This Meeting Is In Honor and in Loving Memory of Jerry Ronan
1926 - 2021

This meeting is in honor and in loving memory of Jerry Ronan, former OTNA board member and member in good standing. Jerry received the lifetime achievement Jared Sidney Torrance Award on Tuesday, December 7, 2021. Due to illness he wasn't able to attend. He passed away on Thursday, December 9, 2021. Jerry not only regularly attended the OTNA meetings but he also volunteered for every neighborhood clean-up, Rock Around the Block, Candidate Forum, Taste of Torrance, Environmental Fair, Easter in El Prado Park and all the other events that OTNA sponsored. Please see the Torrance Historical Society Photo Gallery link for more info.

When: Monday, December 13th
Where: Bartlett Center - 1318 Cravens Ave., Old Torrance - upstairs (elevator just past reception desk)
Time: 6:00 PM - Meet your neighbors & enjoy Torrance Bakery Cookies; 6:30 PM - meeting begins
What: Meet the new Torrance Police Chief (Jeremiah "Jay" Hart), the new City Manager, (Aram Chaparyan) and the new Finance Director, (Sheilah Poisson). Overview presentation of budget update and pending sales tax measure.
FREE: No cost to attend. You don't have to be a member to attend.

Renew or sign up for membership:
As an OTNA member, you'll be kept up-to-date on current City affairs, and community events!
$10.00 per year per family - sign up for 2022
Cash or check - no credit nor debit cards, no paypal. - please, no large bills - exact cash is appreciated.
Here is a link to the Membership Form: https://www.oldtorranceneighbors.org/duesform.pdf
Make check payable to "Old Torrance Neighborhood Association" or OTNA. Pay at this meeting, the next one or mail to:
OTNA
2390 Crenshaw Blvd.
Suite E #717
Torrance, CA 90501

Cash donations accepted for Food for Kids ("FFK")

Please support our local food pantry - "Food for Kids" (FFK) - sponsored by the Volunteer Center. This year we are collecting cash ($5.00 or more) so that FFK can stock their shelves with the items they need most. Please bring exact change if possible. If you are donating a large bill, that would be generous but we will not have much change. Thank you.

Bonus for Attending:

For all those in attendance, you will have an opportunity to win gift cards to local businesses and restaurants. OTNA has $200 worth of give aways for Monday night. You must be present to win. You will receive oppportunity tickets for this special drawing by:

• 1 ticket for attending
• 2 tickets for renewing your membership of joining
• 2 tickets for a cash donation (at least $5.00) for Food for Kids

Sponsor:

Cooley Brothers Painting is a locally owned, owner-operated, family business, started in 2009 under the name of Rayco Painting, named after David Cooleys grandfather. In 2011, Rayco Painting transitioned to Cooley Brothers Painting with the belief that trust in business is earned. Cooley Brothers Painting specializes in Residential Interior & Exterior Painting and Cabinet Painting - Serving Rolling Hills, Palos Verdes Estates & the South Bay Area. David Cooley and family live in Old Torrance.

The Meeting Flyer is available.

We have a new Police Chief (Jeremiah "Jay" Hart), a new City Manager (Aram Chaparyan), and a new Finance Director (Sheila Poisson) in town, and you're invited to come meet all three in person! It's been a long time since we've met face-to-face, but we're finally doing so again on Monday, December 13th. Of course, COVID protocols will be in place. Our City Manager and Finance Director would like to provide an overview of our budget update and pending sales tax measure.

Our City takes great pride in their commitment to public safety and quality of life for all residents. However, like many California cities, as the demand for high-quality city services continues to increase, so does the cost - currently exceeding our City's available revenue. This was true before COVID, but the pandemic has made the problem much worse. In addition, continued unfunded state mandates place a heavy burden on our city, and emergency reserves have been depleted. While one-time federal COVID relief has helped, it will soon expire, leaving Torrance vulnerable to an emergency or unforeseen major expense.

We now have to face the reality that budget cuts may need to be made; budget cuts that would change the character of our city and would have a significant impact on the safety of Torrance residents and their quality of life. Our City wants to hear from you. Your input is important, so please join us for the meeting.

