Message from the RHA Board:

Elections, Greenery, Coyotes! Here’s hoping that you, your family and friends

enjoyed a wonderful summer in our great

neighborhood!

This fall in the Riviera brings a change, not just of seasons but a new election cycle of local gov-

ernment. The election for Torrance Unified

School District board members is November 5,

2013. Three board members seats are up for re-election. In

June 2014, we will be electing a new mayor and four city

council members for the City of Torrance. We will invite the candidates to speak at a forum in the spring in the Riviera.

The RHA Board has had a busy summer working with resi-

dents on individual Hillside Overlay cases, talking with council

members re view ordinances and working on the PCH land-

scaping project.

The RHA general meeting at Richardson Middle School on Wed. Oct. 16 will be about this last ex-

citing issue: the new landscaping and fencing on Pacific Coast Highway across from South High

School.

Our high school students and most residents know that the median

on the south side of PCH has been lacking in attractive landscaping for a long time. The City removed the dead and dying trees this

summer. Public Works initially planned to put chain link and a

guard rail along the half mile stretch of road, but residents at a

community meeting in May asked for something more attractive. A

final plan is still being developed, along with a discussion on the

fate of the eucalyptus trees along PCH.

Meet the people we are counting on to make this change happen

at our General Meeting in October. They are Torrance Public Works Engineers, Riviera Garden

Club representative Karen Lent, RHA representative Judy Brunetti, Native Plant Society board

member Laurel Woodley and a representative from TUSD. We are hoping that Mayor Scotto will

also attend this meeting. Not at the meeting but also involved in the process are nearby resi-dent Damian Areyan, City Manager Leroy Jackson and Public Works Director Robert Beste.

(cont. page 4)

RHA GENERAL MEETING

Wednesday, October 16, at 7 PM

The public is invited to our general meeting at the Richardson Middle

School Cafeteria, 23751 Nancy Lee

Lane, Torrance, CA 90505.

The program will feature engineers

from the Public Works Department to discuss plans for new fencing and

landscaping on PCH between Janet

Lane and Calle Mayor (near South

High). Plans are still being devel-oped, so come and share your opin-

ions and wishes of what you would

like to see out there.

We will also have information about coyote management and recent coy-

ote attacks on pets in our area.

Refreshments will be served, and

an opportunity to update your mem-bership.

- April 2013

RHA President

Judy Brunetti

Residents hear ideas on PCH landscaping from Public Works—May 2013

April 2013 Bill and Laura Babcock 417 Via los Miradores

This attractive ranch house on Via los Miradores used to be a haven for

beautiful tall dahlias – but alas! Bill and Laura Babcock have gone to-

tally green with a front yard vegetable garden. Bill has beautifully

woven attractive garden elements: a welcome stepping stone path set in

green grass, raised beds lined with attractive stone, colorful flowing ac-

cents and tall palms. Amongst some colorful succulents, you will find

bok choy, beets, onion, tomatoes, chives, parsley and more. The drive-

way welcomes rain with its permeable decomposed granite surface. The

Babcocks also have a space at the community garden at Lago Seco Park.

They compost too! Thank you Bill and Laura for demonstrating how a

front yard veggie garden can be a pleasing and attractive space!

May 2013 Steve and Cindy Dennis 5006 Via el Sereno

Under the graceful arms of three old friends – a Magnolia, Viburnum

and Sycamore tree, a spring garden shines through. Garden lovers,

Cindy and Steve Dennis along with their dog Scout, have tended this

ever-changing garden for almost 30 years.

The front entry welcomes with multiple containers overflowing with

shade-loving plants and meticulously placed garden art. Massed across

the front garden are pink/white Peruvian Lilies harmoniously accented

with brilliant pink Fuscia, pale pink Abutilon, Hydrangea, Camellia and

Foxglove. Deep purple Heliotrope and Lavender add the final touch.

Several Japanese Maples are also nestled within the landscape. Multiple rose bushed – under planted with pan-

sies, define the sunny-edge of the garden. Keep your eye on this colorful, evolving garden, it will be sure to

please.

