Palos Verdes Estates, CA

Crime Trends - 2007
T
he task of comparing crime rates from one
community to another across the nation is
not easy. States, counties and local municipalities
all have unique ordinances that are titled differently
from one another. What may be defined as
“Burglary” in one state may be “Breaking and
Entering” in another. Over a decade ago, in an
attempt to standardize statistical gathering, the FBI
chose a cross-section of eight separate crimes and
termed them “Part One Crimes.” Part One Crimes
are defined by the FBI for the purpose of comparing
one jurisdiction to another. Part One Crimes are not
intended to paint a complete picture of criminal
conduct but merely a cross-section of some of the
major crimes.
Palos Verdes Estates City Council
Mayor............................. Joseph C. Sherwood, Jr.
Mayor Pro Tem..............Ellen Perkins
Councilmember..............James F. Goodhart
Councilmember..............Rosemary Humphrey
Councilmember..............John Rea
Website www.palosverdes.com/pve
Email City Hall at [email protected]
June 2008
In 2007, we experienced a boost in Part One Crimes
due primarily to an increase in identity theft. Upon
analyzing the crime trends for our City in 2007, three
distinct crimes emerged: 1) opportunity thefts, 2)
distraction burglaries, and 3) identity thefts. Each of
these crimes is preventable as long as we understand
their nature and take a few preventative steps.
The first crime is opportunity theft. In our case, the
criminal operates in the wee hours of the morning.
Posing as an exercise walker, the would-be criminal
walks passed parked cars looking into their interior
until he discovers an item of value like a purse, a cell
phone, or a GPS device. He then quickly breaks out
a window, removes the item and flees the area. This
is known as a “Smash and Grab” theft. Citizens are
warned not to leave valuables inside their vehicles.
Continued to page 2 . . . .
Regular City Council meetings are held the second and fourth Tuesday of the
month at 6:30 p.m. for study and closed session and 7:30 p.m. for the regular
agenda. Regular Planning Commission meetings are held the third Tuesday of
each month at 6:30 p.m. The Parklands Committee meets the second Monday
of the month at 7:30 p.m. The Traffic Safety Committee meets the second
Wednesday of the month at 4:00 p.m.
Meetings are held in Council Chambers - 340 Palos Verdes Drive West. All
agendas for City Council, Committee and Commission meetings are posted on
the City Hall bulletin boards at least 72 hours before the meeting. For more
information call City Hall at (310) 378-0383. Fax: (310) 378-7820
Palos Verdes Estates
Crime Trends - 2007
Page 2
CITY OF PALOS VERDES ESTATES
. . . . .Continued from page 1
The second crime is a distraction (Gypsy) burglary.
This crime is committed when a homeowner is
contacted and distracted while an accomplice enters
the home to steal small valuables like jewelry.
Typically the distraction is an offer to give a work
estimate on the home (roof repair, etc.). Sometimes
the victim is coaxed into his/her backyard allowing
the burglar more time to enter the house. Other times
the would-be criminal asks for permission for a
worker to use the restroom. Citizens are cautioned to
be leery of unsolicited strangers offering to give
work estimates, or allowing strangers to use their
restroom.
The third crime is identity theft. Although much has
been written on this crime, it continues to flourish in
the City. One reason is the location of our mailboxes.
Having our box located on the street makes the work
of an identity thief easy. We offer two suggestions: 1)
purchase a locking mailbox 2) shred all pertinent
identifying information before disposing of it.
The Police Department is committed to fighting these
crimes daily. Through our officers’ hard work
combined with community awareness, Palos Verdes
Estates will remain one of the safest communities in
the nation.
Welcome New Palos Verdes Police Captain
T
he City of Palos Verdes Estates welcomes its newest Police Department
Captain, Kevin Scroggins. Captain Scroggins joined the Palos Verdes
Estates Police Department in March.
Prior to his 18 year career as a police officer, Captain Scroggins served in the
United States Marine Corps for 7 years. Upon completion of his military service,
Captain Scroggins began working for the Los Angeles Police Department
serving in a variety of assignments. In 2006, he joined the Inglewood Unified
School District as the Chief of School Police where he greatly impacted a major
reduction of crime within the district.
We are pleased to have someone with his widespread experience as a part of our
law enforcement management team.
