Page 4 December 1, 2016 TORRANCE TRIBUNE TerriAnn in Torrance Story and Photos by TerriAnn Ferren “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of The Year,” written in 1963 by Edward Pola and George Wyle, was popularized by Andy Williams when he included it in his first Christmas album. Today is the first day of December and most of us are in full swing of holiday mode getting ready for Christmas or Hanukkah. The town definitely is beginning to look a lot like Christmas with decorations in stores and parking lots…and on neighborhood lawns, even though our weather is mild. If you are like me, the thought of accomplishing everything in three weeks seems a bit overwhelming. My Christmas tree still sits in the garage, waiting. Because my house was Thanksgiving central, my Christmas decorating was put on the backburner until now – I mean who likes to look at a Christmas tree during Thanksgiving dinner? Now is the time for action! So now, looking around my house, I clearly see that I need help in the decorating department. But where does one find the time? Have you ever felt behind before you even begin? Thank goodness I began leaving my white twinkle lights up years ago, which means the only thing I need to do is plug them in for a fairy-like quality in the garden. Okay, that is done. The tree? Needing help, my handyman assists me with hauling it into the living room every year and placing it on top of a small table (to make it taller). For the life of me, I can’t figure out why, but looking at my living room, except for hanging Christmas stockings over the fireplace and a log in the fire, my house looks like Christmas all year. By adding one decoration every day, little bit by little bit, my home will look more festive. How do the citizens of Torrance get ready for the holiday? Resident Scott Villalva did put his Christmas lights up after Thanksgiving, as he said he would, just like many in Torrance, that helps Torrance sparkle with Christmas spirit. You may stroll or drive your car with your family down the streets of one of the most beautiful Christmas neighborhoods in Southern California by enjoying the twinkling lights from now until New Year’s. Located in Southwest Torrance, bordered on the south by Pacific Coast Highway and on the east by Calle Mayor, Sleepy Hollow is truly a sparkling white wonderland delight keeping up the spirit of Southern California’s own magical tradition. The next day I spoke with several people who were busy planning for the holidays. Estella Hands-Free from front page 33rd Annual Holiday Time including the tree light section in town November 29 - December 4, 2016 Located in the white tent at Skypark Drive and Medical Center Drive Enjoy beautifully decorated holiday trees, boutique, food court and local entertainment SENIOR DAYS Wednesday, Nov. 30 ...... 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1 ............ 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Free admission to seniors COMMUNITY SERVICE GROUPS Thursday, Dec. 1 ................4 p.m. - 9 p.m. Special rate of $2 for admission PUBLIC EXHIBIT / BOUTIQUE SHOPPING Tuesday, Nov. 29 ........... 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30 .......10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1 .............10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2 .................. Closed to Public Saturday, Dec. 3 ..............10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4 ................10 a.m. - 4 p.m. $5 General Admission Children 5 and under are free 3330 Lomita Blvd., Torrance, CA 90505 • 310-517-4606 www.TorranceMemorial.org/HolidayFestival Festival Trees for Pre-Sale Nov. 29 - Dec 1 Win a Lexus! Grand Prize 2017 Lexus RX 350 Donated by Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. Call 310-517-4703 to buy opportunity drawing tickets. Morones plans on celebrating Christmas with her brother and family in Las Vegas. “Everybody will be there, my nephew called me and asked me if I was coming - and I will be so happy,” said Estella, smiling. Next, I spoke with Aida Mondragon who told me, “Well, I put up Christmas lights inside and out – well, my son usually does the inside. I decorate our house!” Debbie Palosi said, “I am working at the store and helping our customers get ready for Christmas.” Laura Hofmann added, “Well, I don’t have a whole lot of time to do that because I work late Christmas Eve, but I do the traditional Christmas tree with the lights and I have my family over Christmas Eve and we open our presents then. And then it is right back to work right after Christmas.” Gail Shota confessed, “The first thing we do is get ready for taking pictures for our family Christmas card. Then it rolls after that, but until that’s done it kind of drags. Then we rush and then a week before Christmas we mellow out. We get our tree this weekend. Christmas is usually potluck, so we might make one or two dishes.” Allen Teng told me, “I am looking on Amazon.com for a variety of gifts for ideas to give to people. We usually have a dinner party and invite relatives over and gifts have always been a difficult thing…everybody just decides at the last minute. I am trying to do it early to get some ideas, but I am still stuck. We put Christmas lights around the windows always. We do a Christmas tree and the kids help with the ornaments and we leave it up until after New Year’s.” It sounds as if neighbors in Torrance have Christmas decorating well in hand. When I was growing up, every December