June 2013 Rick & Jamie Glimp and son Jeremy 414 Camino de Encanto

A beautiful array of plant material welcomes you as you ascend the entry

walk of Rick & Jamie Glimp and son Jeremy. The Copper Tree at the top

of the stairs immediately catches your attention, but layer after layer of

complementary shrubs, grasses and ground cover precedes it. The artfully

intertwined slope incorporates: Autumn Moor Grass, Stipa Grass, Kanga-

roo Paw, Protea, ‘Silver Sheen’ Podocarpus, Aeonium, Blue Fescue and

Dymondia. For those of you eschewing your front lawn, this garden

Outstanding Landscape Awards

Presented by Riviera Garden Club and

Riviera Homeowners Association

Visit www.hollywoodriviera.org for

Landscape awards dating from 1989! Photos by: Julian Chasin and Karen Lent

Text by: Karen Lent and Janet Hart

Membership Form Join the Riviera Homeowners Association (RHA) for 2013 – 2014 Your dues are an important contribution to our community. They allow us to provide scholarships to college-

bound students, and donations to elementary, middle and high school programs. They are used to sponsor general

meetings in the Riviera on topics important to our community. They finance our newsletters and communications, and

allow us to keep members informed on important issues being discussed in the City. Your dues allow us to thank City

Hall when they are doing a great job and to express our concern when our property interests are impacted. If you are

not a member, please consider joining. It is a small sum, well invested.

Membership runs from September to August. Since our new membership and business year has begun, it’s time to

join or renew your membership in the Riviera Homeowners Association today and help support the interests of our

community. Membership dues are only $25 a year. Please fill out the form below, enclose your check payable to

“Riviera Homeowners Association” and mail to

RHA MEMBERSHIP, P.O. BOX 1074, TORRANCE, CA. 90505.

Or, you can renew or join online through our PAYPAL system—it is quick and secure!

Go to our website at www.hollywoodriviera.org.

Because the RHA is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, your membership is tax-deductible!

(Please note: Your street and/or email address are never shared with any third parties, and are used only for the pur-

pose of notifying our members about upcoming events and other important information).

Name:________________________________________Address:_________________________________________

City:_________________________________________________Zip:_________

If you would like to be on our email list, please provide us with your email address, or see how to sign up, below.

Email:________________________________________________________________

$25 dollar annual membership for 2013-2014 (Sept. – Aug.)

$45 dollar membership for two years (2013 – 2015)

Additional contributions are welcome! ___$25 ___$50 ____$100 Other:_____________

Congratulations 2013 RHA Scholarship

winners!

Cali Almeida Plans to attend:

CSU San Luis Obispo

James Redmond

Plans to attend:

UC Santa Barbara

Announcements

Coyote Alert

Torrance Animal Control Officer Behn confirmed

on September 9, 2013 that “We do believe that

there are coyotes living south of PCH and in the

Susana/Shadycroft Street area” (near Calle Mayor).

There has been an increase in reports of miss-

ing and mauled cats in the Riviera. The coyote

problem is spreading in our area and all over

Southern California.

To stay safe, keep small animals in at night.

Do not leave pet food out overnight. If you are

walking your dog at night,

bring a bright flashlight and a

loud whistle or noisemaker.

Loud noises, bright lights and

water control devices will scare coyotes away from your

home.

Torrance Animal Control is

not trapping coyotes at this time. The City has

not authorized trapping of coyotes because of

limited resources, although some other cities are doing this. If we want to see the trapping

of coyotes, WE have to go to the city council

and city manager and request that funds be au-

thorized for coyote management. If you are

interested, speak with an RHA board member at

the October meeting, or call or send an email to our city council members.

Riviera resident Misbette John sent us a de-

tailed flyer with lots of information and photos,

courtesy of Marcia Ryback, Coast and Canyon

Wildlife, Malibu. The link to this information is

www.flower-mound.com/DocumentCenter/Home/View/6

Or just Google the flyer title: “Your Wild

Neighbors: Coexisting with Coyotes”

Thank you, Misbette!!!

Having a Garage Sale?

Our local Salvation Army Store will come by

your home and pick up unsold garage sale

items! Call (562) 218-2355 and ask for Dis-

patch, or call 1 (800) 728-7825

Would you like to help the RHA?

We need a Planning Commission observer who

would be willing to go to planning commission

meetings with other observers. You would take

notes when there is a Hillside Overlay Ordi-

nance issue being discussed. Planning Commis-sion meetings are the first and third Wednes-

days of each month. We only attend the meet-

ings that concern Riviera residents and the

HOO. Usually this is two or three times a year.

Talk with a board member or call (310) 378-

5616, ask for Judy.

