Weekly E-Newsletter and Crime Log

Tuesday 03/23/10

In an effort to be "user friendly", you may click the blue link in the IN THIS NEWSLETTER to go directly to your favorite section.  Once you are finished with that section, you can link BACK TO TOP and it will bring you back to this point.  For our readers that like to take your time, please scroll at leisure.  We recurrently make available specific information and sections in the E-Newsletter for our residents joining HBNW! 

 If you should have any problems viewing or using the links in this email, please click the HAVING TROUBLE VIEWING THIS E-MAIL? at the top of page and you will be forwarded to a webpage version.

In This Newsletter...

:: HBNW/HBPD Crime Log ~

:: MBNW/MBPD Crime Log ~

:: RBNW/RBPD Crime Log ~

:: IN THE NEWS... ~

:: CRIME PREVENTION ~

:: HB EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS ~ TMMC LECTURE ~ MB CERT ~ ShakeOut

:: RECOGNITION OF VOLUNTEERS ~ UPDATE 5 - Emergency Preparedness Campaign

:: Map Your Neighborhood ~ Train the Resident

:: CodeRED - Emergency Notification System for HB & ALERT LA County ~

:: HB Amateur (HAM) Radio Association ~

:: SURVIVAL KITS - FREE SHIPPING TO HB ~

:: TAG YOUR UTILITY VALVES ~ Accurate Emergency Services ~

:: COUNCIL & COMMISSION MEETINGS ONLINE NOW! ~

:: CONTACT US AT HBNW ~

HBNW CRIME LOG 

With the assistance of Motorcycle Ofc. JR Smith, Dect. Mick Gaglia or Lt. Tom Thompson, we select crimes that our residents can learn from in order to TARGET HARDEN their home, car or neighborhood.  This is a tool that is used to inform you about how the crime occurred, time of day and if there are any suggestions for the resident to learn from the crimes selected to further secure their home or car.
 
Facebook.com/HermosaBeachPolice

For those of you that are interested in seeing the monthly crime statistics for all crimes in HB, please click the link below. 

Hermosa Beach Police department Monthly Report 

This is a SAMPLE COPY of what a SOLICITOR PERMIT looks like for your reference.     
 

AREA CRIME LOG

AREA 1 -  BLUE (SOUTHWEST area bordered by Pier Ave, PCH & Herondo St.)

AREA 2 - GREEN (NORTHWEST area bordered Pier Ave, PCH and Manhattan border)

AREA 3 -  RED (Every HB address on PCH and EAST to Harper/Reynolds)

Abbreviations Used by Officers:
RP    Reporting Party
UTL    Unable to Locate
GOA    Gone on Arrival
FI    Field Identification Card is information taken "in the field" on a person; such as name, address, distinguishing marks, clothing if needed for future contact.

NRD    No Report Desired

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MBNW CRIME LOG

Area 3

03/17/10                      7:55 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.            700 block of 15^th Street

(Vehicle Burglary) Unknown suspect(s) smashed the right front window of the victim's locked vehicle and removed property from inside a gym bag and from the center console. A wallet containing identification, credit cards, money and a debit card were stolen. One of the credit cards was used to make an unauthorized transaction. No suspects were seen or heard.

Area 6

03/21/10                      1:15 a.m.                                 100 block of Manhattan Beach Blvd.

(Robbery) The victim was walking when he noticed a group of six Hispanic males behind him. One of the males asked him for five dollars and when the victim pulled out his wallet the suspect knocked the wallet to the ground. The suspect picked up the wallet and ran eastbound with the other suspects, out of sight. The suspect that stole the wallet is described as a juvenile, between the ages of 15 and 19 years old, approximately 5'5" tall, weighing 120 pounds. He was wearing a blue Dodger baseball cap, a Dodger warm-up sweater and blue jeans.

Area 7

03/19/10                      3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.              100 block of 28^th Street

(Garage Theft) The victim secured his bicycle to the interior of the garage with a cable lock but left the garage door open. When he returned he noticed unknown suspect(s) had cut the lock and stole the bicycle.

