Riviera Homeowners Association

Our October meeting – themed “Filmed in the Riviera” was a lot of fun.  We had a fine turnout, and learned a lot about some interesting movies filmed right in our area:  “American Beauty” filmed on location at South High, “Skater Dater” an early film chronicling the teenage pioneers of skateboarding, and a silent promotional film from the ‘30s with fascinating views of our landscape when only a few homes were actually built.  Our thanks to those who gave of their time to entertain us with this nostalgia.

Now for what’s coming – prepare to attend

the annual RHA Holiday Program
December 5, starting at 6:30pm
Richardson Middle School
[location]

Come enjoy the wonderful voices of the Riviera Elementary and Richardson choirs welcoming the season with traditional tunes, and of course, holiday treats will abound.  (Note: last year was at South High, but not this year!) Don’t miss this chance to join friends and neighbors to get the holidays rolling.

Inspirational December 2011 Holiday Program

New restaurant promises rock and brews – neighbors concerned:

Silhouette up – at Oliver’s

In other news, you may have heard of the new restaurant proposed for the corner of Palos Verdes Blvd and PCH, where Oliver’s now stands.   Several concerned neighbors have voiced their concerns about the potential for late-night music, traffic, and other impacts on the character of the Riviera.  The new owners have been hearing these concerns, and the city council is due to take up the issue in the next month or so.  Your RHA is following the situation closely and has provided resources to learn more and get involved.
People who would like to donate to anindependent sound study for the Rock & Brews may do so by making out a check to “Bob Keller” and sending it to 139 Camino de las Colinas, Redondo Beach CA 90277.  The neighborhood group will consolidate
the contributions and reimburse the sound technician.
If you’d like more information, or to get involved, please contact our co-presidents, Judy and Janet, by email at president@hollywoodriviera.org.

Did you know…

On occasion, a pilot will need to take off from LAX in an easterly direction and ‘round the bend’ over our area?  Our Richard Root has pointed out a monthly report showing those flight paths, which you can see here:    http://www.lawa.org/LAXNoiseEDR.aspx
Richard has also been pursuing the RHA initiatives to have the Torrance City Council address our concerns about helicopter and other aircraft noise from the Torrance airport.  If you’d like more information, please email council@hollywoodriviera.org.

Santa’s coming where? To our town!

Every year, the TPD floats Santa by our streets to gladden the hearts of those who still believe (and the rest of us).   This year’s schedule (for full schedule and maps, click here):

• Monday 3 DEC — Calle Mayor to South CIty Limits, Southwest to Anza/Calle Mayor
• Tuesday 4 DEC — PCH to City Limits, West of Calle Mayor
• Thursday 6 DEC — PCH to South City Limits, Hawthorne to Via Colusa and Calle De Ricardo

The RHA never rests…

The latest Riviera Reporter is on its way to your mailbox, and also available here.  Let us know how you like the format!

Enjoy these latest landscape awards – congratulations to our neighbors who beautify their homes and our jewel of the south bay.

Plea for members

Folks, the Riveria Homeowners Association only exists (tenaciously) on the generous $25 memberships that you provide once a year.  Please do your part and send in your memberships for the 2012-13 year.  It’s a challenging time to ask, but we do need to bring our membership up if we wish to continue representing your neighborhood — providing the service, critical information, and entertainment that we do.
If you need a membership form, or you’re not sure of your membership status, please consult our Membership page.  And encourage your friends to sign up to receive these postings.

We give thanks this week for your support, and hope to see you at the Holiday program !!

Filed under: Uncategorized | Comments Off on Holiday Spirits on deck

Perhaps you’ve seen the signs around the neighborhood.  Perhaps you got the first newsletter of our 2012-13 year (click here if you haven’t). Or perhaps you’re about to find out…about…the…

October 17 2012
RHA General Meeting
at Richardson Middle School
7:00pm – 9:00pm

Featuring…

“Filmed in the Riviera”
Short films and movie clips filmed locally
Special guest speakers:
Martin Cohen, executive on “American Beauty” filmed at South High
and our very own
Bruce McKaig, star of the classic “Skater Dater” and pioneer skateboarder

There will be additional short discussions on the progress of the View Ordinance initiative, a new issue revolving around a certain restaurant (see below), and a chance for you to update your membership in person if you haven’t already done so.
Remember that the RHA can only go on for as long as enough residents support us, so please renew your membership now.

