The Kiwanis Club of Rolling Hills Estates honored 22 high school seniors and continuing scholars at a dinner and awards ceremony on June 3, at the Los Verdes Golf Course ballroom. High school scholars from Palos Verdes, PV Peninsula, San Pedro, Narbonne, Phineas Banning, and the San Pedro Police Magnet High School were honored. Continuing scholars represented were California State University, Long Beach and San Francisco; Georgetown University; Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Rice University in Houston; Stanford University; the University of California at Berkeley, San Diego and Santa Cruz; the University of Southern California and Wake Forest University in North Carolina. The Kiwanis Club of RHE scholarships are made possible by the PV Marathon sponsors and donors in the community.
This past May, Karen Liebig, President of the Julius Sumner Miller Foundation and Carla Nay, an associate, visited the Point Vicente Interpretive Center where Herb Stark, Los Serenos Whale of a World (WOW) program coordinator, provided them with copies of the WOW Memory books. The Julius Sumner Miller Foundation is a longtime sponsor of the WOW program. The Foundation is dedicated to benefiting society by supporting programs that foster science, especially physics, and aid health care for the elderly that improves their quality of life. The Los Serenos de Point Vicente Docent WOW program is an outreach program for Title I elementary schools throughout the area. It offers children an opportunity to expand their outlook and views. In addition to providing free transportation for the field trip, there is an in-school pre visit by Los Serenos docents who present an overview of what the children will see and experience on the field trip. Selected classes also have an opportunity to publish a memory book about their field trip experiences with each child receiving a free copy to take home. Classes participating in the program have an opportunity to visit one of three sites, the Point Vicente Interpretive Center, the Forrestal Nature Preserve or the Abalone Cove Shoreline Park. For more information on the program, sponsorship opportunities or becoming a Los Serenos docent please contact the Point Vicente Interpretive Center at 310-377-5370 or e-mail losserenos@rpv.com.
Angi Ma Wong, Rotary District 5280 Past Sr. Asst. Governor and Past President of Palos Verdes Sunset Rotary Club and Tim K. Siu, Past District Governor of Rotary District 5300, recently received the Golden Spike Award from the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California. Both Wong and Siu were honored as “Community Leaders Making a Difference” for their many decades of volunteerism in the Greater Los Angeles area.
Malaga Bank Award
Malaga Financial Corporation (OTCBB:MLGF), the parent company of Malaga Bank FSB, recently announced that EVP/CFO Jasna Penich was a finalist for the 2012 Women Making a Difference Executive Management Award sponsored by the Los Angeles Business Journal. Ms. Penich was one of over 200 nominees who were honored at a recent luncheon and awards ceremony. “It is with great pride that we acknowledge the Los Angeles business community’s recognition of Jasna’s professional accomplishments,” commented Randy C. Bowers, President and CEO. “She has contributed to the financial and operational success of Malaga Bank with efficient cost controls, prudent banking practices and strategic management decisions since joining us in 2008. Her enthusiasm and commitment to the Bank’s culture of exceptional customer service and community volunteerism are felt within the organization and throughout the South Bay communities that we serve.”
