February lectures sponsored by the Peninsula Seniors give Palos Verdes homes owners an opportunity to learn more about different interesting topics, and allow them to meet other local residents. These lectures take place at Hesse Park, located at 29301 Hawthorne Blvd, Rancho Palos Verdes, in the Fireside Room on Wednesday’s from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

On February 8, 2012, the community will learn about the development of the Peninsula from two women who wrote a book about the early days.  Written by Betty Lukas, and edited by Marjeanne Blinn, “Peninsula Past: the Complicated Birth of Paradise” debuted December 8, and consists of 31 essays and archived photos which had appeared in the Palos Verdes Peninsula News.  As many of you know Betty is a docent in the Local History Room at the Peninsula Center Library, and Marjeanne is an adult services librarian there.  They will be bringing books for sale for local history buffs.

On February 15, the speaker will be Ms. Dina Aryan-Zahler who is a staff engineer for the Port of Los Angeles.  She will talk about development ideas and the plans that will create a world class harbor and an active community attraction here in our own backyard.  Some of these plans for the Port will include U.S.S. IOWA, an artist and craftsman center, an international marine research and technology center, Ports’O'Call Village, and a downtown water attraction.

On February 22, Coleen Sass and volunteer Alan Cook will talk about the Community Helpline and how it has been providing support and crisis intervention services to the Peninsula for the last 40 years. They will talk about the six week training course that is involved for all the volunteers, and how the Helpline became became such a benefit to our community. This should be an interesting topic for those who are not aware of some of the services our Peninsula offers residents.

On February 29, Don Nose, president of the Go For Broke National Education Center in Torrance, and Directors Ken Akune and James Ogawa, will talk about how in WWII, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team was the most highly decorated unity in the history of the United States.  It was made up of 442nd and 100th Battalions that were entirely Japanese-American volunteers, whose families had been sent to relocation camps at the start of the war. There will be a presentation showing detailing how this famous combat unit fought in two wars.

Photo courtesy of the Peninsula Seniors

On Saturday, February 4, 2012, the Peninsula Seniors will sponsor Coffee & Cars at the Peninsula Shopping Center (off Silver Spur Road and Hawthorne Boulevard in Rolling Hills Estates).  A group of car enthusiasts will bring their Hot Rod, Custom, Muscle Car, Sports Car, Antique, and other special interest vehicles, to the Peninsula Shopping Center parking lot where you can admire the cars, meet the owners and ask them questions.

This free event gives Palos Verdes homes owners an opportunity to meet and socialize with Peninsula Seniors members, their guests, and other South Bay area car lovers.  If you are not over 55 and would like to bring your favorite car to show, you can get an honorary car or a “senior-in-training” badge to cover you for the event.

Coffee & Cars is held the first Saturday of every month in the parking area near Starbucks and Rite Aid in the Peninsula Shopping Center. Each month, a different type of car is features and for the month of February, Italian Cars will be shown.  For a fun morning activity put on your comfortable shoes and enjoy the outdoors with other car buffs.

For more information contact Peninsula Seniors at (310) 377-3003.

Photo courtesy of Arvin Design

The Peninsula Seniors Lecture Series is once again giving Palos Verdes homes owners an excellent opportunity to hear special speakers lecture on current topics.  The lectures are held this month at Point Vicente Interpretive Center because remodeling projects are underway at Hesse Park.  The Point Vicente Interpretive Center is located at 31501 Palos Verdes Drive West, in Rancho Palos Verdes.  The series are always held on Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

On January 19th, 2012, Nadine Bobit, named as “The Healthiest Person I Know” in an article in PULSE magazine from the Torrance Memorial Foundation, will be talking about the lessons she’s learned and how mental toughness, diet, preparation and training are keys to success and fulfillment.  She is a credentialed K-12 educator, a Pilates instructor, a community activist and hard core mountain climber.  She has climbed Mt. Illimani in Bolivia, Mt. Rainier, Mt. Kilimanjaro, Mt. Elbrus in Russia, and Mt. Whitney.  This should be an interesting lecture and will take place in the Sunset Room of PVIC.

On January 25, 2012, Rafael Capiro, from Truth Fitness and Health located in the Peninsula Center area, will talk about fitness for the older adult.  This should be an informative program regarding exercise and its effect on aging, and the type of exercise that is appropriate for seniors.  As it is important to take precautions to minimize risk of injury, knowing the variables which changes with age, strength and capacity are important to help improve one’s quality of life.  This will be held in the Sunset Room of PVIC.

