
Friday See Torrance Chamber, page 6
Sunny
72˚/50˚
Presidents’ Day in Torrance: A Time for
Celebrating, Reflecting and Honoring
TerriAnn in Torrance
By TerriAnn Ferren
Monday, Feb. 19 we will celebrate
Presidents’ Day. As we all learned in
grade school, we are a republic under three
branches of government, which include
the Executive Branch -- the President of
the United States; the Legislative Branch
that makes laws and is divided into two
parts -- senators and representatives; and
the Judicial Branch, which is our Supreme
Court. All three branches have equal power
and work toward representing the nation,
we the people. But it is the president who
sets the tone and leads our country. Every
year, we honor that leadership with a special
day. Now, the only president with his
own day is our 16th, Abraham Lincoln.
Abraham Lincoln was born on Feb.
12, 1808 and I found out different states
celebrate this federal holiday in a variety
of ways. Some cities, including Torrance,
celebrate Lincoln’s birthday on the Monday
(due to the Monday holiday bill) near the
12th in addition to celebrating Presidents’
Day on the third Monday in February.
This year Presidents’ Day falls on the
19th. Originally established in 1885 to
recognize President George Washington’s
birthday, the day was celebrated on his
actual birthday –Feb. 22 -- but in 1971, with
the Monday Holiday Act that attempted to
create more three-day weekends honoring
the birthdays of Washington, Lincoln and
others, Presidents’ Day has evolved into
bi-monthly with the mayor, mayor pro tem,
the economic development director and city
manager. In addition, the Chamber and the
City of Torrance work closely on a number of
events and activities to enhance the partnership
between the two, said Duperron.
Leading up to the June election, the
Chamber will host a forum to give candidates
running for mayor and city council the
opportunity to answers questions from
members of the business community. Prior
to that forum, the Chamber’s Government
Affairs Program (GAP), led by Rob Van
Lingen, will create a list of business-related
questions. Topics may include minimum
wage, health care, affordable housing and
workforce readiness -- subjects that impact
businesses and their employees.
The Chamber also keeps an eye on state
government and issues and legislation that
could impact businesses in the city. On
Feb. 22, Congresswoman Maxine Waters
and Congressman Ted Lieu will address
Chamber members during the annual State
of the Region luncheon. Attendees will
hear the congressional representatives’ views on
infrastructure, housing, health care, immigration
and other topics that affect business.
“Advocacy is so important,” said Duperron.
“The Chamber’s leadership is actively involved
with BizFed, the Cal Chamber and South
Bay Association of Chamber of Commerce.
The Chamber will testify in support or
opposition to business issues -- specifically
those brought to us by our members. The
Government Affairs Policy (GAP) program
meets monthly to analyze local, regional and
statewide issues.”
GAP examines a diversity of subjects,
including the local housing market and
affordable housing. At the January GAP
meeting, held at the Chamber office, David
Kissinger of the South Bay Board of Realtors
was welcomed by GAP co-chair Van Lingen
and presented facts and figures about the
See TerriAnn in Torrance, page 4
Saturday
Sunny
71˚/52˚
Sunday
Mostly
Cloudy
64˚/51˚