Palos Verdes Supports Local Businesses!

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

Palos Verdes Supports Local Businesses!

Palos Verdes homes owners have a unique opportunity to support local businesses with the Palos Verdes Peninsula’s Chamber of Commerce TOP OF THE HILL OPEN AIR MARKETPLACE. This free event will take place on October 3 & 4, 2020, from the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on the rooftop parking lot of the Promenade on the Peninsula. You will be able to join your friends and neighbors while supporting local businesses, retailers and nonprofit organizations. This is a great time to be able to just relax and shop outdoors. All Los Angeles County health protocols will be adhered to meaning masks and physical distancing will be required.

If you have a business or organization that would like to participate you can sign up now on the Chamber’s website at www.palosverdeschamber.com. The fees to participate are: Artisans $300/Nonprofits $350/Local Businesses $400. There will be food trucks in case you want to purchase something to eat or drink.

The Promenade on the Peninsula is located at 550 Deep Valley Drive, Rolling Hills Estates.

For more information go to www.palosverdeschamber.com.

Photo courtesy of the Palos Verdes Peninsula’s Chamber of Commerce

Palos Verdes Art Center 2020 Virtual Fall Registration!

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

Palos Verdes Art Center 2020 Virtual Fall Registration!

The Palos Verdes Art Center will be scheduling their Fall Term online only due to continuing public health concerns. The Fall Term will begin on September 28,2020, and will run through November 20, 2020. The doors will reopen when they can enforce strict social distancing and sanitizing guidelines, and they have been working diligently to create a safe environment for our return. Registration for the fall classes has begun, and you can find classes and registration information by clicking here.

When you arrive at the online registration you can see the limited classes that they will be offering online this fall. Some of the adult classes that will be offered are: Art Theory, Ceramics, Drawings & Illustration, Painting, Photography & Printmaking. There is also a Youth Studio which is K-2nd Grade, 3rd-5th Grade & High School.

If you have paid registration fees for the past Spring term they can be credited toward Fall Classes. If you want to convert them to a donation to help PVAC during these times you can contact Daniela Saxa-Kaneko, Executive Director at dsk@pvartcenter.org.

The Palos Verdes Art Center is located at 5504 W. Crestridge Road, Rancho Palos Verdes. For more information call (310) 541-2479.

To read my prior article on the Palos Verdes Art Center click here.

Photo courtesy of the Palos Verdes Art Center

Enjoy Free Garden Day At South Coast Botanic Garden Tuesday, September 15, 2020!

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

Enjoy Free Garden Day At South Coast Botanic Garden Tuesday, September 15, 2020!

Palos Verdes homes owners have a great opportunity to visit and enjoy one of the few locations that is still open for exercise here on the Peninsula. As many students are learning under the hybrid system, getting them out for a little exercise might be a fun family opportunity for all to enjoy.

The South Coast Botanic Garden, “The Jewel of the Peninsula,” is located here on the beautiful Palos Verdes Peninsula and has 87-acres of more than 2,500 different species of plants from as far away as Australia, the Mediterranean, and southern Africa. Popular features include a fish pond, Mediterranean Garden, AARS Rose Garden, Water-Wise Garden, Garden for the Senses, Cactus Garden, Children’s Garden, Fuchsia Garden, Dahlia Garden, Herb Garden, and Japanese Garden. There is an attractive Wedding Lawn and two Gazebos, Events Meadow, and Frances Young Auditorium available for events.

On Tuesday, September 15, 2020, you can enjoy the Free Garden Day at the SCBG, but must make an advance reservation and follow the covid rules by wearing protective face masks, and follow safe physical distancing.

If you can’t make it for the free day, the normal price for admission to the South Coast Botanic Garden is: adults $15, seniors $11, students with I.D. $11, children 5 to 12 $5, and children 4 and under are free. Currently, you must make advance reservations for the date/time you wish to visit the Gardens because of limited entry due to the virus. For more information or to purchase admission tickets click here. The South Coast Botanic Garden is located at 26300 Crenshaw Boulevard, Palos Verdes Peninsula. Due to the current situation, it is recommended that you contact the garden early to make your reservation because it does fill up. To make your reservation for September 15, 2020, call (310) 544-1948.

