Be prepared!
The RHA invites you to mark your calendar for the next general meeting, held as usual, at the Richardson Middle School Cafeteria.
The date is April 17, the time 7:00pm.
The subject: Getting Ready for the Big One.  You know what we mean!
This will be a great chance to update your preparedness for what we know is coming, but somehow put off getting ready for.  Come prepared for an interesting and lively discussion of disaster preparedness, and the role of CERT (Community Emergency Response Team)  training, a critical effort in times of crisis.
On the topic of view ordinances, we will share some information about upcoming city council meetings and hearings to take place this spring.
Annual elections will be held, and refreshments will be served.
 
For an early look at the upcoming Riviera Reporter, you can find it on our up-to-date website, by clicking here.  As well, you can browse early editions of the Reporter to find some interesting slivers of insight into your neighborhoods past.  You should also find this latest Reporter in your mailbox soon.  
 
The scholarship committee has been hard at work going through a substantial stack of applications for this year’s RHA scholarship awards.  Stay tuned as the results are announced, and seniors, stay focused!

Coming soon!  Electronics Recycling at Riviera Elementary
Bring your ‘E-waste’ to Riviera Elementary for recycling.
Proceeds go to the Riviera Elementary Annual Giving Campaign
Sunday April 28th 9am-1pm
Just drive up in front of the school, and they will unload from your car:
Computers—Monitors—Televisions—Cell Phones–MP3 Players— Ink/Toner cartridges—Printers–Microwaves—Cables/wires—Laptops–you get the idea!  Clean out your garage and help the school.

Save water and cash:
California Water Service Company (Cal Water) and the City of Torrance are pleased to offer free, new high-efficiency toilets to Cal Water and City of Torrance customers. 
Here are the details . . .
When:  Saturday, April 13, 2013
Where:  California Water Service Company Customer Center – 2632 W. 237th St., Torrance  90505
Time:  10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
You must visit www.waterprograms.com/westbasin  to register and for all the information.  You will need your account number (located on your water bill) to register.

Happenings at El Retiro Library:
Monday, April 8 thru Saturday, April 20 anytime – How Does our Garden Grow? – Come to the library and make a flower for our garden.
Toddlertime – This program is for children ages 18 months to 3 years and a participating caregiver
Wednesdays at 11:00 am

The Riviera Reporter, the scholarships, the great hospitality that greets you at general meetings – all cost money.  So please, if you haven’t renewed your membership this 2012-2013 year, please do so.  Three easy ways to do it:  mail a check, pay online with Paypal, or our favorite – bring it to the upcoming General Meeting (see above).   For more on what your RHA does and how to be a part of it, check out the Reporter or the website.

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View preservation on the horizon?

Word has it that the City Council staff will be presented with the chance to evaluate the possibility of a view ordinance at tomorrow’s (Feb 26) weekly City Council meeting. This is very preliminary, there will not be any input from the public, but it may indicate future action on view preservation. Residents who are interested in seeing the city council adopt a tree ordinance are encouraged to attend (starts at 7pm) to show their support. We will report what was decided in a future Alert. City Council agenda for February 26.

February 6 RHA General Meeting report

Neighbors with a Views ordinance

At the February 6 RHA General meeting, we were educated on the Rolling Hills Estates’ “View Equity Ordinance” by David Wahba, the Planning Director over yonder. Their ordinance is an attempt to achieve “a fair and balanced accommodation of views with obstructions such as trees and structures to allow both a view to one neighbor and privacy and landscaping to the other neighbor.” The way this was implemented was cost neutral to the city and has led to many disputes being settled with little interference from the city.

David Wahba, from Rolling Hills Estates, speaks at Feb 6 RHA General Meeting

Local writer makes appearance

We were also fortunate to have Riviera resident and author Bill Sewell discuss his latest novel “Nonofficial Asset” along with some colorful stories touching on his brushes with international intrigue.

You can find and purchase Bill’s book on-line at Amazon.com.

Bill Sewell shows us his novel. Note – no cloak, nor dagger.