Palos Verdes
Independence Day Celebration
CITY OF PALOS VERDES ESTATES
Page 3
I
t’s time to polish up those bikes and wagons, get out
your favorite apple pie recipes and put on the red,
white and blue for the traditional Old Fashioned Palos Verdes
Independence Day Celebration! Everyone is invited to the
festivities on Friday, July 4th on the grounds of Malaga Cove
School, 300 Paseo del Mar, Palos Verdes Estates. The
celebration will begin at 9:45 a.m. with the strains of patriotic
music, followed by the children’s bike parade at 10 a.m.
Mr. Stan Lee has been selected to receive this year’s Heritage
of Freedom Award. As recipient of the Kenneth Norris Heritage
award for outstanding civic service, he will give the keynote
speech during the formal part of the program commencing at
10:30 a.m. Stan Lee is the man behind comic legends like
Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk, and The X-Men. His
revolutionary approach transformed comic books forever. Stan
Lee may not be a household name, but his creations are. The
man who rose from a functionary in a distant relative's
publishing house to become editor-in-chief and chairman of
the board of Marvel Comics invented some of the most famous
superheroes of all time. By giving them human failings and
weaknesses, he rewrote the rules for his industry.
Additionally, the Van Dine Family Americanism Award (given
to a Peninsula resident who has contributed in a special way to
the quality of life in America) will be presented to Maestro
Joseph A. Valenti, Music Director, Conductor, Composer,
Orchestrator, Master Teacher, Author and Lecturer. Valenti
started the Peninsula Symphony in 1967 at the request of many
musicians in the area and has served as the Symphony’s
Conductor for the past 41 years.
Celebrating its 47th year, the Palos Verdes Independence Day
Celebration is one of the community’s most anticipated family
events. Organized by an all volunteer committee under this
year’s chairperson Ellen Cook; it is funded from community
contributions. Donations are gladly accepted by the P.V.
Independence Day Celebration Committee and should be
mailed to P.O. Box 1182, Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274. For
general information, contact (310) 375-3455.
Marvel Comics creator Stan Lee will be honored
as this year’s Heritage of Freedom recipient, and
will be the keynote speaker at the Palos Verdes
Independence Day Celebration.
Peninsula Symphony’s Maestro Joseph A. Valenti
will receive the Van Dine Family Americanism
Award.
Apple Pie Contest Winners
PVTC Presents Summer Junior Program
T
CITY OF PALOS VERDES ESTATES
Page 4
he Palos Verdes Tennis Club is looking
forward to another successful Summer
Junior Program. The Junior Program is exciting, fun
and challenging. Workouts are designed to introduce
tennis to beginners and for intermediate players to
hone their skills. All workouts are on a drop-in basis
for those families with busy summer schedulesmeaning no reservations required.
Schedule
Tuesday and Thursday
3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Pee Wee (ages 3 to 6). Cost: $10 per class.
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Racquet Rookie (ages 6 to 10). Cost: $15 per class.
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Intermediate/Advanced (ages 10 to 16). Cost: $20 per class.
There is a $1 per class discount if you purchase a book of 10 workout tickets.
Annual Dog Vaccine Clinic
The Palos Verdes Tennis Club is located at 3303 Via Campesina, and is open 7 days per week.
Please call (310) 373-6326 or stop by the club for more details.
T
he City of Palos Verdes Estates and the Los
Angeles County Department of Animal
Care and Control will hold a low-cost Dog
Vaccination Clinic on the parking deck at Palos
Verdes Estates City Hall, 340 Palos Verdes Drive
West, from 7:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. on Thursday
July 10th. There will be no cat vaccinations at this
clinic.
Also available at the July 10th clinic is “AVID”
microchip registration for a fee of $6.00. Microchips
are injected beneath the skin between the shoulder
blades and cannot be felt or seen. They contain an ID
number and can be read by shelters to identify a pet.
The chip does not replace the need for a City-issued
dog license (see info on page 5), but provides an
additional way to identify your pet, especially if it is
transported to a County shelter. We are offering the
microchip as an additional benefit to our residents.
