The Weekly Newspaper of El Segundo Herald Publications - El Segundo, Hawthorne, Lawndale & Inglewood Community Newspapers Since 1911 - (310) 322-1830 - Vol. 108, No. 1 - January 3, 2019 Inside Here’s to a Happy Retirement… This Issue Calendar of Events ............2 Certified & Licensed Professionals ....................11 Classifieds ...........................4 Crossword/Sudoku ............4 Entertainment .....................6 Legals ........................... 10,11 Letters ..................................3 Pets .....................................12 During the holidays, the El Segundo Fire Department family took Firefighter/Paramedic Dina Carr out to lunch to celebrate her last day on the job after 25 years, to congratulate her on her retirement Real Estate. .....................7-9 and thank her for her service. Her colleagues said they will miss her around the station. Photo: ESFD. Sports ................................5,6 El Segundo Year in Review, Part 2 By Brian Simon Golf to improve and manage the nine-hole elected remaining incumbent Emilee Layne Last week’s first part of the 2018 year-end golf course. as well as newcomers Paulette Caudill and review focused mainly on matters within In other golf-related news, the Council in Tracey Miller-Zarneke. El Segundo voters the City of El Segundo itself, including March approved fee increases for the greens also passed (just over 60 percent in favor) department and financial highlights. This and driving range – the first since 2013 – so the $92 million Measure E bond to improve Weekend edition takes a look at other major news those are commensurate with other facilities school facilities, equipment, programs and items that made the headlines as well as the in the surrounding area. enhance site safety. Additionally, the El Forecast top school-related stories. New Pool About to Segundo Education Foundation continued its The Lakes: TopGolf Make Major Splash $1.5 million annual grant to support schools. Returns to the Fore After various construction delays, the new The City partnered with El Segundo High After years of negotiations and various El Segundo-Wiseburn Aquatics Center is School to reestablish Civics Day in which stops and starts, the El Segundo City Council set to officially open on Jan. 5. The facility students proposed solutions to local challenges. Friday in 2017 finally said no to TopGolf’s well- includes an Olympic-sized 53.2-meter, 10- The Center and Richmond schools were two Sunny publicized proposal to revamp the driving lane competition pool as well as a smaller of 75 campuses nationwide to participate in range at The Lakes at El Segundo. That pool, along with stadium seating, scoreboard, the Learning Ovations program to bolster 64˚/50˚ sent staff back to the drawing board in 2018 lighting and a gymnasium. Events leading up literacy achievement. with a request for proposal (RFP) released to the opening included “A Peek at the Pool” El Segundo Middle School was one of this past April looking for new bids for site in May and a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the 22 in the state to earn the 2018 Schools operations, management, improvements and/ end of September. Also in the fall, the City to Watch-Taking Center Stage designation or development. Nine entities responded Council approved facility use agreements with for demonstrating academic excellence, Saturday and the new Council narrowed down the both the El Segundo and Wiseburn unified responsiveness to the needs of young candidates to two finalists: TopGolf (with school districts. Each will get three hours adolescents and social equity. It was also one PM Showers its El Segundo-based partner CenterCal of time at the new pool six days a week. El of 10 schools in the country selected for the 61˚/54˚ Properties) and the similar-in-concept Drive Segundo Unified will also contribute $400,000 Dove Self-Esteem Project: Girl Collective. Shack. After discussions with each of the towards equipment purchase for community El Segundo High garnered a Golden Bell parties as well as out-of-town visits to both and school programming at the Aquatics Award for the Bio-Medical Science Pathway facilities by Council members Scot Nicol Center and will kick in 24 percent of the and a sponsorship gift of $1,000 from the and Chris Pimentel, the Council opted to total project cost (not to exceed $1 million) United Association of California Apprenticeship Sunday negotiate exclusively with TopGolf– pointing for the future renovation of The Plunge. Coordinators. Four students were National to the firm’s proven track record with many School Districts Welcome Merit semifinalists and three earned National AM Showers successful locations (whereas Drive Shack is Newcomers, Continue to Thrive Merits Letters of Commendations 59˚/50˚ new); stronger