Palos Verdes National Prescription Drug Take Back 2021 Event!

2 days ago • Community Events, Community Information, Senior Information, Things To Do In Palos Verdes

Palos VerdesNational Prescription Drug Take Back 2021 Event!

Palos Verdes homes owners can join the Palos Verdes Estates Police Department in supporting the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day which provides a safe, convenient and responsible way to dispose of prescription drugs. This year the event will offer drive through on Saturday, April 24, 2021, between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. at the collection site in front of the Palos Verdes Police Station located at 340 Palos Verdes Drive West, Palos Verdes Estates.

This National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue. According to a 2019 National Survey, 9.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers, 4.9 million people misused prescription stimulants, and 5.9 million people misused prescription tranquilizers or sedatives in 2019.

The purpose of this Take Back program is a safe way to dispose of pharmaceutical drugs that can be just as dangerous as street drugs when taken without a prescription or doctors supervision. Many teenagers abusing prescription drugs get them from family and friends- from the home medicine cabinet. Unused prescription drugs thrown in the trash can be retrieved, abused or illegally sold. Unused drugs that are flushed contaminate the water supply. Proper disposal of unused drugs saves lives and protects the environment. Take Back programs are the best way to dispose of old drugs.

For more information on this event call (310) 378-4211.

To read my last article regarding National Prescription Drug Take Back click here.

Photo courtesy of the Palos Verdes Police Department

Roundhouse Aquarium Earth Day 2021 Virtual Events!

6 days ago • Children's Events, Community Events, Community Information, Things To Do In Palos Verdes

Roundhouse Aquarium Earth Day 2021 Virtual Events!

Celebrate Earth Day all month long at the Roundhouse Aquarium!

April 22, 2021 marks the 51st anniversary of Earth Day, and the Roundhouse Aquarium, managed by the Oceanographic Teaching Stations, is set to honor this milestone virtually with programs throughout the month of April. Sponsored by Chevron Corporation, The Port of Long Beach and Dive N’ Surf, the virtual celebration explores the magic of the ocean, its connection to humans and what people can do to protect it.

Celebrating Whales and Dolphins: Fantastic Flukes and Fins will take place on Saturday, April 17, 2021, from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. This free Virtual Event will help you meet the largest animals ever to live on earth! You will meet many animals that swim in the sea, but breathe air like you and me. You will also be able to learn how to draw one of these amazing animals – so get paper and pencil ready.

The Ocean In Your Bathtub is a Virtual Reading Event that will take place on Thursday, April 22, 2021, from 5:00 to 5:45 p.m. This free Virtual Event will have award winning children’s book author Seth Fishman and the Roundhouse Aquarium partner together to bring ocean science programming for an Earth Day virtual reading program. Those in attendance will view a fun and engaging video reading of “The Ocean In Your Bathtub,” and have a chance to meet Seth Fishman and the Roundhouse Aquarium Scientist, Marissa Wu, who will answer your questions live.

Amazing Tide pools will take place on Saturday, April 24, 2021, from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. This is a free Virtual Event and will let you join them at some local tide pools and explore what is hiding in the rocks. You can discover what amazing superpowers tide pool animals have to help them survive and live the tide pool life.

For more information and to register for these fun virtual events go to: https://roundhouseseaaquarium.org/earthmonth.

Photos courtesy of the Roundhouse Aquarium Earth Day Celebrations

Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy Events May 2021

1 week ago • Children's Events, Community Events, Community Information, Trails and Hikes

Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy Events May 2021

Special Events:

Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy is slowly beginning to allow participants to join its monthly outside activities. This is exciting because last year we were unable to enjoy outdoor volunteer opportunities that the Conservancy offers.

City Nature Challenge will take place from April 30 through May 3, 2021, with bioblitz fun as you help document wildlife on your smart phone in your area. Whether it be your backyard, or in one of the nature preserves, this is a way for the community to work together and find and document nature in the area. The event is designed to connect people and communities with nature, and collaborate with citizen and community scientists around the work documenting the biodiversity of our planet. This is an easy to do challenge. The Conservancy has all of the instructions, resources and activities for you; please visit www.pvplc.org/calendar/citynaturechallenge.

Q & A with Author Doug Tallamy will take place on Saturday, May 1st, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. You will join executive director Adrienne Mohan for a live zoom Q & A with Doug Tallamy, bestselling author of “Nature’s Best Hope,” who will answer your questions about how to help save the planet by adding native species to your backyard. For more information and the Zoom link go to https://pvplc.org/calendar. You can also have Doug sign a Mother’s Day gift of this best selling book “Nature’s Best Hope.” You can buy copies of the book by going to https://plplc.org/event/earthday.