Refreshments will be served!

New neighbors

Recently, it was brought to our attention that the city is reviewing a proposal by the new owners of the Oliver’s Restaurant property to expand the restaurant and extend the franchise of the Rock & Brew restaurant/club (currently one other in El Segundo).  Very little notice was available; you may have seen this small sign in front:

Notice of Public Hearing

It turns out that the hearing is also Wednesday night, and that there will be some concerned residents appearing at the meeting to get more details, and express opposition to what may otherwise become a serious noise issue.

The RHA has made available this petition for those who wish to sign it and circulate it for others to sign and bring to Wednesday’s hearing at city hall.  We encourage you to follow this issue closely, as it may have a long-lasting impact on our neighborhood.  Expect to hear more at the General Meeting also.

Raising the roof for Rock & Brew

Filed under: Uncategorized | Comments Off on First General Meeting – this Wednesday

Welcome back from summer, Rivierans.  Was it a good one for you?  It seemed to get warmer and warmer every day.

Your RHA board wasn’t resting on its laurels – we were a presence at the Riviera Village festival, continued meeting with city council members on the possibility for a view ordinance, co-sponsored the movie in the park (“One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it.”)
We planted a commerative brick at the new Torrance Centennial Park to help celebrate the 100th year of Torrance’s existence. (Our brick is located off the main opening/entrance to the plaza on Cravens St.)  The board has also been busy preparing for this new 2012-13 fiscal year, which means – your voluntary dues are due!  (See below)

Here’s what’s lined up so far:

On Mon. night Sept. 24th at 7 PM at the home of Cindy Constantino 513 Camino de Encanto, there will be a meeting of volunteers and people interested in the tree issue.  For more information, contact co-president Judy Brunetti at (310) 378-5616 for details.

Our first Homeowners Association general meeting will be held, as usual at Richardson Middle School, Wednesday Oct. 17 at 7PM with a program featuring movies filmed in the Riviera in days gone by, and a special star appearance from the famous (infamous) Skater Dater.  That will be sure to inform and entertain.  General meetings are always an opportunity to meet with your neighbors, RHA board members, and enjoy superb refreshements (thanks Nancy!).

We’re also in the planning stages for the annual Holiday Program, so stay tuned for more information on that.

Just to insert into your calendar thinking an important announcement related to the upcoming Nov. 4 election:
The assembly candidates who are running for the 66th District (our new district) in the Nov. 6 election are Mr. Craig Huey (R) and Mr. Al Muratsuchi (D).  
They will answer questions and debate the issues on Oct. 4, from 7:00-8:30 at the George Nakano Theater of the Torrance Cultural Arts Center. 
(Sponsored by Torrance Police Officers Association)

Finally, a reminder that the RHA collects voluntary annual dues to permit these activities to go on.  We feel, and hope you do, that the RHA serves an important role in the life of our community, and we can only succeed in proportion to the support we obtain.  Peruse the website to see some of the activities and accomplishments achieved over the years, and consider renewing your membership via Paypal, or bring a check to the October General Meeting.  We’d also love to see you raise your hand to volunteer for some of our efforts.

Filed under: Uncategorized | Comments Off on Happy New 2012-2013 Year!

El Retiro Park will be the site next Saturday, August 25, for a Panda becoming a Dragon Warrior!  Don’t want to miss it?  Come down to the park before dusk (around 8pm) to find picnics, blankets and lawn chairs in the midst of an outdoor movie theater.  Bring some warm clothes, the marine layer is staging a comeback.  Popcorn will be served up by your favorite homeowners association, and you’ll have a chance to ask questions about upcoming RHA activities.   By the way, the movie is freeee!

Can Po defend against the peacock villain?

Joe Petito – outstanding
Richardson Middle School teacher

The Riviera Homeowners Association awarded Mr. Petito a small stipend for the technology program to thank him for his wonderful work at Richardson and for his help in setting up the AV for our general meetings.  Thank you Joe!

Richardson technology and ceramics teacher Joe Petito, happily conferring with students in his ceramics class.