Area 10

03/15/10                      6 p.m. - 9 p.m.                        3800 block of Highland Avenue

(Garage Burglary) The victim placed several cases containing camera equipment, clothing, turntables and a sound mixer in his garage and closed the garage door. When he returned the garage doors were open and the items were gone. No suspects were seen or heard.

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RBNW / RBPD CRIME LOG

Courtesy of
Redondo Beach Neighborhood Watch and Police Department 

 

Please follow the link below to learn about recently published weekly crime
information.
 
http://www.redondo.org/depts/police/crime/weekly_crime_information.asp 
  

Click here to see CRIME STATISTICS

RBPD Facebook Page: 

www.facebook.com/redondobeachpolice

RBPD Notification System:

http://local.nixle.com/city/ca/redondo-beach/

  
To subscribe to City of Redondo Beach e-zine service, please go to http://www.redondo.org/ezines/default.asp

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FIRE CHIEF LANTZER'S CORNER

The March 22^nd issue of the Los Angeles Times recounted the story of a Chilean paramedic named Luis Gatica, who was on a camping trip with his family on a small island just offshore of Constitucion when the area was struck on February 27^th with a magnitude 8.8 earthquake.  Constitucion was one of the hardest hit areas as a result of earthquake.

The story ends tragically.  Luis lost seven family members, including his wife and young daughter.  They were not killed as a result of the earthquake, but from the tsunami waves that rushed ashore afterwards.  Occupants on the small islet of Isla Orrego had an approximately 10 minute window following the earthquake in which to seek higher ground.  However, Isla Orrego is a small islet that is relatively low-lying.

The relevance to Hermosa Beach is the presence of the Redondo submarine canyon that begins less than 160 meters from shore just south of the Redondo Beach Harbor.  The canyon ranges in width from 660 meters at its head to 3.2 kilometers were it ends in the Santa Monica Basin.  The location of this canyon presents a hazard we describe as a near-tsunami.  Collapse of the canyon walls could result in a near-tsunami and cause flooding of low-lying areas.

The City of Hermosa Beach has placed tsunami warning signs near the coast in order to provide information to residents and visitors as to where Hermosa's tsunami danger areas are located.  Tsunami "run-up" may reach Hermosa Avenue until 22^nd Street, where it may extend to Palm Drive.

If you are in these areas, be aware that a near-tsunami could occur relatively soon following a major earthquake, similar to what Luis Gatica experienced on Isla Orrego.

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IN THE NEWS...

Paul Reveres traverse town

"The Boy Scouts of America are right. The single most important thing we can do to protect ourselves, our families, our neighbors, and friends in the event of a disaster like the earthquake in Haiti, Hurricane Katrina, and the tsunamis that devastated Southeast Asia is 'be prepared,'"

Puente Hills fault system could set off a devastating quake

It is a broad, rectangular area 25 miles long and 15 miles wide that stretches from near Whittier to downtown L.A. Seismologists say it's capable of producing a magnitude 7.5 temblor.

March 20, 2010|By Rong-Gong Lin II

This week's predawn earthquake in Pico Rivera woke up people around Southern California, but the magnitude 4.4 temblor didn't cause major damage.

But scientists said the quake should serve as a warning about a fault that runs through a large swath of densely populated Los Angeles County and is capable of producing a devastating, magnitude 7.5 quake.

American terror suspects living in average US communities show challenge of homegrown problem

WASHINGTON - One was a drywall contractor and father, another a petite woman who cared for the elderly, another a U.S. military officer. The most alarming thing about a string of recently arrested terror suspects is that they are all Americans.

Angry protests all the rage

They're not to be confused with the march two weeks ago by California State University, Northridge, students and faculty protesting public-education funding cuts ... or the downtown-L.A. demonstration earlier this month by union members protesting cuts in state services...
a rising cycle of public demonstration tends to reflect real dissatisfaction in society...

Villaraigrosa lobbies for DWP rate hike

"I say, just say no," Councilman Dennis Zine said. "This is absolutely the wrong time to be raising any fees on residents."

Councilwoman Jan Perry, who introduced the motion for the council to take jurisdiction on the matter, said she believed more public scrutiny is needed before any rate increase is put into effect.

"I think we need to hear more from the public and what the impact will be on residents on business," Perry said, adding she wanted the discussion to be before the full council and not go to a committee for review.

City Views: Why Hermosa Beach is going carbon neutral

It means cutting our overall energy use and using smart meters, smart appliances and a smart grid to do more with less. It means generating our own renewable energy through solar, wind and perhaps even wave energies instead of burning fossil fuels for power. It means using zero-emission vehicles and reducing overall vehicle use.
 

Solar Panels Attracting Some Shady People

There Are Thousands of Solar Panels in California, and in Napa Valley They're Being Stolen in Big Numbers.

Action minutes of the Green Task Force meeting of March 8, 2010.

Minutes

Pension Pressure - As the burden of ever-increasing pension costs rests heavy on state and beach cities' coffers, one question is on everyone's minds - how will we pay for it?

BE A TREND SETTER

JOIN YOUR FRIENDS AND SHOP IN TOWN

SUPPORT OUR PIER AVENUE RETAILERS

Everyone plays a role in creating and maintaining a safe environment.
 
Report Crime - Don't assume that your neighbors have already reported the crime or that the police already know. Report criminal or suspicious activity each and every time it occurs.
 
 
DIRECT HB Dispatch Number 
310-524-2750

Reasons for calling the non-emergency number include, but are not limited to the following:
 

• You want to report a nuisance, such as a noise or parking complaint.
• To report a non-emergency crime, one that did not just occur, and the
  suspect(s) are not in the immediate area. 
• You have questions about something suspicious occurring in your
  neighborhood, and you are not sure it is criminal activity.
• Solicitor just came to your door or are in the neighborhood.
• Trash diggers.
• Unusual foot traffic.
• People you don't recognize walking your block with no seemingly specific direction or purpose.
• Parked, occupied vehicles at unusual hours.
• Abandoned vehicles.
• Business transactions conducted from vehicles.
• Unfamiliar people peering into parked vehicles.
• Person removing vehicle accessories.

 
Be alert and observant wherever you are and learn to recognize signs of criminal behavior. Report all crime to the HBPD even if it is only an attempt. Crime cannot be controlled or prevented if it is not reported. By reporting crimes and suspicious activities you can protect yourself and others.
 
 If you are in another city in the South Bay, these are their direct dial phone numbers to their PD/FD dispatch. 
 
El Segundo Dispatch  310-524-2760

Manhattan Beach Dispatch 310-545-4566

Palos Verdes Dispatch 310-378-5211

Redondo Beach Dispatch 310- 379-5411

Torrance Dispatch 310-320-2611
 
If you are in a city that you do not know or are on the freeways, call 9-1-1 and your call will be routed to the appropriate call center.

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Torrance Memorial Medical Center Lecture

Hear from disaster preparedness experts who went to Haiti. What can we learn to avert and respond to disaster in our own community?

The Haiti Earthquake Experience: Lessons Learned

Conference date: March 25, 2010, 7pm in the Health Conference Center  at 3330 Lomita Bl. Torrance

Speakers:
Michael Baker, M.D. Torrance Memorial Emergency Department Physician
Eduardo Anorga, M.D. Torrance Memorial Family Practice Physician and co-founder of a medical clinic in Haiti
Judy Retter, R.N. Moderator and Torrance Memorial Emergency Management Director

Torrance Memorial's medical experts host a lively forum about how we can prepare for a disaster like Haiti's tragic earthquake.  Hear about Dr. Baker's experience as a LACFD Urban Search & Rescue member and Dr. Anorga's personal involvement with a Haitian orphanage. You'll see photos to help understand how this situation unfolded and what took place in the aftermath. Attendance and parking is FREE. Info: 310-517-4711

Can't make the forum? Follow us on Twitter @TMMCupdates or visit www.TorranceMemorial .org for highlights after the forum.


MANHATTAN BEACH CERT

Below are two choices of classes.  Please review and again let me know which might be better, or no preference.

Saturday Classes:

May 8,  May 15, and May 22.  These are from 8AM to 4:30PM each Saturday.

Weeknight Classes, One Saturday:

Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30PM to 9:30PM and one Saturday.

June 1 and 3, 8 and 10, 15 and 17, and Saturday June 19^th  8AM to 3:30PM.

