The Weekly Newspaper of Torrance
Herald Publications - Torrance, El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Hawthorne, Lawndale, & Inglewood Community Newspapers Since 1911 - (310) 322-1830 - Vol. 7, No. 49 - December 7, 2017
Inside
This Issue
Certified & Licensed
Professionals.......................9
Classifieds............................4
Crossword/Sudoku.............4
Entertainment......................2
Legals....................................8
Pets......................................12
Real Estate...................10-11
Sports....................................5
TerriAnn in Torrance..........6
Weekend
Forecast
Torrance Area Chamber Hosts
South Bay Health Leaders
Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce brings leaders from South Bay health care facilities together for a panel discussion about the affordability, accessibility and quality of health care. Photo provided
by Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce.
Middle Schools Get Go-Ahead to
Apply for 2018 WWUW Tech Trek
By Cristian Vasquez
A unanimous vote on Monday by
members of the Torrance School Board
approved a request that all Torrance Unified
School District (TUSD) middle schools
apply to participate in the 2018 American
Association of University Women’s
(AAUW) Tech Trek.
Tech Trek is a camp that takes place
at several university campuses, including
Whittier College, University of California
Irvine, University of California Santa
Barbara and University of California San
Diego. Each middle school must nominate
five to six of its seventh grade girls
based on their performance and interest
in math and science. Each nominee is
required to submit an essay and then
must be interviewed.
This science camp will allow middle
school girls to go away for a week in
July or August of next year and engage
in hands-on math and science activities.
Tech Trek is a science and math camp
dedicated to developing interest and excitement,
along with self-confidence in
young women who are on track to begin
the eighth grade during the upcoming fall
after the camp.
While organized by the AAUW, credentialed
middle school teachers as well
as guest presenters conduct the camp.
Included in the week of activities are
See School Board, page 8
Friday
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Saturday
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Sunday
AM Clouds/
PM Sun
79˚/54˚
Council Approves Grant Funding
for Six Social Services Agencies
By Cristian Vasquez
The Torrance City Council on Tuesday voted
in favor of a recommendation by the Parks
and Recreation Commission and Community
Services Director John Jones to approve grant
funding in the amount of $20,000. From January
16, 2018-December 31, 2018 six non-profit
social services agencies will benefit from the
proceeds.
On November 8 the Parks and Recreation
Commission reviewed a report presented by
the Grant’s Committee and unanimously agreed
to support the committee’s recommendation,
which included $5,000 to the Cancer Support
Community; $5,000 to the Health Care &
Elder law Program (H.E.L.P); $2,500 to the
Torrance-Lomita Meals on Wheels; $2,500
for the South Bay Children’s Health Center;
$2,500 for the Pregnancy Help Center; and
$2,500 for The Volunteer Center.
For 33 years, the Non-Profit Social Service
Agency Grant has been contributing to local
agencies. On August 13, 2017 the 2018 Grant
Program was announced, along with a Notice
of Funding Availability. From August 14 to
September 15, the Grant Program received 21
applications for the combined $82,500 requested.
“Staff reviewed the applications and determined
that they all met the grant application
requirements,” states the staff report signed by
Jones. “One of the requirements is that any
applicant that received funding during previous
grant cycles must be in good standing,
meaning they have completed all of the grant
requirements for the previous grant award(s).”
Through the use of a scoring matrix, the
three-person committee provided an overview
rating for the $5,000 and $2,500 grant applicants.
There were a total of 12 applications for
the $5,000 grants, including Torrance-South
Bay YMCA, Providence Trinitycare Hospice
Foundation, South Bay Literacy Council,
1736 Family Crisis Center, South Bay Village,
Harbor Interfaith Services, Caring House,
ICAN, Westside Center for Independent Living,
and the Roaring 90s Club. For the $2,500
grants, there were nine applicants, including
Junior Blind of America, Nuestras Raices,
Casa de Angelitos, King Harbor Youth Foundation
and Walk With Sally.
The Council voted unanimously to approve
grant funding for all six non-profits. However,
Councilman Geoff Rizzo abstained from voting
on allocating funds to the Pregnancy Help Center.
“I am a regular donor to that organization,” he
said. “If possible, I request that we take this
under two motions. I have no problems with
any of the other agencies associated here. I can
vote on those, but I just don’t feel comfortable
See City Council, page 4