To read my prior article on the Cherry Blossom Festival click here.

Photo courtesy of the South Coast Botanic Garden

Palos Verdes Homes Owners Join 2020 International Coastal Cleanup Month!

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

Palos Verdes Homes Owners Join 2020 International Coastal Cleanup Month!

Palos Verdes Homes owners can still participate in the annual Coastal Cleanup which is a worldwide beach clean up program and has the largest number of volunteers on the planet. Coastal Cleanup Day which normally takes place on September 21st, is an international day of action to protect our oceans, watersheds, and wildlife from trash and debris. However, with COVID 19 this year it will be a little different with smaller groups taking action in different areas. This massive volunteering effort has an astounding impact on many of our local natural habitats and communities. In 2019, the Ocean Conservancy reported that nearly 800,000 volunteers collectively removed more than 20 million pieces of trash from beaches and waterways around the world resulting in an estimated 20 million fewer potential impacts on whales, turtles and other beloved ocean wildlife. At this time, Heal the Bay is not organizing any large cleanup in Los Angeles County but is asking all of us who wish to volunteer to put our small group together and go out and help from September 5, 2020, at 8:00 a.m. to September 30, 2020, at 8:00 p.m.

Palos Verdes homes owners have some of the cleanest beaches and we can all do our part to keep them this way. Heal the Bay is again reporting that Palos Verdes beaches and coves are in the current top Honor Roll 2019-2020 list for California. This means that our local waters have received grades of A and A+ throughout the year. Heal the Bay assigns weekly grades to more than 500 sites along the West Coast for summer dry-weather water quality and to another 60 locations that are on year round monitoring. Heal the Bay is a nonprofit environmental organization dedicated to making Southern California coastal waters and watersheds safe, healthy and clean. They use science, education, community action and advocacy to pursue their mission.

Join your neighbors and friends and be a part of the largest volunteer project. You can participate in this worldwide event by volunteering right here in your own backyard while enjoying our beautiful coast at the same time. This year, event organizers are promoting zero waste and are asking participants to bring their own reusable gloves, buckets, and disposal bags.

To read my prior article on the Heal the Bay beach report card click here

Photo courtesy of Heal The Bay

Palos Verdes Supports Virtual 2020 “The Hills Are Alive” Race

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

Palos Verdes Supports Virtual 2020 “The Hills Are Alive” Race

Palos Verdes home owners will be supporting our local “The Hills Are Alive” race virtually this year due to COVID 19. The race which benefits the Rolling Hills Estates Pepper Tree Foundation will be celebrating its 39th annual race online. The Pepper Tree Foundation was established in 1982 to promote citizen contributions and donations to enrich the quality of life in Rolling Hills Estates. The foundation has provided trees, benches, picnic tables and other items which enhance and preserve the city parks and open spaces. This year the Pepper Tree Foundation will partner with UCLA Health, and this 39th annual race will start on Saturday, September 12, 2020 and go thru October 12, 2020.

This year you can run at anytime, and you’re free to complete the 5K or 10k indoors on a treadmill, or anywhere outside while practicing safe distancing and following all CDC guidelines. The best part is you get to choose the start and finish line and you can take as much time as you like to complete this run! Registration is now open for this self-coordinated fun run with no setup, chip timing or coordinators on site.

The registration fee for the event is $25 for all ages. You can mail your registration form to City of Rolling Hills Estates, Attn: Recreation, 4045 Palos Verdes Dr North, Rolling Hills Estates, CA. 90274. Checks should be payable to RHE Pepper Tree Foundation and must be received by September 10, 2020, or you can go online at www.active.com. All participants will receive a tee shirt, and finishers will receive a medal.

For questions about the race call (310) 377-1577 ext 110. To download a registration form to mail in click here.

To view my previous article on “The Hills Are Alive Race” click here.

Photo courtesy of the City of Rolling Hills Estates

Port Of Los Angeles 2020 Fleet Week Cancellation!

1 month ago • Children's Events, Community Events, Things To Do In Palos Verdes

Port Of Los Angeles 2020 Fleet Week Cancellation!

