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. 50 - December 14, 2017
Inside
This Issue
Certified & Licensed
Professionals.......................9
Classifieds............................4
Crossword/Sudoku.............4
Entertainment......................2
Legals....................................8
Pets......................................12
Police Briefs........................3
Real Estate...................10-11
Sports....................................5
Weekend
Forecast
Friday
Mostly
Sunny
76˚/54˚
Saturday
Partly
Cloudy
68˚/51˚
Sunday
Sunny
70˚/50˚
Torrance Lights Up for Holidays
A Torrance tradition for over 40 years, the Sleepy Hollow Christmas Lights Extravaganza, or Candy Cane Lane, kicked off on December 1 and will continue nightly through New Year’s Day. South Torrance
residents famously dress up their homes with dazzling light displays and decorations, drawing thousands of visitors to the area. The photo showcases one of many festive front lawns. Photo by TerriAnn Ferren
Community Transit to Continue
Operating By Swipe Card System
By Cristian Vasquez
The Torrance City Council on Tuesday unanimously
voted in favor of a recommendation
by Transit Director Kim Turner to approve an
amendment with Cabconnect, Inc. for a sixmonth
extension of the Torrance Community
Transit Program. This third amendment to the
contract with Cabconnect extends the original
agreement until June 30, 2018 for $15,000 and
is not to exceed the entire worth of the contract
for $142,310--all of which will be funded
through the Transit Department’s operating
budget for the 2018 fiscal year.
“The Torrance Community Taxi Program
(TCTP) has been in operation since 2003,
when Torrance consolidated our Senior and
Dial-A-Taxi programs under one service
umbrella,” states the staff report signed by
Turner. “This taxi service allows for greater
flexibility and ease of use for our program
patrons.”
On December 9, 2014 the City Council approved
the initial agreement with Cabconnect
(C2014-150) that implemented the switch of
the TCTP to the current paperless swipe card
system. Prior to the agreement, riders relied
on vouchers. Implementation began in May
2015 with what the staff report described as
minor difficulties, but was overall considered
a successful process. Since the transition two
more amendments extending the contract
have been approved, with Tuesday night’s
extension being the third of its kind since
the program began.
Despite the extension, the staff report
expresses the City of Torrance’s intention
to requests new proposals for the current
system in use. Staff intends to investigate
what new technology is available and study
if it is compatible with what the City would
like to accomplish.
“New emerging technologies may provide
us the opportunity to more efficiently and
effectively provide this taxi service to our patrons,”
states the staff report. “This six-month
extension will provide us time to consider a
potential new vendor for this service as well
as create a smooth transition to that new
vendor, if a new vendor is selected.”
Cabconnect has expressed its interest in
submitting a new proposal for a future project,
but has also agreed to assist in transferring
the project to a new provide if the Transit
Department decides on a new vendor.
Also on Tuesday, the Torrance Public
Library moved closer to its Portable Online
Resource and Technology Access Lab
(PORTAL), which will entail two mobile
technology training carts equipped with
See City Council, page 8
The Bells Are Ringing Once Again
at the Red Kettles in Torrance
Story and Photos by TerriAnn Ferren
TerriAnn in Torrance
Last Saturday, just after 12 noon, I
stopped by a group of Salvation Army
Red Kettle volunteers ringing the bell in
front of Sam’s Club in Torrance. It was
just outside the main entrance where Charlotte
Melsh, her granddaughter Amanda,
and Charlene Nishimura happily greeted
people entering and exiting the store and
wished everyone a Merry Christmas. It
was a very unseasonably hot Saturday
afternoon and the sun was baking the three
red-apron-clad volunteers, but they were
all smiles despite the weather. It was truly
a Southern California December and the
three said the response from the people
was amazingly generous.
Charlotte told me, “I love ringing the bell
and I think it is for a really great cause-
-the Salvation Army--and I brought my
granddaughter, Amanda.” Amanda added,
“It is very hot out here!” Shortly after I
arrived, the organizer of this particular
volunteer shift, Jack Walser, walked up
to the group and asked how things were
going. Jack told me, “We are representing
the Ambassadors with the Torrance Chamber
of Commerce. I am looking forward
to bell ringing, although I did get some
experience this morning. I came early
and a lot of people already contributed. I
really appreciate the Ambassadors taking
See TerriAnn in Torrance, page 6