Please let me know which if any you could attend, and then we'll decide.  Each class is $50.00 and you will leave there with more than that in materials, and knowledge.  I look forward to hearing from you all, and hope we can make it work for all.

Please feel free to call me on my cell or browse our website and learn more.

Thanks,

George G. Butts

President

Hotline: 310-802-5233

      Fax: 310-802-5201

      Cell: 310-701-0101

gbutts@mbcerta.org

www.mbcerta.org

Manhattan Beach Community Emergency Response Team Association, Inc.

MBCERTA, Drop Box #1

400 15^th Street,  Manhattan Beach,  CA  90266

The Great California ShakeOut! - March 2010

The 2010 Great California ShakeOut on October 21 is seven months away, and already more than 2.6 million Californians are registered to participate!

If you or your organization has not yet registered for 2010, please login to quickly update your information and confirm your participation.  With your help, we can reach 3 million participants this week (especially if school districts and colleges re-register now).

The ShakeOut website is now completely updated for 2010, including resources such as drill manuals, posters, flyers, web banners, and more. These materials are provided to help you plan your drill, to inform your organization's employees or your community, and to encourage others to register. 

First Haiti, then Chile. Is California next?
The magnitude 8.8 Chile earthquake was over 500 times larger (shaking a broader area for a longer duration) than the Haiti earthquake, yet the losses were much smaller than in Haiti, for several reasons. Like California, Chile has excellent building codes, which minimized damage to newer buildings.  The country also has frequent earthquakes, so its citizens are more aware of how to respond. However, unlike Haiti, the Chile earthquake was offshore and shifted the ocean floor vertically. This produced a large tsunami that caused significant destruction in Chile, and minor damage in California harbors and elsewhere around the Pacific Ocean. Still, awareness of earthquake and tsunami dangers likely saved thousands of lives. 

Last week a MUCH smaller earthquake shook southern California, and we know that many people are wondering what "all these earthquakes" mean. Scientists do not believe that the chances of a large earthquake in California are higher now because of these earthquakes.  While this may seem like good news, we must remember that these chances are always high, and that large earthquakes can shake any part of the state at anytime.

Prepare, Protect, and Recover!
The Haiti and Chile earthquakes show the value of improved building codes and public education, and demonstrate how important it is to be prepared-as individuals, organizations, communities, and beyond. Smaller earthquakes here help remind us that California is earthquake country.  The ShakeOut is an opportunity for us to prepare together, hopefully before a major earthquake happens again here in California. To help we will be sending you preparedness tips each month, following the Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety. Step 2: Make a Plan. Planning for an earthquake or other emergency is somewhat like planning to leave on vacation. Make sure that your emergency plan includes evacuation and reunion plans; your out-of-state contact person's name and number; the location of your emergency supplies and other pertinent information. Additional planning actions can be completed over time. By planning now, you will be ready for the next emergency.


NOTE: Firefighters, preparedness officials, and other experts agree that "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" is the best way to protect yourself during earthquakes. Other methods can be very dangerous. Read our updated special report to learn why.

Thank you for your participation and commitment to earthquake safety!

When Disaster Strikes, it's too late to prepare. 


 

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RECOGNITION OF VOLUNTEERS

RESIDENT EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AWARENESS CAMPAIGN - Update 5

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

To all those who helped to deliver the Preparedness Packets and assisted in other ways during this project.  There was a great turn out.

Please remember, those who still have the survey sheets and extra packets to return them by Wednesday Mar. 24 to city hall in the City Managers Office between 8-5.

Thank you Dorothy Forba for coordinating with the block captains during this event.

A big hand to EPAC Commissioners George Schmeltzer and Patty Ellis who gave so many hours of their time with other volunteers to make this all possible.

Thank you to our City Manager Steve Burrell and staff for  guidance and support during this process.

THERE IS POWER IN NEIGHBORS

HB Neighborhood Watch ~ a crime awareness and disaster preparedness neighborhood program. 
 
To view all ACTIVE blocks in HBNW

Please request an INTRODUCTION Block Meeting, so your block will be considered as an active block in HBNW.  You may have volunteered to be your block's captain and receive the HBNW E-Mails.  However, we do not know if you are connected to your residents until you have had this meeting.  Please e-mail us if you have not had it. 
  