To make a Vaccination appointment see either the website or call:
http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/ncorona2019/vaccine/hcwsignup/
1-833-540-0473

Los Angeles County is opening up COVID-19 Appointments for Residents 65+. Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Hilda Solis signed an executive order on Monday, January 18, making COVID-19 vaccine appointments available to residents aged 65 and older. Adults 65+ can visit the county's website to make an appointment starting January 20. Please be patient if there are no available appointments when you first visit the county's website. Appointments are continually being added and more vaccination sites are scheduled to open in the coming weeks. If you do not have internet access to sign up for an appointment, you may call the county's call center at 1-833-540-0473.

Tips to make your vaccine appointment:

• Check the county's website early in the morning as it seems like appointments are released sometime during the night, or check periodically throughout the day.
• Appointments are continually being added, so be vigilant, especially if you are hoping to get vaccinated at a specific location.
• You do not need to go back to the same location to receive your second dose. Just make sure you are receiving the same type of vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna).
• Some locations have phone numbers to call if you have specific questions about disability parking or any other needs. You should make the appointment and confirm it, then call to see if you can get your questions answered.

Tips for vaccination locations:

• The closest county megapod is The Forum, 3900 W Manchester Blvd, (at Prairie), Inglewood, CA 90305. This is a drive-through. They also have testing.
• Crenshaw Clinic: Parking is not available on W 79th (it is blocked off). Drive up Normandie and park on the street (Vermont has testing site traffic, this location is doing testing and vaccinations).
• Dodger Stadium: This is a drive through location, where you remain in your vehicle. There are appointments available here.
To sign up, visit the website at
http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/ncorona2019/vaccine/hcwsignup/


Covid-19 Testing

Same day COVID-19 Tests are available for all LA County residents. The Los Angeles County COVID-19 Test Site is located on the campus of Beach Cities Health District (BCHD) at 514 North Prospect Avenue in Redondo Beach. L.A. County residents can schedule an appointment for a COVID-19 test by visiting the Los Angeles County website at https://covid19.lacounty.gov/testing/. Appointments have been filling up quickly. Residents are encouraged to continue to check the site for availability at the Redondo Beach location or make an appointment at another LA County site.

This is the first world-wide pandemic we've seen in our lifetime, and we're in it together - in sickness and health. Since social distancing, self-quarantine and best health practices are in place (as they always should be), if you have to make a run to the store, why not ask a neighbor/friend/relative who may not (or should not) be able to get out so easily, if you can pick-up something for them, providing that something is still on the shelf.

Updated Event Status List

On the City of Torrance Status event list you will find a list of pertinent information regarding closures, postponements, sites to stay informed, and more:

To view an updated event status list, please visit: http://www.cityoftorranceca.com/event-status.html.

Torrance Alerts - Stay Informed & Register TODAY

Below the link to the TorranceAlerts web page, where you can register for real-time information, alerts, and updates regarding emergency preparedness, incidents, traffic impacts, important safety information, and more.

http://www.torranceca.gov/torrancealerts

When there is an emergency, you'll get the information first with TorranceAlerts - the City of Torrance's mass emergency notification system. TorranceAlerts is a free service provided by the City to help make sure you have the information you need, when you need it!

Registering for the system should be part of your personal emergency preparedness plan. Information sent through TorranceAlerts system is intended to help keep you updated should the City or region experience a significant event such as an earthquake, fire, public health emergency or similar situation.

You may register as many devices as you like to receive TorranceAlerts -- home, mobile, or business phone, email, text messages, hearing impaired receiving devices, and more. Many non-emergency community updates are provided via email only -- to ensure that you receive emergency alerts, as well as all of the community updates you select, register at least one phone number and one email address.

Individuals with disabilities who need assistance registering for TorranceAlerts may call the Office of Emergency Services at 310.618.5670 during regular business hours: Monday - Thursday and alternate Fridays, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Sign up and customize your settings to choose what kind of information you want and the method by which you want to receive messages. You can also download the Everbridge Mobile Member app on your smart phone to stay updated.

REGISTER NOW for TorranceAlerts.

Alerts regarding COVID-19 will be sent daily to provide updates. See www.CityofTorranceCA.com

Learn More about the Virus

Click here to learn more about the virus, who is considered high-risk, and how you can protect yourself.

Also, since the greatest danger with COVID-19 is that we overwhelm our healthcare resources, the Torrance Fire & EMS said that if you are experiencing mild sympstoins (cough or fever), self-isolate at home rather than going to your hospital, clinic, or doctor's office. Contact your healthcare provider or 2-1-1 by phone if you have any qestions about home care or testing.