The Low Cost Vaccine Packages include:
• Dog Combination #1 - $31.00 Rabies, 6-in-1 (DHLPP) & Bordetella
• Dog Combination #2 - $25.00 6-in-1 (DHLPP), Bordetella
• Dog Combination #3 - $20.00 Rabies, 6-in-1 (DHLPP)
Individual Vaccine Prices:
• Rabies
• 6-in-1 (DHLPP)
• Bordetella
$ 6.00
$14.00
$11.00
For all vaccinations, please make checks payable
to “Los Angeles County”.
Please be sure to have your dog on a leash and please
be prepared to clean up after your pet. We look
forward to seeing you there!
Dog License Renewal
for July 2008
thru June 2009
CITY OF PALOS VERDES ESTATES
A
lthough residents may renew their dog
licenses any time throughout the year
during City Hall’s normal working hours, City Hall
will be open on Thursday evening, July 10th from
7:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. for dog license renewal.
Please be prepared to write a separate check
payable to the “City of PVE”. You will also need to
bring a copy of your dog’s current rabies certificate (it
must be valid through June 30, 2009), and/or the
certificate of sterilization if the renewal form does not
reflect the information.
Council Agendas Available
Page 5
••••••••••••••••••••••
To enhance service to residents, City Council
agendas are posted at City Hall, 340 Palos
Verdes Drive West and the Golf Club ProShop, 3301 Via Campesina, and agendas and
related materials are placed at the Malaga
Cove Library, 2400 Via Campesina, by the
Saturday morning preceding the Tuesday
evening City Council meeting. Agenda and
City website at www.palosverdes.com/pve. If
staff reports are also available online on the
you are interested in subscribing to the
Fees:
Spayed or Neutered
Unaltered
Late fee charged after 08/31/08
$12.00
$24.00
$10.00
Dogs must be on a leash and accompanied by an adult
at all times.
website by clicking on City Council and then
Agenda, please join the list-serve on our
on Join the E-mail List Server.
Being a Courteous Pet Owner
A
s you enjoy your pet, we ask that you be a mindful neighbor by following the tips below:
Clean-up after your dog. It is unlawful for your dog to leave waste on private or public property.
Cleaning up after your dog reflects your consideration for others.
Keep your dog leashed or within a secure fenced area. Be aware that it is unlawful for any animal to
freely stray in Palos Verdes Estates. This is also a great way to protect your dog from the dangers of the
outside world.
Prevent pet boredom. It is unlawful for owners to leave their dog barking for an excessive amount of
time at the disturbance of others. Excessive barking is often the result of boredom or anxiety. Take
time each day to walk your dog, play with him or teach him new tricks.
Make sure your pet is registered with a current city license. Proper registration ensures that you will be
contacted if your lost pet is found far from home. Also, pets should always wear collars with identifying
information.
National Night Out
CITY OF PALOS VERDES ESTATES
Page 6
M
ark your calendars
now and get ready
to celebrate National Night
Out on Tuesday, August 5,
2008 from 6 p.m.-9 p.m.
The National Association
of Town Watch, which is
the parent of Neighborhood Watch organizations
worldwide will be joining forces with more than
11,000 communities to celebrate the 25th Anniversary
of National Night Out and to promote: policecommunity partnerships; crime, drug and violence
prevention; safety; neighborhood unity.
Emergency
Survival Kits are Here!
A
s a courtesy to our residents, PVE
Neighborhood Watch has purchased
Home Emergency Survival Kits (2-Person
Backpacks) for sale to the community. These kits
are available for purchase at the police department
for $60 each (checks only payable to “PVE
Neighborhood Watch”).
Kits contain mostly personal safety items such as
water, food bars, gloves & goggles, first aid kit,
radio, flashlight, batteries, etc. and are designed to
sustain two people for a minimum of three days.
For more information, or to purchase a kit, please
call Laurie Slawson, Community Relations Officer
at (310) 378-4211.
Block captains and neighbors will be hosting parties
throughout the City. If you haven’t been a part of this
celebration in the past, please consider participating
this year. It’s a great opportunity to get to know your
neighbors. You’ll also have a chance to meet City
Council members, the Police Chief, Police Captains,
City Manager, local Fire Department and of course,
Officer McGruff, our crime dog mascot.
If you would like to host a party in your
neighborhood, or if you have questions about the
event, please call Laurie Slawson, Community
Relations Officer, at (310) 378-4211.
E
New
Law Alert
ffective July 1, 2008, California law will
prohibit drivers from using a wireless
telephone (mobile phone) while operating a motor
vehicle, unless the driver uses a hands-free device.
