The Weekly Newspaper of Torrance Herald Publications - Torrance, El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Hawthorne, Lawndale, & Inglewood Community Newspapers Since 1911 - (310) 322-1830 - Vol. 4, No. 23 - June 5, 2014 Torrance Police & Fire Personnel Inside Awarded 2014 Valor Medals This Issue Calendar...............................3 Certified & Licensed Professionals ....................10 Classifieds ...........................4 Crossword/Sudoku ............4 Food ......................................5 Legals ...................................9 Looking Up ..........................9 Pets .....................................11 Officer Ian Maier of the Torrance Police Department was the recipient of the 2014 Medal of Valor Award which is awarded to individuals who have demonstrated bravery, heroism or other outstanding meritorious actions beyond the normal demands of protective services. He is pictured with his family including (L to R) Kasey Sirody, Allison Seghetti-Kehoe, Kate Dunitz, Rae Dunitz and Mike Dunitz. Photo by Charlene Nishimura. Politically Speaking ...........7 Real Estate. .......................12 District Recognizes High Achievers By Dylan Little coach. We watched his power points, we played West High had another strong showing in the The Torrance Unified School District’s Board his games to learn art and literary terms and when decathlon, the team was also successful in co- Sports ...................................6 honored students from all over the district in self-doubt crept in he reminded us to dream big. ordinating an elementary school level version of a special recognition meeting held on June We dedicated our season to Mr. Jones.” While See School Board, page 2 TerriAnn in Torrance .........8 2. Torrance students were congratulated on achievements as diverse as receiving science camp scholarships and winning their league in basketball. ELECTION 2014 Many of the students were being recog- nized for their achievements in the Academic Decathlon. Chief Academic Officer Tim Furey Elected Mayor; Ashcraft, Stowe said that Torrance is one of a se- lect group of districts that sends multiple Weideman Retain City Council Seats Weekend teams to compete and also boasts a hugely By Laura Sorensen His competitors, Tom Brewer and Bill successful legacy in the quiz, which Former City Councilmember Pat Furey Sutherland, received 35 and 24 percent Forecast continued this year with West High taking fifth captured 41 percent of Torrance votes of the vote, respectively. As he will be place, South High taking sixth, Torrance High and will be serving a term as Mayor. See Election Coverage, page 3 taking ninth and North High coming in nineteenth UNOFFICIAL SEMI-FINAL COUNT For CITY COUNCIL* Friday in Los Angeles County. “It’s a real testament to the commitment of the district as well as the FOR CITY COUNCIL VOTES PERCENT AM Clouds/ school and the coaches,” said Stowe. “It’s not easy to do, to be able to find a coach willing Heidi Ashcraft 7,038 13.41 PM Sun to dedicate their lives, essentially, to help these Tim Goodrich 6,298 12 72˚/62˚ students achieve in these 10 subject areas.” The Kurt Weideman 5,902 11.25 decathlon covers subjects ranging from the Geoff Rizzo 5,184 9.88 arts, to science, to economics, and consists of multiple choice tests, essay questions, interviews Leilani Kimmel-Dagostino 4,383 8.35 Saturday and both prepared and improvised speeches. Alex See 3,732 7.11 North High Academic Decathlon coach Dylan Milton Herring 3,679 7.01 AM Clouds/ Barth said it shows not only these competitors’ Mike Griffiths 3,576 6.81 PM Sun determination, but their passion for knowledge. “It’s very rigorous,” said Barth. “It’s a very Aurelio Mattuci 2,935 5.59 73˚/64˚ enjoyable program. You are not only getting Clint Paulson 2,275 4.34 the benefit of seeing students who are dedicated Charlotte Savos 2,217 4.22 to education, regardless of GPA, and they also Rahmat Khan 1,658 3.16 are driven. While it seems ridiculous, I could Sunday see myself doing it for another 13 years.” John Paul Tabakian 1,478 2.82 AM Clouds/ Torrance High’s team showed, in the words of Ryan Mand 984 1.88 coach Steve Love, “remarkable determination” Norm Segel 638 1.22 PM Sun this year after facing the death of former coach Omar Navarro 501 0.95 76˚/64˚ Jeff Jones just days before the competition. Despite the loss, students performed their best in Number of Votes Cast = 52,478 Registered Voters (Active) = 83,037 his honor. “For the team . he was our guiding *RESULTS DO NOT INCLUDE TOTALS FROM PROVISIONAL BALLOTS star,” said Love. “Even in his absence he was our Page 2 June 5, 2014 TORRANCE TRIBUNE South Bay Officers Honored for Bravery By Charlene Nishimura a colleague or a citizen. The awards are Medal of Valor Award: Torrance Fire Department; Officer David Individual South Bay police officers and sponsored by the South Bay area Chambers Firefighter Christopher Huerta, Firefighter/ Ybarra, Officer David Ortega, Officer Matt firefighters who distinguished themselves in of Commerce including El Segundo, Gardena, Paramedic Jeffrey Williams, and Firefighter/ Jungers, Officer Kevin High, Officer Richard