Photo courtesy of Peninsula Seniors

The Peninsula Seniors Lecture Series is once again giving Palos Verdes homes owners an excellent opportunity to hear special speakers lecture on different interesting topics.  These lectures  are held at Hesse Park in the Fireside Room, at 29301 Hawthorne Blvd, in Rancho Palos Verdes.  The series are all held on Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

On November 2nd…. The Department of Fish and Game will be discussing the many wild animals we have here on the Peninsula.  Lt. Ken Smirl will be discussing coyotes, skunks, raccoons and other critters in our area and will let us know  how to keep our homes and these animals safe.  He will be giving simple and smart ideas on dealing with the local wildlife.

On November 9th… Beverly Knudson the local author of “The Linden Tree Legacy”, will be discussing her novel which was inspired by her own parent’s stories.  Her story is a fictionalized version of her family’s history from the lives of her aging parents.

November 16th… This lecture will be about some of the history of the Lomita Railroad museum brought to you by Ms. Faith Bilyeu, the museum’s curator.  She will bring you back into the early 1900′s and will be discussing the beautiful collection of railroad memorabilia.

November 30th… Buzz Elliot and his wife Jan will be talking about their flying adventure in their 1940 Wavo UPF-7 open cockpit vintage bi-plane. They will discuss the scenery from 1500 feet altitude throughout the Southwest. This should be a thrilling discussion of the way it used to be.

Photo courtesy of The Peninsula Seniors

Once again, Palos Verdes homes owners have another excellent opportunity.  Marymount College has offered the membership of Peninsula Seniors the opportunity to attend the college tuition free for the spring semester 2012.

This is the first time that such a great opportunity has been offered to our residents.  Up to 99 Peninsula Senior members will have the ability to audit courses at Marymount College’s two campuses in Rancho Palos Verdes and San Pedro.  Some of the classes being offered are global studies, psychology, history and others.  Since recently gaining the status of a four year college, Marymount wants to share with local residents the ability to return to college to enrich their knowledge.

The Marymount College course information and registration will be available at the Peninsula Seniors office after November 1, 2011.  The office is located at 30928 Hawthorne Blvd, in Rancho Palos Verdes.  For more information about Marymount visit www.Marymountpv.edu, or for the Peninsula Seniors, visit www.pvseniors.org.

Photo courtesy of Marymount College

The 6th Annual Senior Awareness/Health Fair will be held on Friday, October 21, 2011, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Neighborhood Church. The Neighborhood Church is located at 415 Paseo Del Mar.  This event is offered by PVE-CARES (Community Assistance and Resources for the Elderly and Seniors).

Palos Verdes homes owners will once again be able to get free flu shots for seniors and other medical screenings.  There will be music by Chaussee’s Big Band, and lunch will be served for the participants. This is a great time also to bring all of your outdated or unused prescriptions to be destroyed properly.  I took advantage of this service last year for a senior friend who needed to dispose of an entire bag of old medications.

As an extra service this year, they will  have a truck from Shred-It to dispose (by shredding documents) of documents that you need to destroy.  There will be a limit of ten banker size (record retention size) boxes per person.  In order to use this service you must bring your boxes by 12:00 noon.

This is an excellent opportunity to take advantage of these great services, and also to have a relaxing visit at one of our most beautiful, historic locations on the Peninsula.

For more information contact PVE-CARES Coordinator, at (310)378-4211 ext. 2131.

The Peninsula Seniors Lecture Series is once again giving Palos Verdes homes owners an excellent opportunity to hear special speakers lecture on different topics.  This is a great opportunity to get together with fellow neighbors and friends and hear information which is of interest to you.  These lectures  are held at Hesse Park in the Fireside Room, at 29301 Hawthorne Blvd, in Rancho Palos Verdes.  The series are all held on Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

On Wednesday, October 12, 2011, our local Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District, will have Superintendent Walker Williams give a status report on the District’s performance.  Not only will he be discussing the new academic challenges in today’s school systems, but will also talk about the outlook for the future.  Even if your children have outgrown the school district at this time, this is a great opportunity to hear about the dollars needed for the schools’ fiscal survival and the parcel tax and it’s exemption for seniors.

On Wednesday, October 19, 2011, Mr. Gino Stumpo, CFP, VP Investments and Wealth Advisor for UBS Financial Services, will discuss 12 major trends that may impact your investments.  He will discuss what you do now and in the next ten years, will mean for the long term investor.  From the outlook for stocks and what is happening in the market today, he will present important information about financial goals for tomorrow.  The conversation will be “The Decade Ahead”, and how the next ten years may affect your future.

On Wednesday, October 26th, the series will be bringing the highly regard Englishman, John Clayton, a travel expert and accomplished author, and film and radio personality. He will describe “An Introduction to Nifty Things to See and Do in London That you Never Though Existed”.  This should be a fun fact filled hour for those of you who are interested in visiting England.

