Literacy Program Brings Supplies to Local Students

We offer a huge round of applause to our friends at the Volunteer Center for their great work organizing “Operation Teddy Bear!”

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A local organization helped pack and deliver 5,600 back packs across South Bay’s first graders who are in need of a little helping hand.

“Operation Teddy Bear” is a literacy program that helps 5,600 disadvantaged first-graders by providing them with backpacks full of supplies they might not get otherwise.

The program is funded entirely by donations from corporations, foundations and individuals. Each backpack includes items such as reading books, flash cards, pencils, coloring books and crayons, a toothbrush and, of course, a teddy bear.

Additional supplies are given to teachers to use in the classrooms.

Organized locally with the Volunteer Center, many Torrance and South Bay businesses and clubs donated their time to help pack the backpacks.

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PetSmart and SPCA Team Up to Help Furry Friends

Here’s a great opportunity to give back by donating food and pet care items for abandoned animals housed at spcaLA.

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The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or SPCA and their Los Angeles chapter have partnered with PetSmart to collect food and pet care items for abandoned and abused animals housed at spcaLA.

This past weekend, the PetsSmart at 3855 Sepulveda Blvd. in Torrance was one of nine locations to participate in the PetSmart Give Back Initiative. Some shoppers and residents dropped off items. Others purchased items on-site to donate.

Donated items included and canned foods, treats and durable dog toys.

If you missed this collection and would like to donate you can find a list of items needed. Go to www.spcaLA.com.

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Group Works to Continue Rose Parade Tradition

Please help our wonderful volunteers with the Torrance Rose Float Association in their fundraising efforts to enter the upcoming Tournament of Roses Parade.

Visit Lazy Dog Cafe in Torrance tomorrow, September 11 from 11 a.m. to midnight! 15% of total sales will be donated to help continue this Torrance tradition.

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One organization is pulling out all the stops to ensure they continue a long standing Torrance tradition.

The Torrance Rose Float Association hosted the first of many fundraisers that are scheduled this month in an effort to raise enough money to enter the upcoming Tournament of Roses Parade which takes place on Thursday, January 1, 2015.

This year’s float will honor the late Louis Zamperini.

In July, the organization announced one of the major sponsors was pulling their donation resulting in financial uncertainty for the float. Board members held a fundraiser at Palos Verdes Bowl over the weekend, with half of the ticket proceeds going to benefit the organization. In addition, organizers were selling baked goods, raffle tickets and rose vials. Volunteers are also adding to the effort to help continue this Torrance tradition.

The deadline to make their first payment is September 15.

Additional fundraisers will take place at…

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Local Businesses Are Helping The Back To School Experience

Join Scott Robinson Honda in their back to school collection drive! Through Labor Day all SoCal Honda Dealers are hosting collection drives for school supplies.

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With kids heading back to school next week, one local business is doing their part to make sure no one misses out on the back to school experience.

Scott Robinson Honda located on Hawthorne and Del Amo Boulevard is hosting a collection drive at their dealership through Labor Day. The dealership plans to fill big blue bins with school supply donations. Residents and community members are invited to join the Guys in Blue’s Random Acts of Helpfulness by dropping off paper, binders, pocket folders, backpacks, rulers, pencils, pencil cases, or other helpful items at their nearest dealer including Scott Robinson Honda in Torrance.

All SoCal Honda Dealers are participating in the Back to School Supply drive helping more than 50 deserving schools.

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Zamperini Honored From Thousands Of Miles Away

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Torrance’s very own Louis Zamperini got a tribute fit for a true hero, more than 3,000 miles away.

A Western New York community where Zamperini was born honored their hometown hero with the installation of a granite monument. Born in 1917 in a city called Olean. The city is located 60 miles Southeast of Buffalo, unveiled the monument located in Olean’s War Veteran’s Park. The 7 ft. tall black granite monument weights about 5,000 lbs. and features images of Zamperini during his Olympic and wartime years along as a 300 word story about his life. Zamperini’s family moved from New York to Torrance when he was only 2 years old.

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Torrance Historical Society Invites Community to Late Night Thursdays

Join our friends at the Torrance Historical Society tomorrow for their Late Night Thursdays, which will also take place next week. This week Mike the Map Man is back by popular demand — view decades worth of maps from our Historic Map Archives — he’ll be highlighting the maps of the Oil Fields (6:00 PM – 8:00 PM) .

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The Torrance Historical Society invites the community to Late Night Thursdays for the rest of the month.

On Thursday, August 14^th, see CItiCABLE’S Torrance Centennial profile of Louis Zamperini – Triumph of the Torrance Tornado, and a clip of when Louis won the 1934 Southern California Track & Field Championship. The clip will be playing from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. Feel free stop by at any time. The entire clip is about 10 minutes long.

The museum is located at 1345 Post Avenue at the corner of Cravens.

For more information call 310-328-5392.

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Volunteers Make Oklahoma Great!

It takes a lot of volunteers to put on a great theatre production! Come see their hard work in action this weekend – Oklahoma is playing at the James Armstrong Theatre both Saturday and Sunday and has already garnered rave reviews.

“Oh, what a beautiful show. From curtain rise to curtain call, Torrance Theatre Co.’s “Oklahoma!” onstage at the James Armstrong Theatre through Aug. 23, looks and sounds like a national tour.”
Dany Margolies-Daily Breeze

JAMES ARMSTRONG THEATRE
Saturday, August 16th at 8:00 pm
Sunday, August 17th at 2:00 pm
Friday, August 22nd at 8:00 pm
Saturday, August 23rd at 8:00 pm

Box Office: (310) 781-7171
Online at: https://itkt.choicecrm.net/templates/TORR/

Reserved Seating:
Adults: $33.00
Students/Seniors: $28.00
Children: $25.00

FULL REVIEW BY THE DAILY BREEZE:
http://www.dailybreeze.com/arts-and-entertainment/20140811/torrance-theatre-companys-oklahoma-is-top-notch

The Torrance Theatre Company is a program of the Cultural Services Division of the Torrance Community Services Department. Sponsored in part by the Friends of Torrance Theatre Company.

Summer Fest Fundraiser to Benefit Toberman Neighborhood Center

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The Annual Summer Fest in Old Torrance recently took place.

Hundreds gathered under the white tent to help raise funds for the Toberman Neighborhood Center. Chef Michael Shafer hosted the fundraiser with gourmet food, an open bar, live music and a silent and live auction. 100% of the proceeds from this event will go to the organization particularly programs for at risk youth.

Feel free to visit www.Toberman.org in case you missed this event but would like to get involved or learn more about the programs at the Toberman Neighborhood Center.

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The Volunteer Center is Asking for Community Help

Here is a great opportunity to help our friends at The Volunteer Center with Food for Kids, providing food to disadvantaged families.

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A local organization is looking for the community’s help in bringing awareness to a much needed topic.

Food for Kids, a program through the Volunteer Center in Torrance delivers non-perishable foods to Title 1 elementary school children in the Compton and Long Beach Unified School Districts.

The food is given to disadvantaged families to be eaten over the weekend. Every Friday, the Volunteer Center volunteers assemble and deliver shopping bags to the schools and students. Each bag is filled with ten items of non-perishable foods like pasta, canned tuna, oatmeal, soup, applesauce, rice, beans and cereals. The Volunteer Center is looking for organizations, businesses and persons to host food drives in their communities.

To participate you can contact the Volunteer Center at 310-212-5009.

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The City of Torrance Invites the Public to Celebrate the Life of Louis Zamperini

Come celebrate the life of Louis Zamperini at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 31 at Torrance High School’s Zamperini Stadium (2125 Lincoln Ave.)

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The City of Torrance in partnership with the Torrance Historical Society, Torrance Unified School District, Torrance Airport Association, Torrance High School, and the Torrance High School Alumni Association, would like to invite the community to a memorial in honor of Torrance hometown hero, Louis Zamperini who passed away on  July 2^nd , 2014.

The memorial, open to the public is planned for 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 31 at Torrance High School’s Zamperini Stadium (2125 Lincoln Ave.), Zamperini’s alma mater. Join us to celebrate the life of Louis Zamperini with airplane flyovers, reflections from Zamperini’s family and friends, and a symbolic lap around the track. It will be a true tribute to our hometown hero.

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