The Buzz this Month!

Welcome to the first edition of the Torrance Centennial eNewsletter!  We are very excited to offer you a monthly opportunity to draw your attention to information, activities, events, and rich history of our great City of Torrance over the first 100 years.

Each edition will feature not only little known factoids about Torrance, but what’s happening next in the year-long activities planned to celebrate the first 100 years.

Lights, Camera, Action! is the kick-off celebration on Sunday, November 6, 2011 at Charles Wilson Park.  This event gathers over 2,500 community members to direct their Pelican Product flashlights toward the sky where photographers on the Goodyear Blimp and Robinson Helicopter will capture a photograph of our lights displaying a jumbo-sized “Torrance Centennial 1912 – 2012”.  This historic photo will be shared with all and even placed in the planned time capsule!

Speaking of a time capsule, we have received approval from the Torrance City Council to construct a brand new Torrance Centennial Plaza at El Prado Park!  The Plaza incorporates Commemorative Personalized Bricks that you can purchase for only $150.  Each Brick sale will help fund the building of the Plaza.  Don’t be left out, order your Brick today!

Finally, I want to encourage you, your family, friends and neighbors to join us in our year-long celebration.  This is a once-in-a-life-time opportunity.  To learn more about the Torrance Centennial celebration, visit our website at www.TorranceCentennial.Org where you can discover our events and activities, but also check out the merchandise available to purchase.

Donna Duperron,
Editor-in-Chief

Looking Back

Hello!  I’m Sue Herbers, the City of Torrance City Clerk.  I’m excited to share with you the wealth of information that’s been collected and made available just for the Torrance Centennial.  You’ll find not only archived newspaper articles of Torrance’s history but the official minutes recorded of past government meetings by City Clerks even before my time.

It has been fun going over the vast newspaper collections of the Torrance Herald and Torrance Press from 1913 to 1969.  These two newspaper archives can be found on the Torrance Library webpage here.  You’ll find them so interesting you won’t be able to read just one!  In fact, here is a taste of what you can expect to find from the Torrance Herald:

I’m excited to say, we’re currently working on posting the official minutes recorded by early City Board of Trustees meetings dating back to May 1921.   The first years will allow you to see how the community dealt with everyday issues ranging from building of homes and businesses to paving the streets and planting trees, installing pipelines for water and sewers and hiring the people to do that work.  Finding events that mirror life as it continues in our community as well as those special firsts of our history.   Here one example:

We’re looking forward to bringing you stories online that will not only intrigue you but perhaps entice you to continue your search around Torrance’s history.  Share your suggestions for topics you would like to hear more about.  E-mail us at Centennial@TorranceCA.Gov.

Here’s to a great celebration ahead.  Happy 100^th Birthday City of Torrance!

Sue Herbers,
City Clerk and Member of the Centennial Committee

Celebrating 100 Through Youthful Eyes

In 1912, Jared Sidney Torrance decided to turn his vision of a mixed industrial and residential community into reality.  Now, almost one hundred years later, the City of Torrance has developed into a large (8^th largest in Los Angeles County) well-balanced community that stands as a model of progress and innovation.  As youth representatives of the Torrance Centennial Committee, we would like to bring you monthly highlights of the celebration of Torrance’s 100^th birthday.  In keeping with the committee’s motto, “Looking Back, Moving Forward”, we will also be incorporating historical fun facts in later editions of this newsletter.  Our goal is to engage Torrance residents, especially youth, in activities and events organized by the Centennial Committee.

Having been born and raised in Torrance, the prospect of leaving for college next fall is bittersweet.   We are extremely fortunate to have grown up in a community where opportunities to prepare for the future are abundant.   For example, we have both participated in Junior Leadership, a program sponsored by the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce and TUSD that allows high school students to explore careers in leadership and government.  When Torrance schools were clearly in need of additional support, we lined the street with bright signs to support the school bond measures Y and Z.  Although we will not be here to see all of the changes implemented, it was such a fulfilling experience to act as a part of a group that cares so deeply about education.  One of the things we will miss most is spending sunny days at Torrance Beach eating fries from the snack shack.

Torrance’s motto is “A Balanced City”.  To that end, the city is colored by many diverse cultures and cuisine, from sushi to crepes to gourmet burgers.  We will never forget the lattes, frozen yogurt, food truck or “boba” (tapioca) drinks.  In addition, youth are involved in a variety of different talents.  AYSO soccer was created here in Torrance, and is now a national youth league.   Our high schools have produced professional athletes across the board: figure skaters, baseball players and football players.  Torrance allows its residents to excel in any sport that they are passionate about; for us, this passion takes the form of dance and men’s gymnastics.

We are excited and honored to be a part of the celebration of our city’s history and hope to see you at the upcoming events and interactive contests throughout the year!

Contributed by Kenji Nishimura and Sheridan Wakimoto,
Seniors at South High School

Commemorative Centennial Brick

The Torrance Centennial Committee is excited to announce an exclusive opportunity to be part of the past, present, and future of the City of Torrance by purchasing a Commemorative Centennial Brick.  Centennial Bricks will be incorporated into the beautifully designed Centennial Plaza at El Prado Park. 

There will be a limited number of bricks sold, so hurry and make sure to get yours today!  Bricks can be purchased for $150.  Your Personalized Centennial Brick can include up to three lines of text, with a total 16 characters in each line.  Brick dimensions are 3 5/8” x 7 3/4" and up to four bricks may be purchased in a single transaction.

To purchase a brick please go to the Torrance Centennial Store website here or you can print out this Form and drop it off or mail with payment to:

Torrance City Hall, West Annex
Community Services Department, Registration Office
3031 Torrance Boulevard., Torrance, CA 90503
ATTN: Centennial Committee
(Please remember to include payment with the form to expedite the process)

The Centennial Plaza will be set in historic El Prado Park, which is part of the original Olmsted Brother’s design, and was a driving factor in the selection of the location.  The plan includes visual elements of the Southern Pacific Railroad Bridge and adds both a tribute to the City’s rich past while offering a vision of an exciting future.  The Plaza provides a unique opportunity for the community to be part of history by purchasing a commemorative brick.

For more information about the Torrance Centennial, events, activities, and how to get involved or make a donation, please visit the Torrance Centennial website at www.TorranceCentennial.Org.

Featured Events

 

NOVEMBER 6, 2011

Lights, Camera, Action

Charles H. Wilson Park

2200 Crenshaw Boulevard

Sun, 11/06/2011 - 4:00pm

 

Due to an overwhelming response to Lights, Camera, Action, there are no more slots available for this event.  There are many Centennial events planned in the upcoming year for you to participate.  Click here for more information.

 

NOVEMBER 24, 2011

Turkey Trot Fun Run

Sam's Club Parking Lot

Torrance Crossroads Center, Torrance

Thu, 11/24/2011 - 8:00am

 

For 31 years, the Harry Sutter Memorial Turkey Trot 5K Fun Run has been held every Thanksgiving morning.  It is the only event in November where an estimated 6,000 people gather in Torrance to run and have fun.  Each paid participant receives a Turkey Trot shirt.  All shirts, advertising, fliers, and banners could incorporate the Torrance Centennial logo as well.  For registration and more information, click here.