financial return to the City; It was a busy year for local schools. Three Superintendent Dr. Melissa Moore and agreement to offer El Segundo resident slots were up for grabs on the El Segundo was selected as Association of School rates and early access to the driving range School Board, as members Bill Watkins Administrators Superintendent of the Year plus no-cost access to school groups. Also and Jim Garza chose not to run again in Region 14 and Honorary Commander for new to the deal: The inclusion of Billy Casper November. Out of four candidates, local voters See Year in Review, page 11 Page 2 January 3, 2019 EL SEGUNDO HERALD Another Better Sweater Calendar of Events Here are Cole Huie (age 7) and his mom Street School’s winter concert performance. Deadline for Calendar items is the prior Sheldon St., Call Pam at: 310-318-2856. Marli in their sweaters before heading to Center – Photo Provided by Marli Giannini • Thursday by noon. Calendar items are $1 TUESDAY, JAN. 8 per word. Email listings to marketing@ • Pinochle, 11:30 AM. – 3:30 PM., Senior heraldpublications.com. We accept Visa and Club of El Segundo, 339 Sheldon St., Call MasterCard. Pam at: 310-318-2856. THURSDAY, JAN. 3 WEDNESDAY, JAN. 9 • El Segundo Certified Farmer’s Market, 3:00 • Bowling, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM, 50 Plus, PM. – 7:00 PM., located on Main Street, Senior Club of El Segundo, Gable House Downtown El Segundo. Bowl, 22501 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance, • WINTER BREAK - NO SCHOOL FOR Cost: $8.25 for 3 games, Call Joyce at: ALL ESUSD STUDENTS!! 310-322-7621. • El Segundo Historical Committee Meeting, • ESHS PTA Meeting, 7:00 PM., ESHS Li- 7:00 PM. – 8:00 PM., El Segundo Public brary, 640 Main Street, Call: 310-615-2662. Library, 111 W. Mariposa Ave., Call: Sari: THURSDAY, JAN. 10 310-364-0117. • El Segundo Certified Farmer’s Market, 3:00 FRIDAY, JAN. 4 PM. – 7:00 PM., located on Main Street, • WINTER BREAK - NO SCHOOL FOR Downtown El Segundo. ALL ESUSD STUDENTS!! • Eagles’ Nest PTO Meeting, 6:15 PM., 641 • Bingo, 1:00 PM. - 3:00 PM., 50 Plus, $3.00 Sheldon Street, Call: 310-615-2650. minimum, Senior Club of El Segundo, 339 FRIDAY, JAN. 11 Sheldon St., Call Diane: 310-640-9577. • Bingo, 1:00 PM. - 3:00 PM., 50 Plus, $3.00 SATURDAY, JAN. 5 minimum, Senior Club of El Segundo, 339 • GRAND OPENING: The El Segundo Sheldon St., Call Diane: 310-640-9577. Wiseburn Aquatics Center, 10:30 AM. – SATURDAY, JAN. 12 3:00 PM., Live Music, Giveaways, Food • Community Shred Event, 10:00 AM. – 1:00 Vendors, Swim Membership Sale, 2240 E. PM., City Hall parking lot on Standard Grand Ave., El Segundo, CA 90245, Call: Street, All El Segundo Residents Welcome. 310-524-2738. • Open House, 9:00 AM. - 12:00 PM, For • Saturday Night Dance, 7:00 PM. – 9:45 more information please visit: www.vista- PM., Cost: $3.00 Per Person, Adults of all marschool.org/openhouse Ages Welcome, Senior Club of El Segundo, • Yoga & Meditation in Library Park, 10:15 339 Sheldon St., Call: 310-524-2705. AM. – 12:00 PM., All levels of experience • Heritage Room Open to the Public, 1:00 welcome. PM., El Segundo Public Library, 111 W. • Saturday Night Dance, 7:00 PM. – 9:45 Mariposa Avenue, Call Sari: 310-364-0117. PM., Cost: $3.00 Per Person, Adults of all SUNDAY, JAN. 6 Ages Welcome, Senior Club of El Segun- • Bridge & Pinochle Groups, 11:30 AM. – do, 339 Sheldon St., Call: 310-524-2705. 3:45 PM, Senior Club of El Segundo, 339 • Special Called Board of Education Sheldon St., Call Pam at: 310-318-2856. Meeting, 8:00 AM. – 11:30 AM., Super- MONDAY, JAN. 7 intendent’s Conference Room. • BACK TO SCHOOL FOR ALL ESUSD SUNDAY, JAN. 13 STUDENTS!! • Bridge & Pinochle Groups, 11:30 AM. – • Canasta Group, 12:00 PM. – 3:00 PM., 50 3:45 PM, Senior Club of El Segundo, 339 Plus, Free, Senior Club of El Segundo, 339 See Calendar or Events, page 4 W.CENTURY BLVD. IMPERIAL HWY. A RARE NEW HOME 1,243 – 1,974 Square Feet IMPERIAL AVE. SHELDON S S . S 2 – 3 Bedrooms E VIST P T U . MCCA OPPORTUNITY AT WAYPOINTE L MAIN S A DEL MAR V E 2.5 – 3.5 Bathrooms D A R B T THY C L . V A STUNNING COLLECTION of expertly crafted townhomes D 2-Car Garage . T . close to all the excitement of downtown El Segundo! E. WALNUT AVE. Rooftop Deck GRAND AVE. VISIT US ONLINE DRHorton.com/Waypointe From the High $800,000s EL SEGUNDO BLVD. N MAP NOT TO SCALE ROSECRANS AVE. MODEL HOMES OPEN DAILY 550 E. Imperial Ave., El Segundo, California 90245 | 10am – 5pm | 310.740.9437 Images are representational only. Home and community information, including pricing, included features, terms, availability and amenities, are subject to change at any time without notice or obligation. Square footages are approximate. Map is not to scale. Options and upgrades are available at an additional cost and are subject to construction cut-off dates.