the past year by acts of bravery beyond their Hawthorne, Hermosa Beach, Inglewood, Paramedic Russell Poelstra, of the Torrance Gabel, Officer Keith Crofton, Officer Brent everyday normal demands were recognized Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes Peninsula, Fire Department; Officer Ian Maier, of the Clissold, and Officer Brian Harris, Torrance Torrance Police Department’s Officer Keith Crofton was awarded the Distinguished Service and is surrounded by his proud family Award winners from the Torrance Fire Department included (L to R) Firefighter/Paramedic Jeffrey Williams, Firefighter Christopher Tania, Aidan (11) and Malia (8). Huerta, Fire Engineer Dennis Cameron and Firefighter/Paramedic Russell Poelstra. Photos by Charlene Nishimura. at the 40th Annual Medal of Valor luncheon Redondo Beach and Torrance. Each award Torrance Police Department. Police Department; Firefighter/Paramedic held at the Torrance Marriott on May 29. winner’s heroic story was read out loud by Distinguished Service Award: Saeed Hosseinzadeh and Firefighter/Paramedic The award recipients are selected by senior guest presenter Glen Walker in front of a Fire Engineer Dennis Cameron of the "OHFM.F[B PGUIF5PSSBODF'JSF%FQBSUNFOUr officers in their departments and the primary proud audience of family, police and fire distinction is the imminent threat of great department colleagues, city dignitaries and bodily harm or loss of life to the officer, several corporate and business leaders. School Board from front page the decathlon, the Academic Pentathlon. Coach Ann Cortina said she was happy to see her students fostering the future of academic com- petition. “I’m very proud of the work they did in helping to run the elementary pentathlon,” said Cortina. “They just all stepped up and were so enthusiastic about doing it.” The Board also recognized the winners of that scholastic competition, Victor Elementary. The students of Victor came out on top of over 100 competitors from 10 different schools. Another group of honorees were the young women awarded scholarships to take part in the American Association of University Women’s Tech Trek Science and Math Camp for Girls. Schedule a Thanks to donations from families and corpora- tions like Alcoa and Exxon-Mobil 17 seventh graders get to experience life at UCI, UCSD little time or UCSB as they join other young women in learning about math and science. West High’s Robotics Club were also rec- ognized by the Board for winning the FIRST Robotics Regional Championship as well as earning 42nd place in the World Championships. Coach Christie Evans mentioned that in the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) level the club swept the awards. “This group has won every award the FTC FIRST Robotics offers this year,” said Evans. “If they had more awards they would’ve won them. I’m so proud of them.” The district also celebrated the athletic achieve- See UCLA doctors in your neighborhood ments of students in the district. One of the teams recognized was West High’s Girls Basketball Making your health a priority is now easier than ever. With primary and specialty care Team, who were Bay League Champions as locations throughout the South Bay, UCLA doctors are where you need us, when you need us. well first time CIF Southern Section, Division IIA Champions. This was their third (and final) Because when it comes to your health, we go out of our way to make sure you never have to. time winning the Bay League, with Coach Mike Caporaso joking that they were so good they moved them to the Pioneer League. He praised Manhattan Beach Redondo Beach Torrance the team for their determination. “With my • Family Medicine • Family Medicine • Family Medicine team, we’ve had success this year – a lot of great things and a lot of individual sacrifices • Internal Medicine • Internal Medicine • Internal Medicine go into a team having success,” said Caporaso. • Pediatrics • Cardiology • Endocrinology West’s basketball wasn’t the only Torrance • Radiology • Dermatology • Nephrology team to win its division in CIF, South High’s Girls Soccer team were CIF Southern Section, • Rheumatology • Pulmonary Division IV Champions. First year head coach • Sleep Medicine Liz Kitsios lead the Spartans to a double overtime win. “These girls worked extremely hard and we are very proud of them,” said Kitsios. North High had its own CIF champion in Jasmine Bass, who won the Southern Section, Division II Championships in the Triple Jump. Her coach 1-855-Go-2-UCLA (1-855-462-8252) Josh Lay said she had an “outstanding year” which Make an appointment: uclahealth.org/southbay uclahealth.org/getsocial isn’t over as she’s competing for a state title this Friday and Saturday. “She not only excelled as an athlete but also as a sportsman,” said Lay. “When you see her compete she’s always out there con- gratulating people on the field and pushing them UPTVDDFFEFWFOUIPVHITIFTJOBDPNQFUJUJPOur TORRANCE TRIBUNE June 5, 2014 Page 3 Calendar Wood Elementary Named SATURDAY, JUNE 7 Los Angeles, California, 7 p.m., James Armstrong r$JUZPG5PSSBODF$JUZ:BSE0QFO)PVTF Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive.