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Page 2 November 22, 2018 EL SEGUNDO HERALD Police Briefs Kiwanis Good Citizen Award: Brandon Vlahos Brandon Vlahos was driving in the area of Walnut Avenue and Pepper Street when he observed a male riding a bicycle. Vlahos watched as the man got off the bicycle and peered into a window of a nearby home. The man got back on his bicycle and rode a few blocks before stopping next to a parked truck. Vlahos saw the man attempt to open a utility cabinet on the side of the truck, but was unsuccessful. As he rode away, the man noticed Vlahos was following him. He circled back to Vlahos’ vehicle and spoke to Vlahos before riding away. Believing this activity to be suspicious, Vlahos called the police and gave a detailed description of the man and his direction of travel. Based on the information provided, El Segundo officers arrested the man for burglary. – Source: ESPD L to R, El Segundo Kiwanis Club President Ty Leisher, Brandon Vlahos, El Segundo Police Chief Bill Whalen. Photo by Amanda O’Donnell. Thanksgiving Fire Safety By James Carver, El Segundo Fire Department Happy Thanksgiving! Today is a holiday with family and friends, watching the Macy’s Parade and some football, having a Thanksgiving dinner with turkey, potatoes, and the stuffing. But what about the turkey? Are you deep-frying it? Oh, a deep-fried turkey is great and rather tasty, but improperly done, a mismanaged deep-fried turkey can destroy your house and holiday. Some fire dangers associated with deep frying a turkey include: • Units can easily tip over, spilling hot cooking oil over a large area. • An overfilled cooking pot or partially frozen turkey will cause cooking oil to spill when the turkey is inserted. • A small amount of cooking oil coming into contact with the burner can cause a large fire. • Without thermostat controls, deep fryers have the potential to overheat the oil to the point of combustion. • The sides of the cooking pot, lid and pot handles can get dangerously hot, creating severe burn hazards. The El Segundo Fire Department wants you to be fire-safe and have an enjoyable Thanksgiving. Some safety precautions you can take if deep frying a turkey include: • Fryers should always be used outdoors, on a solid level surface a safe distance from buildings and flammable materials. • Never use a fryer on a wooden deck, under a patio cover, in a garage or enclosed space. • Do not overfill the fryer, always read and follow the instructions. • Make sure the turkey is completely thawed before it is placed in a fryer. • Never leave the fryer unattended because, without thermostat controls, the oil will continue to heat until it catches fire. • Never let children or pets near the fryer when in use or after use, as the oil can remain hot for hours. • When putting the turkey in or taking it out of the fryer, use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts and wear long sleeves and safety goggles to protect your eyes from oil splatter. • Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher nearby. As with any fire, please call 9-1-1 immediately if a turkey fryer fire occurs. Other hazards to attend to include to not use frayed or repaired extension cords and if you are using extension cords, do not overload the electrical outlet and do not run extension cords in walkways to help prevent falls. If using a portable electric heater make sure it is a listed unit, has a tip-over shut off switch and keep the heater at least three feet from nearby combustibles. Never use a fuel-fired portable heater or hibachi indoors. Again this year, the El Segundo Fire Department, with fire departments throughout the Southland, is participating in the Spark of Love Toy Drive. We collect toys and sports equipment and distribute to non-profit organizations to help provide a happier holiday for a deserving child. You can bring your new, unwrapped toy or sport equipment to Fire Station 1 during normal business hours until December 24. • Throwback Thursday: Detective Lou Kutil Fire Safety Corner The photo is of El Segundo Police Department Detective Lou Kutil, Serial #220, circa 1975, looking for clues and dusting the fingerprints. Love those mutton chops! Source and Photo: ESPD. • “Eliminate all other factors, and the one which remains must be the truth.” – Sherlock Holmes City Council from front page document. He also asked if there could be a “work-around” to allow EDAC to maintain its role as a “think tank” without risking the loss of vital members. Saying that the City has “tap-danced around this issue too long,” Boyles called it “the right thing to do” to enforce the Form 700 even if it results in a couple of members running for the hills. King confirmed that EDAC Chair Al Keahi had “some concerns” about the Form 700, but added that the latter also does not believe the group specifically influences spending decisions. Meanwhile, the Technology Committee met recently but didn’t have a quorum. King said the members may opt to stand pat and not get involved in vendor selections. But whether a Form 700 kicks in or not won’t be up to the two groups. “Advisory bodies serve at the pleasure of the Council,” King said. “It’s really the Council’s decision if they want active involvement.” Ultimately, the Council decided to have upcoming dialogue with both EDAC and the Technology Committee to discuss the matter at length before returning to the dais next month with a resolution. Though the Council previously agreed to consolidate its 2022 municipal election with statewide contests (a Senate bill-mandated move after El Segundo’s voter turnout was below a prescribed threshold), City Clerk Tracy Weaver asked to move the date up to March 2020. Her reason was because the City’s election consultant, Martin & Chapman Co., is going out of business and it will be too costly and labor-intensive for the City to conduct the 2020 election as a stand-alone. Weaver also reported on the case of the City of Manhattan Beach, which recently looked for a new vendor but the potential candidates backed out because the municipality is not large enough. That fact (considering El Segundo is even smaller than Manhattan Beach) and that the vendors in question are all out of state and pricey to boot led Weaver to recommend consolidation with Los Angeles County in 2020. The Council members could have opted for a November election that year instead of March, but that would have lengthened the terms of Boyles, Pirsztuk and Brann by seven months. “I’d rather do less time than I was sentenced to than more time,” Brann said of the move that will reduce his four-year term by a month. • Have a wonderful T hanksgiving. Herald Publications will be Closed on Thursday, November 22 and Friday, November 23.


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