Stay tuned for news on the RHA’s upcoming activities.

Check out the latest landscape awards!

Share this Email Alert with your neighbors, who can sign up at hollywoodriviera.org

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The next RHA general meeting is this Wednesday Feb. 6 at 7 PM at the Richardson Middle School cafeteria

Please come and bring a friend!

Our speakers that evening will be David Wahba, the planning director of Rolling Hills Estates,and local author Bill Sewell, who will have copies of his novel.  David Wahba will have 25-30 copies of the RHE ordinance and we will have the  one-page summary of the ordinance  for anyone who prefers the short version.

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Latest from your Riviera Homeowners Association:

More buzz on the way

Coast Guard Air Station Los Angeles personnel will be completing their annual flight crew standardization checks from Jan. 28th through Feb. 7th.

Residents living near the Torrance Airport can expect to see and hear the air station’s MH-65 Dolphin helicopters more frequently during that time period. In an effort to reduce the frequency of flights near Torrance, multiple airports are being used throughout the Los Angeles area.

Every Coast Guard air station must complete the two-week check, conducted by Coast Guard instructors from the service’s training center in Mobile, Alabama.

The purpose of the flight checks is to test a pilot’s ability to handle emergencies like an engine failure and other critical facets of being a military aviator.

The Coast Guard fully recognizes the impacts caused by the noise of the helicopters and is taking all possible steps to keep the flights as short as possible. These checks will be conducted primarily between 9AM and 5PM.

Thanks to  John Bailey, President  South East Torrance Homeowners Assoc. for bringing us this info.

Neighborhood swingers

The Hollywood Riviera Sportsman’s Club would like to extend an invitation to you to join them for their annual golf tournament on January 26th at 10 am at the Manhattan Beach Marriott Golf Course.

This is a really fun event and you do not have to be an avid (or even good) golfer in order to participate.

It’s a “scramble” (best ball) format with a 10 am shotgun start. The Marriott is a 9 Hole Course so it only takes about 2 hours to complete the round.  There is also a putting contest starting at 9 am.

There are prizes for the winners and a raffle with more great prizes.  Lunch and cold beverages are also provided.

Our Tournament is open to anyone who can swing a golf club.  You can put your own team together or sign up as an individual and they will place you with a team.

New Scholarship Chair

We welcome Amy Josefek to the RHA board as Scholarship Chair.  Stay tuned for information on this year’s scholarship awards, and get those kids tuned up for their SATs!

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Holiday program wows the Riviera

Many of you attended last week’s RHA annual Holiday Program at Richardson Middle School.  Our thanks to the Richardson Choir, the Riviera Choir, and  Laura Savitz and Karrie Willett, who led them in song.  It was a wonderful program of holiday music and goodies. Can’t wait til next year!

You can relive the moment by viewing this year’s program on these Youtube videos.

Rock & Brews in the news

The Torrance City Council will hold a public hearing to consider an appeal of a Planning Commission denial of a Conditional Use Permit to allow renovations and outdoor seating for a proposed Rock & Brews restaurant at Pacific Coast Highway and Palos Verdes Boulevard (formerly Oliver’s restaurant).  The Council meeting will be held at 7 PM, Tuesday, December 18, 2012, in the City Hall Chambers, 3031 Torrance Boulevard, in Torrance.
Please attend the hearing if you wish to hear the pros and cons of the project.  A number of nearby residents, have expressed concerns, and are still circulating a petition expressing those concerns (see previous RHA blog posting)

Dues we could use

The 2012-13 RHA calendar year is well under way and we are still running somewhat short of our goals, putting in jeopardy some of the projects and funding efforts that help our community.  Please visit our membership page, and consider making this year’s contribution as your Christmas/Chanukah/Kwanzaa gift to the RHA.  Check your membership status there if you’re not certain whether you’re paid up.
Thank you!

Santa drops in on the Riviera

Every year, the Torrance PD invites Santa to cruise our streets in search of ideas for that year’s Christmas presents.  A welcome reminder that the holidays are upon us.
Click here for more pictures of Santa spreading cheer this year.

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