Push-to-talk features (for example, Nextel) are also
prohibited. Drivers who violate the law will face a
base fine of $20 for a first offense and $50 for each
subsequent offense.
Malaga Cove
Library Book Sale
June 20 & 21
July 18 & 19
PV Boulevard Landscape Project
CITY OF PALOS VERDES ESTATES
T
his summer, our City will complete
landscaping improvements at the Palos
Verdes Boulevard entrance of the City from
Torrance. The improvements will focus on three
areas including: the area around the City Entrance
Sign; the median island; the walking path east of
Palos Verdes Boulevard. This project has a variety of
T
he beautiful Palos Verdes Golf Club, designed
by George Thomas, was built in 1924 with
213 acres laid out for an eighteen-hole golf course over
gentle hills and overlooking the ocean. Over the years,
the greens have undergone upgrades and redesigns to
improve the quality and the challenge of play. A twoyear renovation and enlargement of the Clubhouse was
completed in 2007 and offers dining and banquet
facilities, a bar and card room and luxury locker rooms.
The Club is governed by Officers and a Board of
Directors elected from the membership.
The Club operates an outstanding restaurant, which is
open to the public and serves breakfast Friday - Sunday;
brunch on the last Sunday of the month; lunch Tuesday
-Saturday; dinner Wednesday and Friday. Also, a
“Seafood Buffet” is offered the last Thursday of each
month. The dining and meeting rooms offer fantastic
views overlooking the golf course and the Southern
California coastline. Additionally, the Club has
exquisite banquet facilities, which includes exceptional
catering options. The Clubhouse has hosted many
Page 7
components including a complete rebuild of the
irrigation system, installation of low maintenance,
colorful, drought tolerant landscaping, and
replacement of sections of the pathway in significant
disrepair. A majority of the project cost is being
funded via outside grant funds that are restricted for
park purposes.
Spotlight on the
Palos Verdes
Golf Club (PVGC)
meetings, parties, weddings and other memorable
occasions.
Membership is offered
Membership/Fees/Dues
to Palos Verdes Estates residential property owners
only. Applications may be obtained from the Club. The
current initiation fee is $44,000 and includes full golfing
privileges, bag storage, access to the Fitness Room and
Locker Room. Monthly dues are $421 for families and
$329 for singles. There is a food minimum expenditure
of $300 quarterly. For non-member use: Residents pay
$95 Monday - Thursday and $110 Friday, Sunday and
Holidays; Juniors pay $15 weekdays and $20 weekends
(available after 1 p.m. Monday; after 12 p.m.
Tuesday/Thursday; after 2 p.m. Wednesday/FridaySunday). Current membership includes 560 regular
members, 130 other category members (such as Social
Clubhouse membership, which has no golfing
privileges, or Senior Status membership, which is based
on age and years of membership), and 200 associate
members (on the waiting list).
Continued to page 8 . . . .
Spotlight on the
Palos Verdes
Golf Club (PVGC)
Page 8
. . . . .Continued from page 7
Programs
The Club offers several quality
programs to its members. Programs available
include: Golf lessons with PGA Professionals;
Women’s Golf Programs; Junior Golf
Programs; SCGA Tournaments; Community
Benefit Tournaments.
The Palos Verdes Golf Club is truly treasured
by the community. It is a great place to improve
one’s golf swing, as well as meet new neighbors
and friends.
In This Issue
CITY OF PALOS VERDES ESTATES
Crime Trends ...........................................................1, 2
Welcome New Palos Verdes Police Captain................2
Palos Verdes Independence Day Celebration .............3
PVTC Presents Summer Junior Program ...................4
Annual Dog Vaccine Clinic .........................................4
Dog License Renewal for July 2008 thru June 2009 ..5
Council Agendas Available .........................................5
Being a Courteous Pet Owner.....................................5
National Night Out......................................................6
Emergency Survival Kits are Here!.............................6
New Law Alert.............................................................6
Malaga Cove Library Book Sale.................................6
PV Boulevard Landscape Project ...............................7
Spotlight on the Palos Verdes Golf Club (PVGC) ..7, 8
City of Palos Verdes Estates
PRSRT STD
U.S. Postage Paid
Palos Verdes Estates,
California
Permit #137
340 Palos Verdes Drive West
Palos Verdes Estates, California 90274
ECRWSS
Postal Customer
Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274
(Palos Verdes Estates Community Assistance and Resources for the Elderly and Seniors)
Summer 2008
Upcoming Events
PVE-CARES is pleased to announce the following schedule of events for the remainder of
2008. Individuals that are registered with the program will also receive a postcard
approximately three to four weeks in advance of each event. As always, lunch or refreshments
will be served.
