Before the new community was officially named Torrance, which of these names was seriously considered?

A. Southport
B. Dominguez
C. Industrial
D. All of the above

Harbor-UCLA Opens Massive New Six-Story Clinic

Harbor-UCLA Medical Center has opened a new six-story, 373,000-square-foot clinic building in Torrance, bringing more than 200 exam rooms and numerous outpatient services under one roof. The facility is part of a $1.8 billion campus modernization expected to reshape medical care across the South Bay through 2028.

Torrance Nuclear Startup Wins $161 Million Space Force Award

Torrance-based Antares has landed a $161 million U.S. Space Force award to advance nuclear power for spacecraft. The program will fund a ground demonstration, spacecraft integration and flight qualification of the company’s reactor technology, marking one of the most significant federal contracts yet for Torrance’s fast-growing defense and space sector.

Torrance Commerce Center Reaches Its Next Major Phase

Torrance Commerce Center is moving deeper into its second phase, continuing the transformation of a former corporate campus into a major industrial and technology hub. Seven new buildings will total nearly one million square feet, with companies including Hadrian, Alpine Electronics and AIT already helping turn the site into a modern employment center.

Quote of the Day

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
— Theodore Roosevelt

Torrance Art Museum Opens Its Fall Exhibitions

Torrance Art Museum is inviting the public to its Fall 2026 opening night on Saturday, September 19, from 6 to 9 p.m. The free event launches Baker’s Dozen 2026 and B-LA-M, giving South Bay readers a fresh reason to make an art-night stop in Torrance this weekend.

Star Party Returns to Madrona Marsh

Madrona Marsh will host a Star Party on Saturday, September 19, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. The evening includes a lecture and telescope viewing, along with the latest news and night-sky images from the James Webb Telescope. It’s a fun pick for families, curious kids and space-loving adults alike.

Langley Ukulele Ensemble Brings a Sunday Performance to Armstrong Theatre

The Langley Ukulele Ensemble performs Sunday, September 20, at Armstrong Theatre, bringing a program that ranges from classical and jazz to folk and contemporary favorites. TOCA describes the group as internationally acclaimed and known for redefining what the ukulele can do, making this one of the weekend’s most distinctive live-music options.

Discovery Zone Lets Kids Explore Nature Through Play

Families with curious kids may want to stop by Madrona Marsh’s Discovery Zone – Explore, Discover, Wonder! on Saturday, September 19, from 10:30 a.m. to noon. The program invites children to touch, observe and investigate items like feathers, seeds, shells and tracks through simple, hands-on science activities.

Torrance Volunteers Are Ready to “Tackle the Trash”

More than 400 volunteers turned out for Torrance’s Coastal Cleanup Day last year, and Team Torrance is hoping to top that mark on September 19. Residents, students, businesses and community groups can pitch in at Torrance Beach, earn service hours and help protect the coastline during the city’s 29th consecutive cleanup.

Torrance Beach Swim Turns Miles Into Mental-Health Support

Torrance Beach will become a place of purpose September 20 when swimmers, paddlers and kayakers gather for the seventh annual South Bay Swim for Mental Health. The community-powered event supports youth mental-health services through the South Bay Youth Project, with every dollar raised going toward care for local children and young adults.

Rotary Fundraiser Dollars Are Flowing Back Into Local Nonprofits

The Torrance-based Rotary club is highlighting six community organizations that received checks from the fundraiser: Palos Verdes Land Conservancy, Mychal’s Learning Place, ICAN, Friends of Torrance Exceptional Athletes, Paddle Our Plastics and Peninsula Seniors.

La Carretera Park Is a Tiny North Torrance Escape

Tucked into a residential corner of North Torrance, La Carretera Park is easy to overlook. But this compact 3.1-acre neighborhood park packs in a gazebo, picnic area, barbecues, playground and basketball court, making it a surprisingly useful little spot for a casual lunch, family break or low-key afternoon outdoors.

Guenser Park Has a Fitness Course Hiding in Plain Sight

Guenser Park may look like a typical neighborhood green space, but there is more here than meets the eye. The 7.8-acre North Torrance park includes a playground, basketball court, softball diamond, horseshoe court and a .3-mile fitness course — giving walkers and casual exercisers another reason to explore this overlooked local park.

Walteria Park Is More of a Neighborhood Hub Than It Looks

Walteria Park is easy to think of as just another neighborhood park, but it quietly packs a lot into 4.5 acres. Along with a playground and picnic areas, visitors will find tennis and basketball courts, an exercise area, horseshoe courts and the adjacent Walteria Library — making it a surprisingly versatile South Torrance stop.

Why Is It Called the Hollywood Riviera?

The name sounds more like a movie-set fantasy than a Torrance neighborhood, and that was partly the idea. In the 1920s, developers imagined the city’s southern hills as an upscale coastal community inspired by the French Riviera, complete with ocean views, Mediterranean-style homes and a private beach club designed to attract affluent buyers.

Sushi I-NABA Manhattan Beach Is Torrance’s Serious Sushi Splurge

For a true Torrance dining splurge, Sushi Inaba is playing in another league. Hidden inside the Inaba restaurant space on Hawthorne Boulevard, the intimate six-seat counter serves a reservation-only, chef-led omakase priced at $280 per person, with more than 20 courses built around exceptional seasonal seafood and meticulous Japanese technique.