Monthly Activities

Rapid Response Team will take place on Saturday’s, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. You will work alongside conservancy staff protecting important wildlife habitat by closing unauthorized trails. The tasks include trail maintenance, building fence, stalling signage and more. They will be working at various locations and you can volunteer by going to www.pvplc.volunteerhub.com.

To read my prior article on Palos Verdes Hikes and Trails, click here.

Photos courtesy of the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy

Palos Verdes Local Summer Camps 2021!

2 weeks ago • Children's Events, Community Information, Things To Do In Palos Verdes

Palos Verdes Local Summer Camps 2021!

Palos Verdes home owners are getting back to pre-covid times and are happy to hear that local summer camps will be opening this summer for their children to enjoy. Below are just a few of the activities and camps located here in the area to choose from.

PV Surf Camp is a local youth surf camp which has been in operation for 20 years and is for ages 6 to 15. The camp offers various programs depending on age and skill level. The programs vary for the participant who has never surfed and requires one to one support in the water at all times, to the intermediate surfer who wants to improve their skills (The ratio is never more than 4 to 1 instructor). The camp will be open from June 14 through August 20, 2021. The cost per session is $295 for the first week, and $240 for any additional weeks. The sessions are from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For more information go to www.pvsurfcamp.com, or call (310) 908-8164.

Peninsula Sports Camps have been offering children full and half day camps in Palos Verdes since 1972. These camps are held at Palos Verdes High School and Ryan Park. The great thing about these camps is the variety. Children can enjoy their favorite sport – baseball, basketball and soccer, and later enjoy a swim in the pool to cool off. At the end of their camp session, children will receive awards for their sports. The cost per child for full day camp is $275, and half day camps are $155. For more information on Peninsula Sports Camps or to register, go to www.peninsulasportscamps.com or call (310) 213-5433. Remember the camps fill up quickly so it is important to register soon.

Palos Verdes Performing Arts Center will be offering Camp Curtain Call again this summer for kids ages 5 to 11. Children will enjoy singing, dancing and acting classes for two weeks at beginning and intermediate levels, with a performance for friends and family at the end of the session. This year they will be showcasing The Lion King, Jungle Book, Beauty & The Beast and Aladdin. For more information on dates and times go to www.palosverdesperformingarts.com/camp-curtain-call.com.

BeachSports will be offering ocean safety, surfing, beach volleyball, skateboard, Junior Lifeguards and beach activities again this summer for ages 4 to 14. This camp is offered in Redondo Beach, and runs from June 14 to September 3, 2021. Camp hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon or 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For more information and to register go to www.beachsports.com, or call (310) 372-2202.

Chadwick School will be offering academic enrichment, swimming, art, strategies, computer lab, field sports, music, photography, dance, painting, drama, singing, writing and physical fitness this summer from June 21 to July 23, 2021. This program is for children from 4 to 16 years of age. For more information go to chadwickschool.org/summer or call (310) 377-1543.

Rolling Robots will be offering Coding, Buildbot, VEX robotics, Lego robotics, Minecraft, Roblox, and 3D Design. This program is for children ages 5 to 15 years of age. For more information go to rollingrobots.com, or call (424) 206-9466.

To view my previous article on Local Palos Verdes Summer Fun click here

Photo courtesy of Peninsula Sports Camp

Palos Verdes Library District April 2021 Events!

2 weeks ago • Community Events, Community Information, Things To Do In Palos Verdes

Palos Verdes Library District April 2021 Events!

The Palos Verdes Library District’s Circulation Department is welcoming visitors back to the library. They will be able to help with your items and library account. If you applied for a library card during the closure you can now pick it up at the circulation desk. If you have a couple of “overdue” items you can also resolve them. They are back to helping you find items on the shelf and point you in the new direction. Of course you will need to follow the library’s Covid 19 instructions. When you come back to the library after April 6, 2021, stop by the main Reference Desk and you will find a new display of a fossil mammoth tusk. The tusk was discovered in 1927 in Malaga Canyon in the City of Palos Verdes Estates. It is thought to be between 11,000 and 40,000 years old, and is currently on a long term loan from the Palos Verdes Historical Society, which is looking for a permanent location for their museum. Until them, you can view this display at the library.

Below are just a few of the services and activities that you can join virtually during the month of April 2021.

Passport services have resumed at their temporary location in the Peninsula Center Library at the passport desk located at the Deep Valley Drive Entrance. Parking is available on Deep Valley Drive and at the public lot adjacent to the library. Appointment hours are Tuesday through Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Please complete your passport application prior to your appointment. For more information and to download an application click here. You can also schedule an appointment by calling 310-377-9584 x 220.