my parents would pile my sister Linda, my brother Tommy and me into our car, searching for Christmas light displays in Southern California. It is nice to know there are still neighborhoods going the extra mile, putting up Christmas and Hanukkah decorations and lights. And don’t forget to check the schedule for the Santa Float that will be visiting Torrance neighborhoods through Monday, December 19. Since 1969, the Torrance Police Officers Association has sponsored this annual event. Don’t miss it! For all float information, access www.torrancepoa.com. And remember, if you want another free family adventure, take a stroll or drive through the neighborhoods of Torrance, discovering decorations galore during this “most wonderful time of the year.” • ing vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists is tops on state and federal government to-do lists next year. While individual responsibility and self-control by drivers are key to the success Debbie Palosi. Allen Teng. of the traffic safety campaign, an inexpensive device sold at stores and gas stations could be the difference between a ticket and a safe driving record. A cell phone can be used legally as long as it’s mounted to the windshield or dashboard and the driver swipes the screen of the phone or device, under the change in law. Getting caught holding a cell phone, a Blackberry or any messaging device after January 1 can result in a citation. A first offense of the hands-off law is $20, with an increase to $50 for repeat violations. The phone holders sell for between $6 and $30, and attach to the front windshield or hang from the air vents, according to a Google search. Department stores and online retailers list them on their websites in car accessories. Some manufacturers call their product a phone cradle. Assemblyman Bill Quirk (D-Hayward) said he wrote the bill to bring the hands-free driving law up to speed with technology. He announced the signing of his bill into law in September, and cited statistics from the California Department of Motor Vehicles and the California Highway Patrol about the high numbers of citations issued to drivers whom officers observed writing, reading or sending texts or talking on a wireless phone while driving. In 2015, the Highway Patrol issued more than 13,000 citations for violating the ban on writing, sending or reading text-based communications while driving, and 78,000 citations for using a wireless telephone while driving. “Technology has improved so rapidly, and our cell phones are more capable of much more than just calls and text messages. Smartphones have an abundance of available features that demand a driver’s attention, leading to very dangerous driving behavior. However, such activities are not clearly prohibited by law,” Quirk said. The Governor signed Quirk’s bill in September, prompting the Northern California lawmaker to say “the accidents, injuries and deaths associated with this form of distracted driving are completely preventable. … This bill will save lives.” A Fresno appellate court in 2014 ruled that using a mapping app on a smartphone did not violate the state’s ban on driving while using a cell phone. A Fresno man who was cited after an office saw him checking his phone argued successfully that the existing law was vague on the issue of using electronic maps, either on a phone or a GPS device. If a paper is okay under the law, why not an electronic one, the defendant argued. Police departments insisted, despite the appellate court decision exception to the law for Google and Apple maps, they could issue citations for distracted driving under a different section of the California vehicle code. The Fresno appeals court limited its decision to the cell phone driving law and did not expand its ruling to protect all electronic maps. Earlier this year, the Automobile Club of America (AAA) revealed that 87 percent of drivers admitted taking unnecessary risks behind the wheel, including driving while distracted. Other risk behaviors drivers said they were guilty of included driving impaired or drowsy, speeding, running red traffic lights, and not wearing a seatbelt. “There is a culture of indifference for far too many drivers when it comes to road safety,” said Peter Kissinger, President and CEO of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Two-thirds of motorists told the AAA they had talked on a cell phone while driving in the past month, while nearly one-third said they do it regularly. Another 42 percent said they had read a text message while driving in the same time period, while 32 percent of drivers said they typed or sent a text while in the car. Those revelations prompted a Southern California AAA spokesman to characterize the attitude about phones and texting as “do as I say, not as I do” even though drivers know better. Many drivers admit to engaging in the same dangerous behaviors they criticize as unacceptable and life-threatening, said Anita Lorz Villagrana, the Community Programs & Traffic Safety manager. It’s estimated that distracted driving causes 3,000 deaths per year in the United States, and the actual number is believed to be even higher. Drivers who take their eyes off the road for more than two seconds can double their risk of being in a crash, researchers warn. Play it safe this year and give phone holders as holiday gifts to family, teens and friends. They’ll be glad, and ready for the new year because you did. •
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