Take a musical break – downtown

Don’t count summer out yet…our neighbors to the north, the Old Torrance Neighborhood Association and the Buffalo Fire Department (BFD) is sponsoring BFD LIVE – Free Summer Concerts on Saturday nights. Just follow the sound to downtown!

The lineup:
August 25 – Pure Play
September 1 – Camino Rio
September 8 – L.A. Bluescaster
September 22 – Windy Ridge
September 29 – Flying Utensils
October 6 – Elvito & The Foundation
October 13 – Camino Rio
October 20 – South Bay Allstars
October 27 – Pheasant Pluckers

Where: The Courtyard – 1261 Cabrillo Avenue, Torrance
Time: 6:00PM – 9:00 PM
Info: 310.320.2332
Grab a to-go order from one of the local downtown restaurants, bring your family and your lounge chairs, and enjoy live entertainment!

Finally…

Green Your Home with Energy Upgrade California
and Water Reliability 2020

 Wednesday, August 22, 2012
5:30 – 7:30 pm
FREE WORKSHOP

All attendees will receive a $200 voucher to apply toward completed Energy Upgrade California projects/upgrades. There will also be an opportunity drawing for a $300 Assessment Coupon and other prizes.

Presented by the
South Bay Environmental Services Center

Location:  2nd Floor Meeting Room, Redondo Beach Library
303 N. Pacific Coast Highway
Redondo Beach, CA

More info here

Filed under: Uncategorized | Comments Off on Movie in the Park, this Saturday (and more…)

Riviera Summer Festival wrapup

Last month’s Riviera Summer Fest on June 23 and 24,was a smashing success – from the incredible arts and crafts on display, to the delicious food, and amazing music.  Your Riviera Homeowners Association was privileged to be on hand to share with the community what we’ve been up to and to offer the chance to win some interesting prizes through our raffle drawing, in addition to raising a modest sum for our programs.

Here we see Judy and Nikki Brunetti  helping the RHA sell raffle tickets.  Prizes were a Firmstrong beach cruiser bicycle from Smith’s Cycles, a wine trolley with Castle Rock wines, a gift certificate for dinner and a movie at Rolling Hills Plaza, and a gift certificate to Wahoo’s Tacos.

Torrance police officer Scott Martin picks the winning tickets for us!

 
And the winners are…

Karen Dahl of the Riviera–beach cruiser bicycle from Smith’s Cycle Shop,  Ms. Mei of Rancho Palos Verdes (husband Mark Martin accepted the prize)–wine trolley cart and bottles of wine from Castle Rock Winery,  Nancy Lucero of Harbor City–dinner and a movie at the AMC Rolling Hills Center,  Nick Raleigh of Torrance (not shown) gift certificate from Wahoo’s Tacos in the Riviera Village.

Nancy Lucero wins the dinner and movie prize; Mark Martin accepts the prize for the wine trolley cart and bottles of wine from Castle Rock Winery

Pandas come to El Retiro Park!

Summer’s not over by a longshot – put this summer activity on your calendars:

Saturday, August 25, 2012 | 8:00 PM    
El Retiro Park, 126 Vista Del Parque 
Join family and friends to enjoy a movie (rated PG) about a panda with competition dreams shown under the stars! Show will begin at dusk (approximately 8 p.m.) but come early to get a good spot on the lawn, enjoy a picnic, and take advantage of the park on a warm summer night.

Part of the Library’s Dream Big READ! Summer Reading Program.
This program is free, presented by the Torrance Community Services Department in association with local homeowners associatons – like us!

Seniors: Don’t be Scammed!

The Torrance Police Department Community Affairs Division and the Torrance Community Services Department are presenting a free, “Seniors Don’t be Scammed!” class featuring information on telemarketing and internet scams, (Tuesday, August 21st, 2012, 10AM-12Noon).

In addition, there will be a bonus feature regarding the Torrance Police Department’s Return Home Registry program. Seniors, caregivers, family and friends are invited to learn about the latest scams. The class will be held in the Katy Geissert Civic Center Library community meeting room, (3301 Torrance Blvd.) For more information call 310-618-5735 or click this link to view the message on the web.

Filed under: Uncategorized | Comments Off on Riviera Summer Festival success