Virtual Miraleste Library Monthly Book Club Meeting will take placevirtually on Saturday, April 10, 2021, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. You must register in advance for the meeting and can do so by clicking here. After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting and the books that they will be discussing. In April, they will be discussing “The Bell Jar” by Sylvia Plath. If you have any other questions, call Eve Wittenmyer at (310) 377-9584 x 452.

Pedal PV – Explore Palos Verdes By (Electric) Bike – Archivist and local history librarian, Monique Sugimoto, has added another episode to the “Pedal PV” vlog, a project to bring history to you during the pandemic. Whether you bike, walk or jog, our shared PV history is everywhere. Check out video Episode 9, Horses on the Hill on the Pedal PV Playlist.

Meet the Author: Marie Benedict interview will take place on Saturday, April 17, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. Marie is the author of bestselling books including The Mystery of Mrs. Christie, Lady Clementine, and Carnegie’s Maid. Registration is required, and you can register by clicking here.

Conversation Starter: Let’s Talk About Race – Moving Forward will take place on April 24, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. This will be a 2 hour dialogue with Marymount University Professor, Carlos Royal, who will highlight concepts and look at ways we can work together to move forward in reducing prejudice and bias. Pre-readings will be sent to participants for background and discussion. Registration is required and you can register by clicking here.

Earth Day Virtual Presentation – will take place on April 22, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. The Conservancy will partner with the PV Library District, Friends of the Library, and the California Native Plant Society for a live Zoom Event in celebration of Earth Day. The event will explore how each of us can do something to renew the Earth. The events will include a fascinating video presentation by Doug Tallamy, author of “Nature’s Best Hope,” about how to support birds and wildlife with native plants in our yards. Click here for your zoom link.

“We Browse For You” is a library service that can help you fine books within your genre. For more information go to pvld.org/virtual, or call (310) 377-9584.

For more information, call the Palos Verdes Library District at (310) 377-9584.

To read my prior article on the Palos Verdes Library District click here.

Photo courtesy of the Palos Verdes Library District

Palos Verdes Education Foundation 2021 Main Event

3 weeks ago • Community Information, School Information, Things To Do In Palos Verdes

Palos Verdes Peninsula Education Foundation 2021 Main Event

Palos Verdes Peninsula Education Foundation (PEF) will be holding its annual “Main Event” fundraiser online this year on May 1, 2021, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. to raise additional funds for the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District. This year’s event Main Event Live will be free and held online but you must register in advance at www.maineventauction.com. You will have the opportunity to bid for fine wines and spirits, beauty packages, vacation getaways, activities for kids, school spirit items and much more. The online auction starts on April 21, 2021, at 8:00 a.m., and goes through May 1, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. This is a great way to start shopping for some great deals while supporting all 17 PVPUSD schools at the same time.

The Palos Verdes Peninsula Education Foundation was founded in 1979 to raise much needed money for our schools that the State was not providing. PEF’s first gift to the School District was $250,000. The number of students and amount of government aid has varied tremendously and the school district relies on these donations from PEF for the shortfall. These donated funds are being spent to retain teachers, library aides, keep class sizes smaller, music instruction, academic counselors at high schools, college and career centers, STEM funding, help with science fair funding and teacher grants for innovative classroom projects. Pledged funds for this year will help support the above programs and all support is welcome – big or small – especially when schools have had to be creative with their teaching this year. There will also be an opportunity to win a Lexus by purchasing tickets before the event. (Winner does not need to be present.) Tickets can be purchased on line at www.pvpef.org for $50 each or $125 for three tickets. There will also be a raffle for a year of dining at Terranea Resort. The winner of this event will be drawn online at the Main Event. Tickets for this raffle are $100 each and can be purchased www.maineventauction.com.

This year you will be able to purchase party packs where you can gather in your pod and plan your in-home celebration as you tune into Main Event Live. To read more about these party pack which need to be purchased by April 23, 2021, go to www.maineventauction.com.

For more information call (310) 378-2278.

Click here to read my prior article on Palos Verdes Peninsula Education Foundation’s Main Event.

Photo courtesy of Palos Verdes Unified School District’s Main Event.

Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy Events April 2021

4 weeks ago • Children's Events, Community Events, Community Information, Trails and Hikes

Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy Events April 2021

Special Events:

The Virtual Guided Nature Talk at the Alta Vicente Reserve will take place on Sunday, April 18, 2021, at 1:30 p.m. You can join the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy for a virtual guided tour of the Alta Vicente Reserve in Rancho Palos Verdes. You will be able to explore the beautiful native wildflowers, rare animals and discover the historic features of the area such as the Japanese farm lands and military sites along trails with amazing views of the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island. This special edition is produced in partnership with the Palos Verdes Library Series “Pedal PV” and Palos Verdes Library District’s local history librarian, Monique Sugimoto, will join us for the live Q & A following the tour. RSVP for the Zoom Link at: pvplc.org/calendar/guided nature walks.

Earth Day Virtual Presentation will take place on Thursday, April 22, 2021. You will join the land conservancy, in partnership with the PV Library District and Friends of the Library, for a live Zoom event in celebration of Earth Day 2021. The event will explore what each of us can do to renew the Earth and how our impact here on the Peninsula will affect the rest of the planet and, at the same time, introduce David Tallamy’s “Nature’s Best Hope.” This book explores how and why all of us should help turn our neighborhoods into conservation corridors with native plants. A community reading of the book will lead up to a LIVE Zoom Q & A with the author, David Tallamy on May 1, 2021. For more information and the Zoom link, please visit www.pvplc.org/calendar.

Virtual Family Nature Club will take place on Saturday, April 24, 2021, at 9:30 a.m. This month, the special theme will be Celebrate Earth Day. There will be fun Earth Day themed family activities and you can learn about what your family can do to think globally and act locally to make an impact on the planet. RSVP at pvplc.org/calendar/family activities.

Monthly Activities

Outdoor Volunteer Day at Abalone Cove Reserve will take place on Saturday, April 3, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. At this site, they will be eradicating invasive weeds around the restored habitat. Abalone Cove Reserve is located at 5970 Palos Verdes Drive South, Rancho Palos Verdes. For more information, sign up at www.pvplc.volunteerhub.com.

Outdoor Volunteer Day at Alta Vicente Reserve will take place on Saturday, April 17, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. This is a great opportunity to help restore habitat for wildlife like the rare CA gnatcatcher and cactus wren on the beautiful 55 acre nature reserve across from the Point Vicente Lighthouse. Alta Vicente Reserve is located at 30940 Hawthorne Blvd, Rancho Palos Verdes. For more information, sign up at www.pvplc.volunteerhub.com.

Earth Day Plant Sale Pick Up and Volunteer Opportunity at the White Point Nature Preserve will take place on Saturday, April 24, 2021. You can join the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy for Earth Day 2021 by “Renewing the Earth” by learning what you can do to restore the Earth by creating conservation corridors in your home garden with locally native plants. Volunteers get a first hand experience in native plant care. Native Plant Sale Pickup will be open for orders made in advance from April 13 to April 20, 2021, online at pvplc.org/plant-sales. RSVP requested for volunteers with space limited at https://pvplc.volunteerhub.com.

Masks and social distancing will be required.

To read my prior article on Palos Verdes Hikes and Trails, click here.

Photo of outdoor volunteers courtesy of Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy

Spring Forward – Daylight Saving Time Begins 2021

1 month ago • 0 comments • Community Events, Community Information

Spring Forward – Daylight Saving Time Begins 2021

Palos Verdes homes owners should remember that this weekend Daylight Saving Time begins at 2:00 a.m. Sunday. Turn your clock forward one hour when you go to bed on Saturday, March 13, 2021. Sunday you will be able to enjoy an extra hour of daylight and can get a head start on your Spring plantings especially since the ground is ready after the rain this week. It is also a good time to replace the batteries in your smoke detectors if you do not have the new 10 year smoke alarms.

Click here to read my prior article about the history of Daylight Saving Time and see what famous person is credited with the idea.

Palos Verdes Bulky Trash & E-Waste Pick Up April 24, 2021

1 month ago • Community Events, Community Information, Things To Do In Palos Verdes

Palos Verdes Bulky Trash & E-Waste Pick Up April 24, 2021

Palos Verdes Estates Annual Bulky Trash & E-Waste Pick Up will take place on April 24, 2021. In order to have your items picked up they must be curbside by 6:00 a.m. Since many of us have been doing lots of cleaning during the last few months, this is a great opportunity to get rid of our extras. The City’s waste hauler will pick up furniture, appliances, water heaters, refrigerators (doors removed), stoves, sinks, lawn furniture and more. They will not pick up construction waste, green waste, automotive fluids, pool chemicals and cleaning products. However, you may contact Athens Service directly if you have construction waste that you need to have removed at any time by ordering a temporary debris container. On April 24, 2021, you can also dispose of E-Waste items such as TV’s, printers, DVD players, computers, etc. Palos Verdes Estates Annual Bulky Trash Pick Up information can be found at www.AthenServices.com or you can call (888) 336-6100.