Parking meter rates to rise in

Riviera Village

The Redondo Beach City Council approved a

25% increase in parking meter rates to go into

effect Oct 1. Parking meter tickets now $50.

CERT classes in Torrance and

Redondo Beach

Torrance CERT (California Emergency Re-

sponse Training) classes are available to any-

one who lives or works in Torrance. Classes are

free. Call the Community Services office, (310) 618-2720 for dates and information.

Redondo Beach CERT classes are available for

signups. The fee is $40.00 for RB residents,

$100 for non-residents. Call (310) 318-0663

x4336 for information.

View Ordinance City council members have asked us if there is

still interest in a view ordinance! We know that

there is, but residents need to go down to city

council meetings, speak at Open Orals #1 at

the beginning of the meeting, and say so. The

RHA board cannot be the only faces that they see. If this is important to you, go to city coun-

cil (Tuesday nights at 7:00) and tell them

briefly why this affects you.

Board Message (cont. from front cover)

There will also be information about the planned remodel of the PCH/Hawthorne inter-

section.

Do you have any suggestions about either of

these projects? Bring your ideas to the meeting

and talk directly with the engineers from Public

Works!

July 2013 Chris and Shelly Montelongo 4817 Paseo de las Tortugas

The Montelongo residence is a treat for sore

eyes. Accenting the property are two large

Eugenia topiaries and multiple, mature rose

bushes. A lovely Bower vine, variegated

Bougainvillea and a beautiful fountain sur-

round the front landing.

There are also numerous surprises including a

pair of succulent baskets adjacent to the en-

try. Also, tucked within the landscape are

Peruvian Lily, Lamb’s Ear, Zinnia, Dianthus,

Climbing Roses, Statice, Agapanthus, Laven-

der and Rosemary. Chris and Shelly’s beauti-

fully maintained yard is a treat for all with the open lawn most appreciated by their loving

companions Cleo and Winston.

August 2013

Andrea and Phillip Sweet with “Itsy Bitsy” 127 Via Alameda

This property reflects the owners,

Andrea and Phillip Sweets’ east

coast roots. Through several

home remodels they have success-

fully connected indoors with out

via French doors and paned

glasses windows. Multiple rose

bushes, Princess Flower, Agapan-

thus, Bower Vine, Dietes, Laven-

der, Calla Lily, Rhaphiolepis and a

sculpturally pruned Melaleuca en-

compass the front landscape. The

entry gate is punctuated with a custom Dutch door and an overhead arch of Climbing Ice-

berg Roses. The highlight, however, is the constant swoop and hum of hummingbirds –

over 40 feeding on multiple patio feeders. (Phillip’s Rose Tip: Each spring before bloom,

work in ¼ cup Epson Salts into the base of each rose plant and water well. Your roses will

love it)

You may have noticed that El Re-

tiro Library has been closed for

upgrades and repairs.

You’re invited to use the nearby

Walteria Library until El Retiro

reopens toward the end of Octo-

ber.

Halloween Trick or Treat in the Riviera Village Thursday, October 31 4 to 6 pm

Riviera Homeowners Association Mission Statement: 1. To maintain and enhance the quality of life in the Riviera, and to support projects with that goal.

2. To encourage and promote the participation of residents in community and civic activities.

3. To bring matters that are important to our residents to the attention of city officials, and to work toward a

resolution of these issues.

President Judy Brunetti 310-378-5616

Membership Chair Julie Garbe 310-378-5831

Secretary Nancy Mansfield-Staudt 310-378-5334

Hospitality Chair Cindy Constantino 310-245-0140

Landscape Chair Janet Hart 310-373-6507

Treasurer Paul Popovich 310-375-3592

Historian Janet Kaplan 310-780-9641

Scholarship Amy Josefek 917-579-5950

School Liaison Judy English 310-378-0361

Online Editor/Photographer Julian Chasin 310-373-6314

Community Liason Pam Popovich 310-375-8729

City Council Observer Richard Root 310-375-1594

Riviera Homeowners Association 2012-2013 Officers and Directors

president@hollywoodriviera.org

secretary@hollywoodriviera.org

treasurer@hollywoodriviera.org

dues@hollywoodriviera.org

landscape@hollywoodriviera.org

webmaster@hollywoodriviera.org

council@hollywoodriviera.org

scholarships@hollywoodriviera.org

Visit the RHA Website at hollywoodriviera.org! The RHA officers can be contacted via email: