|
|
|
Home >
Community
> Torrance |
|
TOP STORY - FEBRUARY 19, 2010
Portraits Of Hope Public Art Project To Transform Beach Lifeguard Towers |
|
|
This summer more than 100 of the Los Angeles County beach lifeguard towers will be visually transformed as part of a massive public art and civic project developed by Portraits of Hope, in cooperation with the Los Angeles County Lifeguard Association.
The project and exhibition has been approved by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, the Los Angeles County Fire Chief and the Los Angeles Department of Beaches and Harbors. It involves creating and installing hand-painted artwork on form-fitting art panels on four sides of more than 100 lifeguard towers and their roof tops. Painting of the panels began in January and installation will begin in May. This weekend, on Saturday, February 20, Los Angeles County Lifeguards, will be painting exterior tower panels between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at 13535 Mindanao Way, in Marina Del Rey.
“This is a unique and truly wonderful opportunity for hospitalized youngsters and others to discover, grow and show the world their creative abilities,” said Steve Powell, of the Los Angeles County Lifeguard Association. “What better way to show the world the amazing creative powers of our young people than to put their work on public display on Los Angeles County beaches visited by millions of Americans every summer.”
“In January, Portraits of Hope began daily program sessions throughout L.A. County schools, hospitals, and youth groups. Participants began to learn about public art, civic education, and teamwork while engaging in creative therapy. They began painting pre-designed panels that—in keeping with the job lifeguards do—represent environmental and healthy lifestyle concerns. Many will be painting with their mouths or feet,” added Powell.
Portraits of Hope projects serve as creative therapy for thousands. Portraits of Hope has provided children and adults facing cancer, burn trauma, spinal injuries, HIV/AIDS, head and brain injuries, and other serious medical problems with innovative, fun, and therapeutic activities that let them enjoy and take pride in themselves during their medical care and rehab.
To meet individual needs of children and adults with disabilities, Portraits of Hope has developed specialized brushes and painting methods including telescoping paint brushes for children and adults in wheelchairs or attached to IVs, shoe brushes for children and adults with injured upper limbs or who cannot manipulate a brush with their hands, and flavored mouth brushes for those with limited or no movement in their arms and legs.
“Portraits of Hope’s numerous bedside visits provide creative therapy to hospitalized children from toddler to 17. They are a great inspiration to these kids and to everyone else. We are extremely fortunate to have this organization serving our community,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe.
Ultimately, over 5,000 local children and others from schools, hospitals and youth groups will be involved in the project. Previous Portraits of Hope Projects, including NASCAR racecars, airport control towers, the Osaka Sports Arena, and all of NYC’s taxicabs. The group’s efforts have received national and international attention. For more information, visit www.portraitsofhope.org
Useful Torrance Links
 City of Torrance
Torrance Chamber of Commerce
El Camino College
Torrance Unified School District
Los Angeles Unified School District
Torrance Library
Torrance Police Department
Torrance Courthouse
Del Amo Fashion Center Mall
Visit Torrance
Torrance Information |
|
|
|
Supervisor Knabe meets with Leadership Torrance, which is a group whose mission is to develop effective community leaders who will strengthen and transform the community. |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Contact:
Steve Napolitano
Field Deputy
825 Maple Avenue
Torrance, CA 90503
snapolitano@lacbos.org
Tel: (310) 222-3015
Fax: (310) 320-4058 |
|
|
|
| |
Don Knabe. Working for Torrance. Torrance
Accomplishments |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Relieving Traffic Congestion in Torrance
 The
County of Los Angeles has completed the construction
of a Traffic Signal Synchronization Project in
Redondo Beach, Supervisor Don Knabe announced . The
$2.1 million project was financed with Los Angeles
County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Grant
Funds and Proposition C Local Return Funds, and
focused on coordinating the timing of signals on
Anita Street/190th Street/Victoria Avenue from
Pacific Coast Highway to Wilmington Avenue;
Normandie Avenue from El Segundo Boulevard to 170th
Street; and on Torrance Boulevard from Pacific Coast
Highway to Main Street. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Funding Construction of Housing for Homeless and
Working Poor
Supervisor
Knabe contributed $4.969 million to San Pedro’s
Harbor Interfaith Services to be used for the
construction of a new three story building dedicated
to serving approximately 13,000 homeless and working
poor people. The new building will include a food
pantry, office space for case workers, indoor
playground, nursery, after school program space, and
other specialized facilities for homeless children.
This financial commitment represents roughly half of
the $10 million Harbor Interfaith will need to raise
to complete construction of the new building. Harbor
Interfaith Services serves the Harbor Area and South
Bay communities of Los Angeles, including San Pedro,
Harbor City, Harbor Gateway, Lomita, Torrance,
Wilmington and Long Beach.
Funding South Bay Groundwater Monitoring Project
Supervisor
Don Knabe announced a multimillion dollar effort to
further protect groundwater aquifers in the South
Bay through a new technology project. The Los
Angeles County Department of Public Works will soon
begin a $2.6 million project to build an underground
telecommunications conduit that will allow better
monitoring and control of wells throughout the South
Bay.
Establishing Reward for Murder of 28-Year Old
Torrance Resident
The
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously
approved a $10,000 reward, at the request of
Supervisor Don Knabe, for information related to the
murder of 28-year old, Torrance resident, Cori Daye
Desmond. On Valentine’s Day night, Cori went to
visit some friends working at the Bac Street Lounge
in Redondo Beach. While at the lounge, Cori
reportedly was involved in an argument with an
unidentified patron. She was last seen walking to
her car alone at 2:30 a.m. Her body was found
stuffed in a bag and dumped on a snowy San
Bernardino County road on February 16.
Opposing the Elimination of the California
Department of Boating and Waterways
The
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously
agreed to oppose Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s
plan to eliminate the California Department of
Boating and Waterways. The motion, authored by
Supervisor Don Knabe also directs the County’s Chief
Executive Office, in conjunction with the Sheriff’s
and Fire Departments and the Department of Beaches
and Harbors, to prepare a letter of opposition to be
sent to the Governor. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Creating a Walking Path for Seniors
Supervisor
Knabe joined members of the Lomita City Council for
the dedication of a renovated senior fitness trail
at Lomita Park, a project that was completed with
$100,000 in funding committed by Supervisor Knabe.
The City of Lomita applied for $100,000 to improve a
preexisting quarter-mile walking path around Lomita
Park. The upgrades included resurfacing the path and
installing 10 fitness stations designed for use by
seniors. Lomita is now working on plans to integrate
a senior fitness program into its park schedule and
is working in conjunction with Torrance Memorial
Hospital to develop an expanded physical activity
program.
Funding the Improvement of the South Bay Bike Trail
Over
four miles of the Marvin Braude South Bay Bike Trail
will soon be refurbished or completely rebuilt after
Supervisor Don Knabe agreed to fund the project with
$5 million in Fourth District Capital Improvement
funds. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
unanimously approved the project. The portions of
the bike path to be renovated are located between
Culver Boulevard in Playa del Rey and Calle Miramar
in Torrance. The project involves removing damaged
Portland Cement Concrete (Cement) and Asphalt
Concrete (Asphalt) and reconstructing those portions
of the bike path with similar materials. Also,
slurry and crack sealing will be used when complete
restructuring is not necessary. Over 21,000 feet,
over just over 4 miles of the bike path will be
repaired or reconstructed. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Synchronizing Traffic in the South Bay
A
new Traffic Signal Synchronization Project has been
completed in the cities of Manhattan Beach, Hermosa
Beach, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Rancho Palos Verdes
and Long Beach. The $933,524 project focused on
coordinating the timing of signals along three major
streets in the South Bay. Over 100 total
intersections were synchronized on the following
three roads: Artesia Boulevard from Sepulveda
Boulevard to Vermont Avenue, Carson Street from
Hawthorne Boulevard to Santa Fe Avenue, and Western
Avenue from 111th Street to Summerland Avenue.
New
funding for park projects
Supervisor
Knabe dedicated $1.7 million in Proposition A Park
funds to be used for various projects across the
Fourth District. In Torrance, a portion of the money
will be used for the removal of non-native
vegetation, installation of an irrigation system and
planting of native plants in a ½-acre tract of land.
Free
Assistance Center at Torrance Courthouse
A new Self-Help Legal Access Center was funded by
the Board of Supervisors for the Torrance
Courthouse. The facility is free to any County
resident with business at the Courthouse. Staff
members can assist the public in completing legal
forms, offer legal options and provide information
that helps the public understand court rules and
procedures. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Called for the adoption and implementation of County's new Tsunami Preparedness program which will inform and coordinate emergency services in case of a tsunami.
Held a Tsunami Emergency Preparedness Program Briefing for local communities.
Supported City’s efforts to become a “Smoke Free Beach."
Supports various community-based organizations like: Torrance Symphony, El Camino College Foundation, Little Company of Mary Hospital, Torrance Memorial Hospital, Torrance Public Library Foundation, Torrance-South Bay YMCA, Pediatric Therapy Network, L.A. Biomed, Retired Seniors Volunteer Program, South Bay Family Healthcare Center, Elder Law Program, Torrance Education Foundation and Torrance Salvation Army. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Torrance
Courthouse Renovation Project.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Torrance
Beach General Improvement Project. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lead
efforts opposing the closure of Harbor-UCLA Medical
Center.
|
|
|
|
