The Weekly Newspaper of Torrance Herald Publications - Torrance, El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Hawthorne, Lawndale, & Inglewood Community Newspapers Since 1911 - (310) 322-1830 - Vol. 5, No. 22 - May 28, 2015 Inside This Issue Certified & Licensed Professionals.....................10 Classifieds............................4 Crossword/Sudoku.............4 Film Review..........................4 Food.......................................5 Legals....................................9 Police Reports.....................3 Real Estate.........................12 Sports....................................6 TerriAnn in Torrance..........7 Weekend Forecast Torrance Wins Mayor’s Challenge The City of Torrance came in first place for mid-sized cities in the 2015 Wyland National Mayor’s Challenge For Water Conservation. The challenge was started by marine artist and conservationist Wyland and is a friendly competition between cities across the nation challenging residents to go online to pledge to conserve water during April’s Earth Month. Pictured is Wyland (in blue cap) presenting certificate to (L to R) City of Torrance Councilman Geoff Rizzo, Councilman Kurt Weideman, Councilman Tim Goodrich, Mayor Patrick J. Furey, Councilmember Heidi Ashcraft, Councilman Gene Barnett and Councilman Mike Griffiths. Photo provided by Councilman Tim Goodrich. Friday AM Clouds/ PM Sun 75˚/61˚ Saturday AM Clouds/ PM Sun 74˚/62˚ Sunday AM Clouds/ PM Sun 75˚/61˚ Torrance Library’s New Delivery Van Makes Life Easier for Staff By Cristian Vasquez “Find Yourself at the Torrance Library” is the message on every side of the Torrance Library’s new and improved delivery van. The images of a kid opening a book and octopus crawling out of the pages decorates one side of the van while a woman playing the violin fills the other side. “This project started as we were looking for ways to celebrate our library’s centennial back in 2013,” Principal Librarian of Operations Dana Vinke Librarian said. “One of the things that I had suggested was what if we did a vehicle wrap to promote the library through the delivery van.” As the idea of wrapping the library’s delivery van in order to draw attention to the library was further considered, staff realized that the delivery van being used at the time needed to be replaced. Vinke, who described the old van as not being too ergonomic, required staff to crawl to get in and out of the van in order to load and unload. “I looked at several different options when we were in the process of shopping. We knew what we wanted but to access things was really a challenge,” Vinke said. “I wanted something that people could get in and out of and not hurt themselves.” After several repairs being made to the old delivery van, it was determined that the vehicle would not be around much longer. Opting against wrapping the old delivery van the search for a newer vehicle was underway, so Vinke approached the city’s fleet services department. Fleet services indicated that the library had some funds available that could be used to obtain a new vehicle. “The city generally has what is known as a vehicle fund where every year they put a little bit of money away with the idea that eventually one would have to replace that particular vehicle,” Vinke said. “At fleet services I saw the van we have now.” At the time the van was in possession of the police department as a mobile crime unit but it no longer suited the department’s needs. So the library was able to swap their vehicle fund with police department for the van. Once the swap was made, the interior of the van was outfitted to allow for delivery of books and other materials between the main library and its branches, including adjustable shelves. “The old one [delivery van] was small and we had to crawl through it, this one at least you could walk into and stand in,” General Library Clerk Dennis Matsumoto, who drives the delivery van Monday through Friday said. “I go to all the branches and come back here to reload. It carries more and it gives you fairly good mileage.” See Torrance Library, page 10 Fire Department Terms for Responses When Away From Duty Stations By Cristian Vasquez The city council approved a resolution that identifies the terms and conditions for the city’s fire department personnel when called away from official duty stations and assigned to an emergency incident. “What this item before you tonight is, is in light in of a change to the California Fire Assistance Agreement which eliminates what is known as the portal-to-portal reimbursement for fire department personnel unless a Memorandum of Understanding or a governing body resolution is in place that confirms that our personnel will be compensated on a portal-to-portal basis for all assigned emergency incidents in the state of California,” Torrance Fire Chief William Racowschi said. “It is just verifying and confirming that it is what we do.” At the request of California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services [Cal OES], Cal Fire, federal fire agencies, through the California Fire and Rescue Mutual Aid System, the City of Torrance Fire Department can respond to emergency situations in different parts of “California in the event of a local, State, or federal emergency,” indicates the staff report. See City Council, page 10
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