TORRANCE TRIBUNE July 3, 2014 Page 3 Calendar Thursday, July 3 • “Fun In The Sun” non-custodial park program, 12:30-2:30 p.m., Columbia Park, 4045 190th Street. For more information call (310) 618-2930. • Tyke Hike (3 months - 6 years), 10- 11:30 a.m., Madrona Marsh Nature Center and Preserve, 3201 Plaza Del Am. For more information call (310) 782-3989. Monday, July 7 • Mystery Book Group, 6:30 p.m., North Torrance Library, 3604 Artesia Blvd. For more information call (310) 323-7200. Tuesday, July 8 • City Council Meeting, 7-10 p.m., City Hall, Council Chamber, 3031 Torrance Bl. For more information call (310) 618-2870. • 23rd Small Concert-Kyung Hi Yi, 6:30 p.m., James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive. Free. For more information call (310) 781-7171. • Torrance Artists Guild meeting and demonstration, 7 p.m., Ken Miller Center, 3330 Civic Center Drive. • Fun In The Sun, 12:30-2:30 p.m., Delthorne Park, 3401 Spencer Street. For more information call (310) 618-2930. Wednesday, July 9 • Carpenter Wagon Program (wood craft projects) in limited sessions, Noon-3 p.m., Hickory Park, 2850 232nd Street. For more information call (310) 618-2930. Thursday, July 10 • Free workshop - “How to create an effective online promotion or event”, 10 a.m.-Noon, South Bay Small Business Development Center, 13430 Hawthorne Blvd. For more information & to register, visit: http://bit.ly/oasbdc or call (310) 791-6300. Friday, July 11 • Paws to Read: Michael Rayner’s Unpredictable Police Reports Comedy Show, 2 p.m., Katy Geissert Library, 3301 Torrance Blvd. For more information call (310) 618-5964. • Vandalism 6/20/2014 11:25 PM 1400 BLOCK MARCELINA AVE Suspect(s) kicks in door for entry / unknown loss at time of report Theft 6/23/2014 9:00:00 AM 20800 BLOCK HIGGINS CT Suspect(s) takes property from victim’s vehicle’s engine compartment/ battery Battery-Simple 6/20/2014 6:46:12 PM 3400 BLOCK GARNET ST Suspect punches victim in the chest Battery-Simple 6/20/2014 6:10:00 PM 23400 BLOCK HAWTHORNE BLVD Suspect strikes victim in the head several times Battery-Weapon/Agg 6/20/2014 3:17:58 PM 3400 BLOCK GARNET ST Suspect uses a cane to strike victim in the face causing injury Theft 6/20/2014 12:25 PM 19300 BLOCK HAWTHORNE BLVD Suspect takes secured property from side of business/ bicycle Battery-Simple 6/20/2014 12:00:23 PM 238TH ST & WALNUT ST Suspect pushes victim causing her to fall to the ground Burglary-Auto 6/20/2014 11:00:00 AM 23200 BLOCK ROBERT ROAD Suspect(s) enters unlocked vehicle and takes property/purse Theft 6/20/2014 5:00:00 PM 3700 BLOCK 230TH ST Suspect(s) takes unsecured property from parking garage/bicycle Burglary-Auto 6/17/2014 1:00:00 PM 1700 BLOCK SEPULVEDA BLVD Suspect(s) enters unlocked vehicle and takes property/cell phone Burglary-Commercial 6/16/2014 8:00:00 AM 3800 BLOCK PACIFIC COAST HWY Suspect(s) enters secured business by unknown means and takes property/ cash • California Legislature Kicking into High Gear By Brandon Matson, Torrance Chamber of Commerce The Torrance community is catching its breath after a busy and exciting election season; however, the California legislature is kicking into high gear. Politicians continue to make painstaking decisions on another minimum wage increase and mandated paid sick leave for part-time employees. California is well over halfway through the 2013-2014 legislative cycle. The end of May marked a key deadline in the legislature as all non-tax related bills were required to pass out of their House of Origin or face termination. The legislature is under the gun as they begin a summer recess period commencing July 4 and ending on August 3. Following the recess, California legislators will have only four short weeks to make final decisions on the myriad bills still in limbo. If a bill’s fate is not determined by the August 31 deadline to pass all bills for this legislative cycle, then it will no longer be under consideration. With the recess looming, our legislators were hard at work in their respective policy committees as the June 27th deadline for all policy committees to meet and report bills approached. Many eyes were watching the legislation authored by State Senator Mark Leno, of the 11th State Senate district, attempting to raise the California minimum wage for the second straight year. Just last year, the legislature voted to increase California’s minimum wage to $9.00/hr beginning July 1, 2014, and to $10.00/hr on January 1, 2016. Sen. Leno’s bill, SB 935: Minimum wage: annual adjustment, sought to expedite and increase the current law to reach $11.00/hr on January 1, 