Palos Verdes homes owners learned of the cancellation of the September Port of Los Angeles Fleet Week due to COVID 19. The past annual festivities featured visiting ships, with active-duty service members from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marines and U.S. Coast Guard, that open up their ships for tours and take part in an array of land and seaside activities and demonstrations. In the past the free large outdoor waterfront concert had been a main highlight of this L.A. version of the popular military-themed event.

At this time the Navy is looking into moving Fleet Week up to the Memorial Day weekend. However, planning a Fleet Week, as Navy spokesman Brian O’Rourke said, would typically require a five to six month period. Since the L.A. event, is now established, O’Rourke said they could probably organize it in less time but it will depend on COVID 19. LA Fleet Week is a patriotic tradition of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard that brings recently deployed military ships into major port cities for a week. To receive important LA Fleet Week updates and event information you can sign up at www.LAFleetWeek.com.

The Battleship USS Iowa, which served our country proudly in World War II, Korea and the Cold War, will be opening for visitors. Today, the historic U.S. Navy ship is an iconic Los Angeles landmark and considered one of the area’s best outdoor museum for families and visitors of all ages. During your fresh air visit and tour, you will follow in the footsteps of sailors with their mischievous mascot Vicky the Dog, and experience firsthand why the Battleship is known as the “Battleship of Presidents,” “The Grey Ghost” and “The Big Stick.” The cost to visit the ship is $19.95 for adults/$16.95 for seniors and military/$11.95 for children 3 – 11, and under 3 are free. To read more about the Battleship USS Iowa’s tour or to purchase tickets click here.

The Battleship USS Iowa is located at 250 Harbor Blvd, Los Angeles.

To read my last article on visiting ships at the Port of Los Angeles click here.

Photo courtesy of the Port of Los Angeles

Palos Verdes Stables Offers Trail Rides On The Peninsula!

2 months ago • 0 comments • Children's Events, Community Information, Palos Verdes, Things To Do In Palos Verdes

Palos Verdes Stables Offers Trail Rides On The Peninsula!

Palos Verdes homes owners are having to get creative these days looking for fun outdoor opportunities for their children to enjoy. Summer is a great time to try new things, but this summer has added some challenges what we normally enjoy. One great event that you may want to consider for the whole family is a trail ride in Palos Verdes. Whether its going through the canyons or along Palos Verdes Drive North, now is the time to take that ride and enjoy our wonderful summer weather. You also get a different view of nature sitting on top of a horse and riding through our special areas. Our local Palos Verdes Stables offer many different type of equestrian activities. You can enjoy pony camps, trail rides, and even private or group lessons.

On the trail ride you will be paired with one of the reliable and friendly horses and taken by an experienced guide on a ride along the scenic trails of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. There is no previous riding experience necessary, and they can accommodate groups of up to 10 riders at a time. For larger groups you must contact them in advance. Please remember to bring your mask.

PV Horse Rentals is offering trail rides every hour running daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Trail riding is open to ages 6 and up, and prices start at $50 for a 45 minute ride, $75 for an hour and $100 for a 90 minute ride. Also city of Palos Verdes Estates residents can show proof of residency to receive a discount. They also offer a 20 minute pony ride for $40 for kids 3-5 years of age. For more information call (310) 310-5178, or to schedule a trail ride go online at pvhorserentals.com.

To read my last article on Palos Verdes Stables click here.

Palos Verdes Stables is located at 4057 Via Opata, Palos Verdes Estates.

Photo courtesy of PV Horse Rentals.

Palos Verdes Library District 2020 Children’s Summer Reading Program

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

Palos Verdes Library District 2020 Children’s Summer Reading Program

The Palos Verdes Library District offers reading activities for children as young as 6 months through grade twelve. If you haven’t visited the summer reading program at our local library, then you’re missing some great activities for the kids and adults too. In addition to reading books, members may also try some reading activities that are fun, exciting, informative and funny. Children can track their progress online or use classic paper reading logs. The theme this year, “Imagine Your Story” reminds children and parents that reading opens up the world to us all! Go to https://pvld.beanstack.org/reader365 to keep track of your children’s reading and help them earn cool prizes and online awards while they enjoy reading stories. Registration is open and you can go online now through August 16, 2020.

