Page 2 May 8, 2014 TORRANCE TRIBUNE Calendar Letters Thursday, May 8 • South Bay Republican Women Monthly Luncheon, 11:00 a.m., Double Tree Hotel, 21333 Hawthorne Blvd. For more information call (310) 326-9349 or (310) 320-1431. • Bubblegum Bonanza, 4 p.m., Henderson Library, 4805 Emerald St. For more information please call the Henderson Library (310) 371-2075. Saturday, May 10 • 15th Annual Senior Faire, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Ken Miller Recreation Auditorium, 3341 Torrance Blvd. • Mother’s Day story and craft program, 2 p.m., Southeast Library, 23115 S. Arlington Ave. For more information call (310) 530-5044. Sunday, May 11 • Mother’s Day Concert (Palos Verdes Symphonic Band), 5 p.m., South Coast Botanic Garden, 26300 Crenshaw Boulevard. For more information call (310) 792-8286. Tuesday, May 13 • City Council Meeting, 7-10 p.m., City Hall, Council Chamber, 3031 Torrance Bl. For more information call (310) 618-2870. • Torrance Artists Guild Meeting, 7 p.m., Ken Miller Center, 3341 Torrance Blvd. The meeting is open to the public. Thursday, May 15 • Beach Cities Republicans monthly meeting, 7 p.m., Sizzler Restaurant, 2880 Sepulveda Blvd. For more information email plagrelius@aol.com. • South Bay Amateur Radio Club Monthly Meeting, 7:30-9 p.m., Torrance Memorial Hospital, West Tower, Room B. Saturday, May 17 • 27th annual Walk For Life, “Every Step Matters” (The Pregnancy Help Center), 8:30 a.m., south side of Veterans Park in Redondo Beach. For more information call (310) 320-8976 or email info@ phctorrance.org. • Classical Crossroads presents Korean Pianist Somang Jeagal, 3:30 p.m., First Lutheran Church of Torrance, 2900 W. Carson Street. • Landscaping With Native Friendly and Drought Tolerant Plants, 10-11:30 a.m., Henderson Library, 4805 Emerald St. For more information call (310) 371-2075. Wednesday, May 21 • Miracle of Living Health Educational Lecture Series: Act FAST: the Key to Stroke Survival, 7 p.m., Torrance Memorial , Hoffman Health Conference Center, 3330 Lomita Blvd. For more information call (310) 517-4711. Friday, May 23 • The Beach Cities Symphony’s last free concert of its 64th season, 8:15 p.m., Marsee Auditorium at El Camino College in Torrance. For more information call (310) 379-9725 or (310) 539-4649. Ongoing • Downtown Torrance Marketplace. Every Thursday, 3-8 p.m., on El Prado Street, from Sartori to the Buffalo Fire Department. • No On Prop 218 Regarding “Notice of Public Hearing” for proposed rate increases for sewage treatment called Proposition 218, I strongly vote “NO” under any uncertain terms. At least for the last 12 years and possibly longer, the Mayors of the City of Torrance and their City Council Members have all levied fees and taxes upon its residents every single year that they have been in office. These are some of the individuals that have been responsible for these fees and taxes: Ashcraft, Barnett, Brewer, Furey, Numark, Rhilinger, Weideman, Sutherland and Scotto. As a side note, with the upcoming election, I would not vote for any of these individuals that are currently running for office, because they have all been a part of taking money out of the pockets of City of Torrance residents. These increases have included or have been partly included on a yearly basis: Refuse, Water, Sanitation and Sewer. We residents pay enough taxes to the city, the county and the state and still are asked for more. Property taxes, Utility taxes, Gasoline taxes and Sales taxes and that is just for residents and does not even include what businesses pay in taxes. Every time I open up a utility bill, there is a “Notice” of some sort for yet another rate increase and the CPU always grants the increase I would say enough is enough! One of these days the cities, the counties and the State of California are going to wake up before it is too late and quit taxing and spending our money. They all think they have a right to what a person earns. They do not! – James C. Cox Jr. Remembering Aurelio Mattucci from Years Ago My husband Chuck and I have agreed our selection for Torrance City Councilman is Aurelio Mattucci. As senior citizens, we first met Aurelio many years before he thought of politics. When we met Aurelio he had recently purchased a building of apartments, while he was refurbishing them, each evening Aurelio would stroll throughout our neighborhood, eventually meeting all of his neighbors. Chuck and I were removing a dying peppertree, we had planned to rent a large dumpster; Aurelio offered the use of his dumpster, and with his large flatbed trailer he hauled off the tree trunk, he was just that kind of a kind man. We learned later that we were among other residences; Aurelio did small, yet, very thoughtful favors. There are those types of people who have that rare quality of being able to add a polished touch onto an already shinny day. My husband and I, though seniors, we are accomplished artist who donate our art to fundraisers; therefore, we were all the more impressed by a young man like Aurelio Mattucci donating his valuable time doing many helpful errands such as taking his truck to pick-up a water-heater for a neighbor. After Aurelio sold his