The Luminaries, a group of Palos Verdes Peninsula women, who support Torrance Memorial Medical Center, recently hosted its annual Grand Finale celebration to honor and recognize 15 graduating members of the Novas volunteer student organization for their contributions to the medical center. During a celebration at the Double Tree Hotel in Torrance, Novas President, Erin Burgos, and Vice President of Fundraising, Jason Lipps, presented Nancy Ruiz, lead R.N., Pediatrics, with more than $4,000 in gifts generated through fundraising to fulfill wish lists from the Pediatric Unit, Burn Unit and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Steve and Marlene Young, residents of Palos Verdes Estates, invited friends to a special preview night at the Aquarium of the Pacific to be among the first to see the brand new Penguin Exhibit. Dr. Jerry Schubel, President and CEO, center, introduced the exhibit to the guests and presented a special painting to the Youngs, done by the penguins. Steve Young is a member of the Aquarium Board of Directors. Photo by Mary Jane Schoenheider
After 39 years of service to the Palos Verdes Peninsula school district, Ridgecrest Intermediate School Principal, Pat Corwin, will retire. He leaves behind a legacy as a teacher and principal, still remembered by many who have had the fortune to have him as a principal or teacher. On Friday, May 25th, the entire student body at Ridgecrest Intermediate School surprised Mr. Corwin with a school-wide assembly. Over 900 students, the entire Ridgecrest teaching staff, the Ridgecrest Booster Club and PTSA were on hand to pay tribute to his legacy. The assembly was organized by the Ridgecrest Leadership Class under the direction of Jacque Hockensmith. Mr. Corwin leaves behind a legacy of teaching and administration based on his mantra, Direct, Honest, Respectful, which has been commemorated in a bronze plaque and granite bench, donated by the Ridgecrest Booster Club, installed in a corner of the Ridgecrest campus which has been named “Corwin’s Corner.”
Ray Frew, president and CEO of Green Hills Memorial Park and longtime supporter of the Torrance-South Bay YMCA, recently received the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles Association’s highest volunteer honor when he was named to the Y’s Golden Book of Distinguished Service. Since 1934, the Los Angeles Association of Ys, 25 branches across 100 miles of Los Angeles County, has acknowledged the long and remarkable service of select volunteers with this award each year. Frew was recognized by an audience of over 500 during the Association’s 130th Annual Celebration held at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel on May 16th. Over the past 14 years, Frew’s dedication to the Torrance-South Bay Y has been transformative. As the chair of the Y’s Building for Tomorrow capital campaign, his leadership was instrumental in raising $4.6 million to construct a new community center which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Frew’s ambassadorship for the Y includes service as a member of the Board of Managers, including as Board Chair from 2000 to 2002; Finance Committee Chair; Annual Community Support Major Gifts Campaigner and Team Captain; and Board Development Committee Chair.
After nearly 20 years of planning and discussion, Marymount College’s Main Campus building infrastructure improvements have begun. A groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, May 16 celebrated what was initially envisioned by past Marymount president Dr. Thomas McFadden, who served from 1992 through 2006. On a quiet campus just days after graduation, a crowd gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony. The projects, slated for summer construction, include the updating of plumbing and electrical systems, as well as the addition of a parking lot for 120 cars. The college’s current athletic field will be relocated to make room for additional parking.
On Thursday, May 17th, the Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles held their Southwest Region Silver Award Ceremony at Redondo Union High School, where 281 girls over the Southland earned their Silver Award, the second highest award a girl can achieve in Girl Scouts. The Silver Award recognizes dedication to community service and leadership growth. Girl Scout Troop 8815 of Rancho Palos Verdes achieved this award through hosting a Spring Girl Scout Camp teaching girl scout campers through overnight camping, dance, canoeing and kayaking, campfires, crafts and other survival skills. This camp held at Cabrillo Beach, hosted over 200 girls, one of the largest in the history of the camp. The girls worked tirelessly to plan and coordinate this event and succeeded in teaching many first-time campers important girl scout skills.
On a recent Sunday in April, over 900 guests joined together with Sandpipers and TrinityKids Care for The 27th annual FOR OUR CHILDREN Food and Wine Festival, presented by Honda. This event, held on the Honda campus, featured an afternoon of gourmet foods and fine wines from nearly 100 restaurants, wineries and beverage purveyors.As always, guests had the opportunity to bid on fabulous silent and live auction items and purchased chances to win a trip to the Aulani Disney Resort and Spa in Hawaii, donated by American Honda Motor Co., Inc., the event’s presenting sponsor.FOR OUR CHILDREN raised much needed funds to benefit children and their families through TrinityKids Care, a program of Providence TrinityCare Hospice Foundation and Sandpipers’ philanthropic programs.
Switzer Learning Center Opens a New Family Services Clinic
The Switzer Learning Center is proud to announce the opening of its new Family Services Clinic located on the Switzer school campus in Torrance. The Clinic will serve the growing community need for effective counseling services and will focus on four primary areas: groups for depressed and anxious teens, social skills, autism spectrum and parent training; individual therapy for children and adolescents; family therapy, and testing consisting of neuropsychological assessments to assess cognition, behavior and brain functioning as well as specific learning disabilities and psycho-educational evaluations to determine academic strengths and weaknesses and testing of development learning styles. Please feel free to contact Pam Dobbins at the Switzer Learning Center to learn more about the Family Services Clinic at 310-328-3611. New classes are opening in June and September.
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The GU12 AYSO Palos Verdes Strikers select soccer team finished their “stateside” 2011-2012 tournament season by clinching first place in the Gold Division, in the highly competitive PV Spring Select Soccer League on May 5, and by winning the championship in the top flight of the Region 15 Armed Forces Soccer Tournament in Torrance on Mother’s Day, May 13. The Strikers, led by head coach, Sam Follis, and assistant coach, Greg Stenzel, have been together for four terrific years, with plenty of victories and great memories under their belts. The Strikers’ next stop and final tournament as a team, is the Rainbow Soccer Tournament in Hawaii, June 28 – July 1, 2012
Providence Little Company of Mary Foundation recently honored Heritage Society members at the elegant Ebell of Los Angeles. Guest Speaker, Sister Kathleen Kelly, C.S.J., addressed the group of foundation donors and friends. She promoted the importance of philanthropy as she spoke about the significance of Catholic healthcare on the national stage. Providence LCM Foundation recently awarded a $25,000 grant to St. Mary’s Academy to assist students in the Health Careers Program. In March, students had their first clinical visit to Providence LCM Medical Center Torrance, where they will visit monthly, learning from a variety of healthcare professionals. LCMF provides institutional support and community outreach though Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Centers in San Pedro and Torrance. For information about partnering with the foundation, please call 310-303-5340 or visit www.plcmfoundation.org.
The Best of PVPUSD High School award winners were announced during the PVAC’s members opening reception, Friday, May 4. Awards for two and three dimensional work, as well as best of show were given. First place, three dimensional was awarded to Cody Bergstrom, senior at Peninsula High, for his red glass bowl; second place was awarded to Kim Hoel, 11th grade, for her ceramic piece; third place to Maddie Seymour, 10th grade, for her metal sculpture figure; and honorable mention to Conrad Kaczmar, senior, for his ceramic bird. First place, two dimensional, best of show was awarded to Melisa Kocarslan, Palos Verdes High Senior for her multiple self portraits, photography.
Dance Peninsula Ballet held their annual Garden Party and Silent Auction this past April in the lovely gardens of Tita and Rick Boulger. Tita Boulger is the founder of Dance Peninsula Ballet and is the owner of the Peninsula School of the Performing Arts, where Dance Peninsula Ballet company members train at her Lunada Bay studio. This year Dance Peninsula Ballet chose to honor Matt Lincir, the owner of Alvas Dance Store, as the Garden Party honoree for 2012. He was chosen because of his many years of support for Dance Peninsula Ballet and for his support of the arts in the South Bay community. This year Matt hosted Dance Peninsula Ballet for a performance at his showroom in San Pedro and also started a program that donates a portion of sales at Alvas Dance Store back to Dance Peninsula Ballet. Dance Peninsula had another honored guest at the party, Armando Yuvero, a visiting choreographer originally from Cuba and now based in Mexico. Dance Peninsula Ballet Artistic Director, Roberto Almaguer, is a former principal dancer with Ballet Nacional de Cuba. Each year, Dance Peninsula Ballet also takes time to honor our graduating seniors. This year’s graduates are Lena Oren and Clarissa Donnelly. Lena, who is an emerging choreographer and rehearsal captain of the Peninsula High Girls Choreo Team, will be heading to the University of Michigan to double major in dance and communications. Lena has danced with Dance Peninsula Ballet for the past six years. Clarissa will be going to the University of Arizona where she will major in classical studies and minor in dance and has been a company member for the past four years.