Tuesday, June 17 10:30-11:30 a.m. St. Francis Episcopal Church
Identity Theft and Internet Crimes presented by the Department of Consumer Affairs
Thursday, July 17 4:30-6:00 p.m. Lunada Bay Park
Music from the 40’s and 50’s performed by “Chaussee’s Big Band”
Tuesday, September 9 10:30-11:30 a.m. Palos Verdes Golf Club
“Taking Care of You” Panel of Doctors from Little Co. Mary Hospital
Friday, November 7 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Neighborhood Church
3rd Annual Senior Health Fair - Featuring free flu shots, local resources available to seniors,
free lunch, music and a drawing for prizes
Reminder
The PVE-CARES sponsored “Senior Work Day” is offered on the third Saturday of each month.
Volunteers from “New Life Christian Church” will provide workers to perform those small jobs
around the home that you are unable to do yourself. All requests should be submitted to the
PVE-CARES Coordinator at least two days prior to the work day by calling (310)378-4211 ext.
2131.
File of Life
If you have registered with PVE-CARES, but have not received the “File of Life”, please call
the Program Coordinator at the above listed number. The “File of Life” is a tool that speaks
for you when you are unable to do so yourself and allows First Responders (Police and
Paramedics) to have access to your pertinent medical information. Remember, in an emergency
every second counts. This tool can save you or the life of a loved one.
Be Aware of Scams
While anyone can fall prey to the many scams that are out there, seniors/elderly are particularly
vulnerable. We would once again like to emphasize some key points to keep in mind: (1)
Never give your personal information (especially your Social Security Number) to anyone; (2)
Don’t fall prey to telemarketers – ask for a supervisor’s name and/or call back number to verify
if the organization is legitimate. Many times, after asking for this information, the caller will
hang up – this should indicate that the call was probably an attempt to scam you; (3) Never let
anyone into your house or onto your property to perform some work or service unless you have
previously arranged for it.
Recently, there were several burglaries in Rancho Palos Verdes related to a tree-trimming scam
where the suspects usually targeted elderly victims. In each incident, the suspect pretended to
work for a tree-trimming service and informed the victim that they needed to go to the backyard
of the residence to show him/her trees that needed to be trimmed. During this time, a second
suspect entered the residence and stole the victim’s money and jewelry. The good news is that
the Sheriff’s Department arrested five individuals related to this recent scam. As always,
anytime you are having work done, get at least three bids before hiring someone to perform the
work. By obtaining as many bids as possible, you will have an idea as to what the job will cost
and if one of the bids is considerably higher or lower than the others, this should raise your
suspicion.
Health Tips
For many people, it happens in their 40’s or 50’s. They wake up and realize they’re aging.
Luckily, it’s never too late to combat the effects of time. Studies show that preventative
measures help ward off disease and disability and keep you feeling good well past your 60’s
and 70’s. Some good age-defying ideas:
You are what you eat. Healthy bodies need high-quality nutrition. Eat small, frequent meals
with protein (thick nuts, bean spreads and low-fat cheese), whole grains, healthy fats (olive
oil, fish) and at least five daily servings of fruits and vegetables.
Use it or lose it. Exercise does wonders for cholesterol levels, bone strength, flexibility and
mood. Aim for moderate to vigorous-intensity exercise and physical activity most days of the
week. Exercise is also crucial to reaching or maintaining a healthy weight – another key health
factor.
Avoid “the vices.” Quitting smoking is hard, but the sooner you break the habit, the sooner
your lungs heal from the damage that smoking causes. Limit alcohol if you drink at all.
These simple suggestions are surprisingly powerful. Follow them and significantly cut your
risk of diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Start with a few changes: Walk briskly ten minutes
a day or add an apple or salad to a daily meal. Even modest changes help. While no one has
found an elixir of youth, this formula may be the next best thing to extending your youth and
longevity