Recently in Torrance Category

I received several emails in the wake of a recent story about parking woes in Old Torrance.

Here's a sample of the comments:

As a business owner in the downtown Torrance area I read your article with great interest. Over a year ago I spoke to Mayor Scotto regarding the parking problem and I was told that there was no parking problem. I invited him to come sit at my shop and see for himself what the businesses were dealing with regarding the lack of parking. He never showed up. Every time they add another restaurant with no parking lots they refer to the abundant parking in the underground parking structure. If the Mayor had to drive around for 10 minutes before he could find a place to park, why didn't he park in the underground structure that he wants all of us to park in? I know I speak for other business owners that parking meters are not wanted and would kill whatever business we have now. I have asked customers if they would continue to come to Torrance if parking meters were installed and they all said no. If they would enforce the existing parking laws that would help.

Incidentally, it should be noted the mayor deliberately drove around to see just how long it would take him find a spot.

Here's another:

I read with interest your article in the Daily Breeze today regarding the parking dilemma in Old Torrance. Instead of going through the effort and expense of parking meters, why not ticket the parties parking beyond two hours? This would also eliminate the smokescreen if revenue was really at issue.

By the way, I received another email from a property and business owner in San Pedro who said merchants and their employees park in prime street spots there - but only in December when metered parking is free.

So what's the solution?

Have your say in our poll here (scroll down to see it).

And feel free to leave a comment.

Organ recipient Tammy Rusznak of Torrance helps decorate the Donate Life Rose Bowl parade float in Pasadena Saturday.

On Saturday members of two South Bay families along with dozens of others help decorate the Donate Life Rose Parade float.

The locals participating were:

*Tammy Rusznak of Torrance, a kidney recipient who received the organ from her sister, San Antonio, Texas resident Tracy Meinert on July 16, 1986.

*The Arellano family of Carson, who honored their late son and brother, Eddie Arellano. The family donated his organs - the donation helped four people who needed transplants - after he died.

Eddie's mom Clementina Arellano, dad Emiliano Arellano, sister Ana Arellano Binder and brother Victor Arellano helped decorate a floragraph on the float honoring him.

The float includes 72 floragraphs of organ donors like Eddie.

More about the parade is here.

Read the story here.

For 62 years a new Warren Miller ski movie has heralded the advent of the winter sports season and his latest effort has arrived, "Like There's No Tomorrow," which will play for one night only at 8 p.m. Friday at Torrance's James Armstrong Theatre at the Civic Center.

Here's more on the film from Warren Miller & Co:

Narrated by California native and Olympic Gold Medalist Jonny Moseley, Like There's No Tomorrow follows more than a dozen professional skiers and snowboarders to exotic locations on five continents. Watch as world-class athletes hit the slopes of some of the world's most inspiring snowy landscapes; from the striking Himalayas in Gulmarg, India to the southern hemisphere's highest peak in Portillo, Chile to the legendary powder of Squaw Valley, Calif.

Tickets are $20.50 apiece. After the film, moviegoers can use their ticket stub toward a buy one, get one lift ticket offer at participating mountain resorts and discounts at Sport Chalet. For tickets, call (1-800) 523-7117

Torrance is one of 240 cities nationwide where the film will be screened.

Check out the trailer:

Progressive/metal band Heart of Cygnus, a two-man outfit led by Torrance resident Jeff Lane, have just released their new single "The Isles of Ice" from their forthcoming album, "The Voyage of Jonas," which is set for release early next year.

Watch:

"The Isles of Ice" may also be downloaded from iTunes and Amazon.

"The Voyage of Jonas" is the third album by Heart of Cygnus, which also includes drummer Jim Nahikian in addition to vocalist and lead guitarist Lane.

Although relatively unknown in their own country, Heart of Cygnus are well known in Germany, where there is huge metal/progressive rock scene.

Photos courtesy David Moyle, www.davidmoyle.com

Mayor Frank Scotto said about 3,000 people participated on a cool fall Sunday evening in the flashlight-wielding event at Wilson Park.

The Goodyear blimp was grounded for the night, incidentally.

More on forthcoming centennial events can be found here.

The road reopened Tuesday afternoon after closing for a month.

The CEO of General Electric, the founder of AOL - and a single mom from Torrance are among those on the guest list for tonight's widely anticipated Presidential address on job creation. The single mom is Tamara Washington. Here's her biography as released today by the White House:

Tamara Washington is a single mother, taking care of her 3 year old son Amir, in Torrance, CA. Tamara believes her hard work will enable her to provide quality healthcare and education for her son. While it has not been easy, many programs and organizations were there to help, including subsidized employment in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Emergency Contingency Fund, which allowed her to obtain a job that enabled her to support her son.

The televised address is due to start at 4 p.m.

The city of Torrance has created a "Torrance Resident Services" page on its web site as a sort of one-stop center to access information about permits, forms and the like for residents and visitors.

Officials are blaming the "downturned" economy.

These signs are on the doors of the sports center at Wilson Park.