2015 and eventually $13.00/hr on January 1, 2017. The bill would also require the wage to continue to increase according to the Consumer Price Index. Although the bill passed out of the State Senate just a few weeks prior, the legislation failed to pass out of the Assembly’s Labor and Employment Committee. Another closely watched bill, AB 1522: Employment: paid sick days, authored by Assemblymember Gonzalez of the 80th State Assembly district, is seeking to mandate employers to provide paid sick leave for part-time California workers. The bill, which was passed out of the Assembly this past May, is still alive in the State Senate as the legislation recently passed out of the Senate Judiciary committee: however, it did not pass unscathed. The bill originally required employers to provide paid sick leave to parttime employees who work a minimum of seven calendar days in a year; however, the bill was amended in the Senate to require employees to work a minimum of 30 days in a calendar year to receive the paid sick leave benefits. Following the amendment, the bill was re-referred to the Senate Appropriations committee where it will continue to be reviewed and subsequently voted on by policymakers. With another busy election season only a few months away and the August 31 legislation deadline rapidly approaching, the Torrance community will be keeping a close eye on the policy decisions of our lawmakers. In order to help guide the community through this multifaceted and often confusing legislative process, the Tribune is excited to announce our new Governmental Affairs column. The column will seek to provide timely and relevant non-partisan reports of the activities of both our legislature and the citizen ballot initiative process to help our readers understand key issues facing our State as we attempt to balance the needs of our environment, our economy, and our people. • Veteran Takes a Hike for Heroes By Dylan Little Taking a hike is usually a way to escape the pressures and responsibilities of everyday life and look inward; however, for Mike Viti, his cross-country trek has a bigger purpose. He is trying to raise awareness and honor the servicemen and women who gave their lives in the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as garnering support for their families. Viti started hiking on April 26 in DuPont, Washington, and will be hiking 7,100 kilometers to Baltimore, Maryland, in memory of the American servicemembers who have given their lives as part of the struggle against terrorism. The distance of his hike corresponds to the number of military personnel that have been killed in theses conflicts. Along the way he will be dedicating one kilometer each to an individual service member, whose names he will add to a set of flags which he plans to present during the Army versus Navy football game. Viti said the inspiration for this monumental trip came from reflecting on the freedoms he can enjoy due to the sacrifices of his fellow servicemembers. “When I left the service last spring it gave me a new appreciation and a new lens to look out of to appreciate the freedom that I have,” said Viti. “The reason I have those freedoms is the 6,816 heroes who gave absolutely everything. The best thing I could think of is to pay tribute and honor them. I want to walk a kilometer for each one of them through their hometowns and across the country they swore an oath of allegiance to protect.” He hopes his hike will bring attention to the sacrifice that service members killed in action made for their nation as well as grow support for families that lost members during the conflict. Viti would like to see all Americans reach out to “Gold Star” families that are still grappling with the loss of a loved one and listen to their story and thank them Joseph Anzack Sr. signs his son’s name on a flag carried by Mike Viti. Viti is hiking from Washington to Maryland in honor of the service men and women who gave their lives in the war on terror. Photo by Dylan Little. – NON-TEXAS VERSION – “Ask me about the AARP® Auto & Home Insurance Program from The Hartford.” Now available in your area! Like Us on Facebook Since 1988 Debbie Ladina-Parra VERCH INSURANCE SERVICES This auto and home insurance is designed exclusively for AARP members – and is now available through your local Hartford independent agent! The AARP Automobile & Homeowners Insurance Program from The Hartford is underwritten by Hartford Fire Insurance Company and its affiliates, One Hartford Plaza, Hartford CT 06155. CA license number 5152. 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