apartments, being an astute real estate broker, well studied in Torrance’s most recent codes permits, zoning purposed for various businesses Aurelio worked extensively bringing lucrative businesses into Torrance’s magnificent area of real estate. One Saturday morning while riding our bicycles, we re-discovered Aurelio he was as helpful as ever to Torrance, he had started his community improvement service called the Mattucci Project which helps folks volunteer to have their property cleaned up. Aurelio considered his volunteer efforts as a wise investment to build relationships between residents and business owners. He and his fellow-volunteers have bagged over 10 tons of trash. Chuck and I had problems finding out who’s in charge to fix our street light, Aurelio had the information from a prior street light problem, without hesitation he called the number, after a quick conversation our 8 month blackout, the light is now lit. Through wisdom Aurelio has evolved his comprehensive education completely in the field of public relations, and Torrance real estate. The essence of his enthusiasm is perpetually adding the most recent information for solutions to Torrance’s on-going complexities, immensely increasing his abilities as a prominent real estate broker. Such a man would be a valuable asset to Torrance’s future City Council; therefore, that is why Chuck and myself two active seniors citizens are peddling our bicycles throughout Torrance campaigning for our longtime friend, Aurelio Mattucci for “City Councilman”. – Chuck and Dora Meyer Scotto Gives Final State of the City Address By Charlene Nishimura Torrance Mayor Frank Scotto gave his final “State of the City” address on May 1 to a crowd of well- wishers which included family, city colleagues and many business leaders and professionals from the South Bay. The Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce organized the farewell dinner event, where Mayor Scotto received several commendations and was able to reflect on accomplishments made during his eight-year tenure as mayor. Even in a challenging economic downturn period, Mayor Scotto noted many areas of improvement including increased city government transparency, adoption of a strategic and general plan, establishment of a “blue ribbon” committee to promote ethics and integrity as well as an unemployment rate which has dropped significantly. Mayor Scotto also pointed out that Torrance continues to be one of the safest cities in America and credited the outstanding police and fire personnel, many of who were present. He touted the Torrance Unified School District which continues to excel and congratulated the community and business volunteers who enabled the city’s 100th Anniversary celebration and Torrance Armed Forces annual event to be so successful. The city’s green waste recycling, funding for a new Transit Center, Downtown Torrance revitalization, Del Amo mall expansion and the new Toyota Sports Complex were also notable accomplishments mentioned. He also addressed the recent announcement of Toyota Motor Sales’ move to Texas by the end of 2017 and said that the Toyota has pledged to continue their involvement with local charities and that the city is already talking to companies who have expressed interest in filling the void. Mayor Scotto expressed his thanks to his colleagues and all who have made this “an incredible journey which he will cherish for a lifetime.” • Mary Hoffman, Shirley Pe and Torrance Councilman Pat Furey. Mike Griffiths and Debi Price. Photos by Charlene Nishimura. (L to R) Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce Chairwoman Sherry Kramer, Senior Deputy Steven A. Napolitano representing LA County Supervisor Don Knabe’s office and TACC President and CEO Donna Duperron. (L to R) Mike Goguen, Aaron Aalcides, Torrance Councilman Bill Sutherland and Geoffrey Rizzo. (L to R) Craig Shiosaki from the Torrance Police Officers Association, Torrance PD Detective Lucas Ryono, Leilani Kimmel-Dagostino and Eric Dowell from TPOA. City Council from front page Council would have dealt with. The students presented two proclamations: first, to Fire Chief William Racowschi for Fire Service Day. Racowschi took the opportunity to remind people to check their smoke alarms twice a year before taking a photo with Abracosta. The second proclamation declared the week of May 12 as Bike Commute Week. Community Development representative Jill Crump and Torrance Transit representative Ashley Koger were questioned by the student Council about what the city is doing encourage workers to ditch their cars for pedal power. The pair responded by informing the public that next Thursday the city will be hosting a “pit stop” in front of City Hall from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. with snacks and shirts for bikers and directed the public to metro.net to find out other incentives for bikers. Before handing back their positions to the city’s executive staff, the students presented one more proclamation, this one honor to Mayor Scotto for his role in creating Students and Government Day. Frank Scotto remarked See City Council, page 13
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