 
Upcoming Introduction Block Meetings
 

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MAP YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

READY THE RESIDENT CLASS 

If you have had the MYN training but have not yet trained your block and would like some assistance just let me know.

View the MYN PowerPoint Presentation

"Map Your Neighborhood" (MYN) is a program designed to help neighborhoods prepare for disasters.  It is a program that HBNW has adopted and highly encourages Block Captains to attend a class and implement the program on their street.
 
MYN will help you to:

• Learn the "9 Steps to Take Immediately Following a Disaster" to secure your home and to protect your neighborhood. It is hard to think clearly following disaster and these steps will help you to quickly and safely take actions that can minimize damage and protect lives.
• Identify the Skills and Equipment each neighbor has that would be useful in an effective disaster response. Knowing which neighbors have supplies and skills helps your disaster response be timely, and allows everyone to contribute to the response in a meaningful way. 
• Create a Neighborhood Map identifying the locations of natural gas for quick response if needed.
• Create a Contact List that helps identify those with specific needs such as elderly, disabled, or children who may be home alone during certain hours of the day.
• Work together as a team to evaluate your neighborhood during the first hour following a disaster and take the necessary actions.
   
   

Work together as a team to evaluate your neighborhood during the first hour following a disaster and take the necessary actions.

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CodeRED

The CodeRED system gives Hermosa Beach city officials the ability to deliver pre-recorded emergency telephone notification messages. 

Please answer your phone when you see this number 866-419-5000 and save it as CodeRed.
 

SIGN UP FOR CODE RED

May be used to register your cell phone number, Voice over IP phone number, and e-mail address with the Alert LA County Emergency Mass Notification System.

Listed and unlisted land line telephone numbers are already included in the database and do not need to be registered.



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JOIN THE AMATEUR(HAM) RADIO TEAM! 

We know how we will communicate when phones, cell phones and Internet go down.  Do you?

email Ken Hartley @ HBARA

T-038 / K6KAH
Hermosa Beach Amateur Radio Association
Voice : 310-376-4776 

 Visit the HBARA website!

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SURVIVAL KITS

Order your supplies TODAY! 

We want to help you get prepared! 

 Hermosa Beach residents receive FREE SHIPPING TO HB. 

Enter HB2007 at checkout.

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ACCURATE EMERGENCY SERVICES

Home-Savor Emergency Utility Shut Off Kit Description:

The Home-Savor Emergency Utility Shut Off Kit is a means by which a homeowner, tenant, or neighbor can easily locate their gas, water, and electrical mains and shut them off in case of a natural disaster or accidental emergency.

Visit AES online today!

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FOCUS ON SENIORS 

FANNY PACK EMERGENCY KIT 
 

Hermosa Beach Neighborhood Watch and the newly established Hermosa Beach Emergency Preparedness Advisory Commission applied for and received a Micro Enrichment Grant from the Beach Cities Health District. The grant will be used to purchase and distribute 138 Disaster Supply Fanny Packs to disabled and/or homebound seniors residing in Hermosa Beach.  

To receive a kit, please contact tracy@saferhermosabeach.com or call 310-374-1828.

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DON'T MISS A MEETING

SEE ONLINE LOCAL GOVERNMENT

ONLY TIME FOR A QUICK MINUTE? 

SEE MAYOR DIVIRGILIO'S

 'MEETINGS IN A MINUTE' ON YouTube.

City Council & All Commission meeting media clips are arranged by date, with the most recent at the top of the list. Click Video to view the meeting with documents, or Agenda / Minutes to see just the documents. You can also search the archives by typing keywords into the Search box.

Hermosa Beach City Council and All Commission AGENDA'S, MINUTES AND VIDEO

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PHONE NUMBERS

WEBSITES

HBPD - HBFD DISPATCH

310-524-2750

HB POLICE STATION

310-318-0360

HB FIRE STATION

310-376-2479

CITY OF HB

310-318-0239

LAX NOISE COMPLAINTS

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CONTACT INFORMATION

Tracy Hopkins

HBNW phone:

310-374-1828

Visit HBNW website 

HBNW Facebook Page


Saferhermosa Twitter Page

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