Kids going into grades Tk-5 will earn achievement iron on patches, similar to boy scout badges but unique to PVLD. Teens grades 6-12 earn Amazon gift cards, so they can purchase more of their favorite books. Research shows that the most reliable predictor of school success is being read to during early childhood. Reading to children from an early age can help close the vocabulary gap and prepare children to enter kindergarten with the skills they need to succeed. Most importantly, sharing books with children promotes a lifelong love of books and reading.

The 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program is available to all families with children between the ages of birth and four years. Registration is still open, and this program is free of charge. For more information, call the library at 310-377-9584 ext. 600. The 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program is a nationwide challenge that encourages parents and caregivers to regularly read aloud to their children. By reading just one book a night, families can reach the 1,000 book goal in three years and provide their children essential early literacy skills.

Summer is a great time for your children to maintain and improve their reading skills and find topics that they love. Plus the Library has more fun ideas for the kids with their “Drive in Movies at Home,” “Mystery Crafts” and ” Virtual Scavenger Hunt.” You can also check out all of the great activities that are offered for adults – cooking ideas, summer book reading and more.

For more information go to pvld.org/pvsummer or call (310) 377-9584 ext. 600.

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

Photo courtesy of the Palos Verdes Library District

Palos Verdes AYSO 2020 New Fall Soccer Information!

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

Palos Verdes AYSO 2020 New Fall Soccer Information!

Palos Verdes AYSO Soccer (Region 10) is changing its registration process a bit. If you have already registered, you are all set. If you haven’t registered yet, when you will register it will be under a “waitlist” with no requirement to pay until a start date has been determined. After the start date has been set, you will receive an email asking you to “finish” registering your child by submitting your payment. This process allows you to sign up your child without actually paying yet and allows you to make your final decision closer to the actual start date. The home page at http://ayso.bluesombrero.com/region10 will show the division and age slots.

When it is determined that play can begin, AYSO ‘s goal is that they will have all protocols in place. The guidelines are being developed by the Department of Health, school districts and city governments at this time. They are hoping that the players will not be required to wear masks during games, but other procedures will be in place such as no handshakes and all spectators must be spaced 6 feet apartment. Even if face masks are not mandatory, a child may still choose to wear one. Stay tuned for their final decision.

Some of the options that are now being considered are:

Starting in early September and ending mid-December with a full season of games and playoffs –

Start in late September or early October and end mid-December with a shortened schedule –

Start in January and ending in February with a shortened schedule.

As you can see there are quite a few optional situations at this time. Hopefully decisions will be made soon, and we can get our children back to some physical activities that they enjoy. As always, if you are interested in volunteering, you will find the required paperwork on the registration site. Since AYSO is a 100% volunteer organization, they are always looking for volunteers to fill coach and referee positions.

To read my last article on AYSO Region 10 Soccer click here.

Photo courtesy of AYSO Region 10

Enjoy Special Dog Walking Hours At the South Coast Botanic Garden!

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

Enjoy Special Dog Walking Hours At the South Coast Botanic Garden!

Palos Verdes homes owners have a unique opportunity to enjoy a great place to walk your dog while getting a little exercise. By popular demand, South Coast Botanic Garden has brought back special dog walking hours twice a month, on the second and fourth Wednesdays, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. You can walk the Garden’s 87 acres with your four legged friend, plus you can bring the whole family to enjoy the outdoors.

On Wednesdays, August 12th & 26th, 2020, you can make it a fun night for all. All guests are required to wear face coverings while on site, and all dogs must be kept on leashes while on Garden property including the parking lot. This is a transactionless entry, since advanced tickets are required. They have reduced maximum occupancy in order to support physical distancing. There will be water stations for both visitors and “fur babies.”

The price for admission for this special event is $15/adult, $11/senior, $5/child and $4 for your dog. For more information or to purchase admission tickets click here.

The South Coast Botanic Garden is located at 26300 Crenshaw Boulevard, Palos Verdes Peninsula. If you have any questions please call (310) 544-1948.

To read my prior article on the South Coast Botanic Garden click here.

Photo courtesy of the South Coast Botanic Garden

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