The city of Rancho Palos Verdes uses EDCO for their Convenient Bulky Item Pick-up. Single family residents have the opportunity to schedule bulky item pick up service for large items such as water heaters, appliances, furniture, televisions, etc. (except for household hazardous waste) up to four times per year for FREE. These pickups must be scheduled ahead of time. To make arrangements you must call (310) 540-2977. The City of Rancho Palos Verdes has rescheduled their Shredding & Electronic Waste Disposal to May 1, 2021.

Rolling Hills Estates residents are serviced by Waste Management and are able to have both E-Waste and Bulky Items picked up at their residences for FREE four times a year also. They must notify Customer Services at least 24 hours prior to pick up to arrange for that service. To set up an appointment, call (800) 774-0222.

For year round Household Hazardous Waste & Electronics Waste Disposal, go to the Gaffey Safe Center located at 1400 N. Gaffey Street, San Pedro. They are open on Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

For information on the prior Palos Verdes Annual Bulky Trash Pick Up click here.

Photo courtesy of Athens Services

Palos Verdes Art Center Dream House Raffle 2021

2 months ago • Community Events, Community Information, Things To Do In Palos Verdes

Palos Verdes Art Center Dream House Raffle 2021

The Palos Verdes Art Center is holding its 18th annual PVAC Dream House Raffle. This year’s dream prize is a Hilltop Ocean view Palos Verdes Estate or $5,000,000 cash. This Dream House features dramatic coastal views of the Queen’s Necklace from Palos Verdes to Santa Monica and beyond. Located on a 17,000 square foot lot, this contemporary three story home sits high in the Malaga Cove Hills and offers the pinnacle of California Coastal living. This 4,600 square feet home has four bedrooms, six baths, and three ocean view decks. Luxury touches include vaulted wood beam ceilings, 2 built-in gas fire pits, a gourmet kitchen, butler pantry, library, gym, wine cellar, sauna, pool, and spa.

The Palos Verdes Art Center prides itself on being California’s first and oldest house raffle. This is the 18th year it has given away millions in cash and prizes. The money raised continues to fund the Center’s exhibitions and educational programs. Funds raised by the Palos Verdes Dream House Raffle directly support PVAC programs such as ‘Art at Your Fingertips,’ a school-based outreach program reaching over 7,000 grade school children annually that inspires children to tap into their creative abilities by teaching art skills. The raffle supports such initiatives as the Art Center’s ‘Special Mornings’ which offers special needs students from the Los Angeles Unified School District a chance to explore the world of art through personalized instruction and projects. Funds raised will also benefit The Studio School which teaches year-round art classes to adults and children, and supports our annual program of curate exhibitions.

The donation for a raffle ticket is still $150 for one, 3 pack for $400, and a 5 pack for $600. The raffle is limited to only 75,000 ticket sales. As in past raffles, there are special drawings for buyers who purchase tickets early. Tickets purchased by Tuesday, May 11, 2021, will be eligible for the first Early Bird Drawing (Early Bird #1) on May 28, 2021, at approximately 5:30 p.m. The same format will be followed for the second Early Bird Drawing (Early Bird #2) for tickets purchased by June 4, 2021. Tickets purchased by midnight June 4, 2021, (including all tickets purchased before the May 28th drawing) will be included in the second Early Bird Drawing on May 28, 2021, at approximately 5:30 p.m. at PVAC.

Multiple tickets purchased by the stated deadlines will be eligible for both Early Bird Drawings and the Multiple Ticket Drawing on that day.

Early Bird drawing #1 will take place on May 28, 2021, for a new Tesla 3 or $25,000 cash (plus other prize levels). Early Bird drawing #2 will take place on June 11, 2021, at 5:30 p.m. for a 2021 Audi e-tron or $50,000 (plus other prize levels). There are also 5 multiple ticket drawings for $10,000 each (but you must buy by May 14, 2021, to get into all of the drawings). Final ticket purchases must be made by June 18, 2021, by midnight. The bonus drawing tickets are available for $20 for 1, $50 for 3, or $75 for 6. These multiple tickets must be purchased at the same time as your raffle ticket.

The final Grand Prize Drawing will take place on June 25, 2021, at 5:30 p.m and will be held at the Palos Verdes Art Center located at 5504 West Crestridge Road, Rancho Palos Verdes.

For more information go to http://cadreamraffle.com or call (833) 604-1604. You can order tickets by phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or fax your entry at (310) 541-9520.

To read my last article on the Dream House Raffle click here.

Photo courtesy of Palos Verdes Art Center