WA Dining Suya Has a September Wagyu Special — and a Sake Adventure

WA Dining Suya is giving Torrance diners two reasons to stop in this September. The Japanese steak-and-sake house is offering a petite Wagyu curry lunch with salad for $20, while its “Japanese Sake Discovery” program encourages guests to explore different pours. It’s an approachable way to sample a restaurant with upscale ambitions.

Chado Tea Room - South Bay Goes Down the Rabbit Hole

Chado Tea Room has turned afternoon tea into something much more theatrical. Its limited Chado in Wonderland experience features themed sandwiches, truffle egg brioche, traditional scones, macarons, matcha mousse and a Wonderland-inspired tea selection. The $75 experience runs through September 30, giving Old Torrance an unusually whimsical option for celebrations or an afternoon out.

Torrance Is Asking Residents How to Honor Ted Tanouye

Torrance is asking residents to weigh in on how the city should honor Medal of Honor recipient Ted T. Tanouye. Options include renaming Columbia Park, creating a new memorial park and street-naming tribute near Torrance High, or making no change. The cost difference is substantial, making this more than a naming question.

Torrance Wants Your Input on New Hillside Development Rules

Torrance is asking residents to help shape new objective development standards for single-family homes and properties in the Hillside and Coastal Overlay zones. The effort follows a May City Council workshop and could influence how future projects are evaluated, particularly where neighborhood compatibility, views, privacy and state housing laws increasingly collide.

Torrance Airport Is Getting a New Look — and Residents Can Vote

Torrance Municipal Airport – Zamperini Field is getting a branding refresh, and the City wants residents to help choose the look. New logo concepts combine the airport’s aviation history with Torrance’s broader visual identity and could eventually appear on signs, websites and printed materials across the airport campus.

Torrance Home Prices Are Down — But the Market Is Still Competitive

Torrance home prices have softened from last year, but buyers still are not getting an easy market. Redfin’s latest three-month data puts the median sale price at about $1.21 million, down 5.5% year over year, while home sales rose nearly 14% and properties continued selling in about 32 days.

Torrance Homeowners Can Now Handle Most Permit Work Online

Planning a remodel, addition or other permitted project? Torrance has moved its building-permit process online. Homeowners can now submit applications, upload plans, pay fees and track permit status electronically, while paper plans are no longer accepted. The change can save trips to City Hall — if you follow the process in the right order.

Thinking About Solar? Some Torrance Projects Can Get Automated Permits

Torrance homeowners considering rooftop solar may be able to skip a traditional plan-review wait. The City offers automated permitting for qualifying photovoltaic systems that meet specific size, electrical and installation requirements. Projects that do not qualify can still be submitted online for regular review, but homeowners should check the rules before signing a contract.

Thursday Is the Deadline for Four Torrance Commission Vacancies

Torrance residents interested in serving on a City commission are almost out of time. Applications for four current vacancies must reach the City Clerk by 5 p.m. Thursday, September 17. Postmarks do not count, and applicants must meet the City’s voter-registration and commission-certification requirements before they can be considered.

Torrance City Hall Will Be Closed Friday

Planning a trip to Torrance City Hall this week? Don’t wait until Friday. City Hall will be closed September 18 under the City’s regular 9/80 work schedule. Residents who need permits, records, payments or other in-person services should check department hours and take care of business before the Friday closure.

Check the Water Before Swimming Near Malaga Cove

Beachgoers should check conditions before heading into the water near Malaga Cove. Los Angeles County Public Health has recently warned swimmers and surfers to avoid the Torrance Beach area north of the RAT lifeguard tower because bacteria exceeded state standards. Conditions can change quickly, so verify the latest advisory before swimming.

Torrance Transit Adds SoFi Service for Two Games This Weekend

Football fans have a car-free option for two SoFi Stadium games. Torrance Transit will run extra Line 10X service from the Regional Transit Center for Chargers–Raiders Sunday, September 20, and Rams–Giants Monday, September 21. Parking at the Transit Center is free but limited to 250 spaces, so arrive early.

How Much Privacy Would You Trade for Safety?

License-plate readers can help police recover stolen cars, find suspects and solve serious crimes. But they can also record the movements of ordinary drivers who have done nothing wrong. As Torrance expands its public-safety technology, one question deserves attention: How much privacy are we willing to trade for safety?

1. Do you support Torrance police using automated license-plate-reader cameras to help prevent and solve crimes?

🔵 Yes — the public-safety benefits outweigh the privacy concerns

🟡 Yes — but only with strict privacy rules and independent oversight

🔴 No — tracking vehicles this way goes too far

⚪ I'm not sure yet

2. How long do you think license-plate-reader data on vehicles NOT connected to a crime should be kept?

🔵 24 hours or less

🟢 Up to 7 days

🟡 Up to 30 days

🔴 Longer than 30 days if police believe it could be useful

⚪ It shouldn't be stored at all unless connected to an investigation

3. Would you like Torrance to publicly disclose more information about how its license-plate-reader system is used?

🔵 Yes — residents should know the rules, retention period and who can access the data

🔴 No — too much disclosure could interfere with law-enforcement effectiveness

⚪ I'm not sure

You can only choose ONE. Which Torrance day sounds better?

Option A: 🌊 Sunset Picnic at Torrance Beach

Option B: 🍜 Torrance Food Crawl

💡 Answer to Trivia Question:

D. All of the above