So once again the month is filled with a variety of interesting speakers and topics. If you are looking for more information go to www.pvseniors.org.

Photo courtesy of Peninsula Seniors

Palos Verdes homes owners are lucky to have the PVE-CARES (Palos Verdes Estates Community Assistance and Resources for the Elderly and Seniors) Program which is geared to our residents 65 and older.  The program was created by the Palos Verdes Estates Police Department to assist seniors so they may live independently and feel safe in their homes on the Peninsula.

The program offers many different events to increase awareness of what the city offers for seniors – updating them on security issues, how to notify the police department when leaving on vacation to local assistance in health care and medical needs.  Contact PVE-CARES, or go to the website (click here to view) to learn more.  Members will receive information, sent directly to them, regarding all the activities.

The next event, “Taking Care of You“, will be held on Thursday, September 15, 2011, starting at 10:30 a.m. at the Palos Verdes Country Club, located at 3301 Via Campesina, Palos Verdes Estates.  There will be special speakers and then a light lunch following the event.

These events require a reservation; please contact PVE-CARES (310) 378-4211 x 2131.

Photo courtesy the Palos Verdes Police Department

Joseph D’Agnese has written the following article to assist you in your home security check:

Conduct a do-it-yourself home security check by walking around your house to assess what needs to be done to reduce the risk of a break-in.

1. Keep your home well-maintained on the outside

Burglars want an easy target. Stand on the street outside your house and ask yourself: Does my property look neglected, hidden, or uninhabited? A front door or walkway that’s obscured by shrubbery offers crooks the perfect cover they need while they break a door or window. To improve security, trim shrubs away from windows and widen front walks.

2. Install motion detector lights

All sides of your house should be well-lit with motion-activated lighting, not just the front. Simple motion-activated floodlights cost less than $50 each, and installing them is an easy DIY job if the wiring is already in place.

3. Store your valuables

Thieves want easy-to-grab electronics, cash, jewelry, and other valuables, though some are not above running down the street with your flat-screen TV. Most make a beeline for the master bedroom, because that’s where you’re likely to hide spare cash, jewelry, even guns. ??Tour each room and ask yourself: is there anything here that I can move to a safe deposit box? Installing a home safe ($150 to $500) that’s bolted to your basement slab is a good repository for items you don’t use on a daily basis.

4. Secure your data

While you probably won’t be putting your home computer in a safe anytime soon, take steps to back up the personal information stored on it. Password protect your login screen, and always shut off your computer when not in use (you’ll save energy, too!) Don’t overlook irreplaceable items whose value may hard to quantify, like digital photos.

5. Prepare ahead of time in case the worst happens

• Take a photo or video inventory of items of value in your home, and store the file online or in your home safe.

• Check that you’re properly insured for theft. Note that high-ticket items in your home office, such as computers, professional camera equipment, or other business essentials, may require an additional rider or a separate policy.

Joseph D’Agnese is a journalist and book author who has written numerous articles on home improvement. He lives in North Carolina.

Visit Houselogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from HouseLogic.com with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.”

Photo is Palos Verdes Gatehouse

Lily Liang and Michele Chodos’s (Peninsula Sotheby’s Int’l Realty) 2020 Paseo Del Mar, Palos Verdes Estates 90274 (above left) is a 5 bedroom, 7 bath, 7,188 square foot home for $5,999,000.  This magnificent Lunada Bay Italian Renaissance estate features fabulous ocean views, a Roman style mosaic pool and a 483 square foot guest house.  Tricia Rapaport’s (Remax Palos Verdes Realty) 27926 Longhill Drive, Rancho Palos Verdes 90275 (above right) is a 5 bedroom, 3 bath, 2,494 square foot home for $1,187,500.  This beautiful upgraded Peninsula Center home has a gorgeous remodeled kitchen, city lights/pastoral views and a good sized flat yard.

Norman Lucas’ (Remax Palos Verdes Realty) 30110 Avenida Esplendida, Rancho Palos Verdes 90275 (above left) is a 4 bedroom, 4 bath, 3,324 square foot home for $1,399,000. This beautifully remodeled Country Club home features a huge master suite w/ocean view deck, den and in-ground spa. Pamela Lieb’s (Remax Palos Verdes Realty) 16 Hillcrest Meadows, Rolling Hills Estates 90274 (above right) is a 4 bedroom 3 bath, 2,811 square foot home for $1,350,000.  This exquisitely upgraded La Cresta home features soaring ceilings, a family room and a spa.

Photos courtesy of CRMLS