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Calendar of Events Thru Sat., Jun. 13, 2009 Tues., Mar. 3, 2009 Rm. 381B Sat., Mar. 7, 2009 Sun., Mar. 8, 2009 Tues., Mar. 10, 2009 Tues., Mar. 10, 2009 Wed., Mar. 11, 2009 Wed., Mar. 11, 2009 Thurs., Mar. 12, 2009 Fri., Mar. 13, 2009 Sat., Mar. 14, 2009 Sun., Mar. 15, 2009 Mon., Mar. 16, 2009 Tues., Mar. 17, 2009 Tues., Mar. 17, 2009 Tues., Mar. 17, 2009 Rm. 381B Tues., Mar. 17, 2009 Tues., Mar. 17, 2009 Wed., Mar. 18, 2009 Wed., Mar. 18, 2009 thru Thurs., Mar. 19, 2009 515 S. Deepmead Ave. Sat., Mar. 21, 2009 Tues., Mar. 24, 2009 Wed., Mar. 25, 2009 Thurs., Mar. 26, 2009 Fri., Mar. 27, 2009 Sat., Mar. 28, 2009 Mon., Mar. 30, 2009 Tues., Mar. 31, 2009 Fri., Apr. 3, 2009 Sat., Apr. 4, 2009 Tues., Apr. 7, 2009 Fri., Apr. 10, 2009 Sat., Apr. 11, 2009 Sat., Apr. 11, 2009 Sun., Apr. 12, 2009 Tues., Apr. 14, 2009 Thurs., Apr. 16, 2009 thru Sat., Apr. 18, 2009 Sun., Apr. 19, 2009 Tues., Apr. 21, 2009 Sat., Apr. 25, 2009 Tues., Apr. 28, 2009 Sat., May 9, 2009 Sun., May 10, 2009 Mon., May 25, 2009 |
March 3, 2009 -- Volume V, Issue I | ||||||||
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REUSABLE CANVAS BAG LAUNCH IN FLORENCE-FIRESTONE | |||||||||
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Though there are many ways we can clean up our environment, few have such a direct impact on L.A. County as replacing single-use bags with reusable bags. So we recently launched a reusable canvas bag initiative at Lillian Elementary School in Florence-Firestone. Over 400 students in grades three through five participated in our "Green Bags for a Clean Earth" campaign. Everyone received free canvas bags so they and their families could fight the "bag monster" (pictured, among others, above), who symbolizes the number of plastic bags used by one U.S. household each year. |
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We even started a competition to get students from Florence, Graham, Lillian, and Walnut Park Elementary Schools in the environmental spirit. Each time their parents or family members use their "Green Bag for a Clean Earth" bag at El Super, El Tapatio Market, or Superior Grocers stores, the cashier will give them a special sticker to place on a "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" card. The first 50 students to fill their cards will receive goody bags filled with Disney-themed items. The classroom with the highest number of sticker-filled cards will win tickets to a Dodger game. The student with the second highest number of tickets will win a bicycle. And the student with the most stickers will be invited to Dodger Stadium to meet the baseball players on the field. The competition concludes on Earth Day this Wed., Apr. 22nd. |
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BASSETT PARK REFURBISHMENTS COMPLETE | |||||||||
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We are very pleased to announce that renovations to Bassett Park in unincorporated Bassett are complete. Located at 510 N. Vineland Ave., the redone amenities include new picnic shelters and tables, synthetic soccer fields, 42 newly planted trees, a splash pad, and colorful decorative fencing around the playground area (pictured above). We also refurbished the skate park area, which is used frequently by local youth and provides them with a safe place to practice their skateboarding skills. | |||||||||
Recently, we made a surprise visit to Bassett Park to ensure that these renovations were exactly to our specifications. We were delighted to see that they were. What's more, we also were happy to hear straight from our local seniors (pictured at right) how much they enjoyed the revitalized park. As L.A. County becomes more densely populated, it is vital that we increase the number of parks and open spaces in our neighborhood -- and that we keep those we already have in good condition. |
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PROPERTY TAX SCAMS -- DON'T BE FOOLED! | |||||||||
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If you received a letter from any company offering lower property taxes on your home, don't be fooled! While these letters appear official, they didn't come from any government agency. Scam artists are mailing phony notices promising to help you negotiate a property tax reduction after you pay them hundreds of dollars. They even impose a late fee if they receive your "application" after a certain date and they may ask you to give them power of attorney over your property. Beware! You never have to pay for a review of your property's value. The L.A. County Assessor's Office does this for free, even without an application request. To learn more, call toll-free (888) 807-2111 or go to www.assessor.lacounty.gov. | ||||||||
CONSTRUCTION STARTS AT NEW SORENSEN LIBRARY | |||||||||
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We are excited to announce that construction has begun on a state-of-the-art -- and ten times larger -- Sorensen Library in unincorporated West Whittier. The new structure will be 10,655 feet, replacing the county's smallest library which currently stands at 1,048 feet. In addition to the library proper, the new facility will include a community meeting room, a small group study room, as well as separate adult and children's reading rooms. Though construction on the $7.5 million facility requires that the old one close for the time being, we think the closure -- though inconvenient -- is worth it especially given the small size of the existing facility and the fact that it is over 50 years old. The bigger and better Sorensen Library should open to the public in the Summer of 2010 and is located at 11405 E. Rose Hedge Dr. |
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TIME CAPSULE BURIED IN EAST L.A. CIVIC CENTER | |||||||||
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We recently joined Eastside youth and community activists for a very special event at the East L.A. Civic Center -- a time capsule burial ceremony. The 4x6 vault, which will be unearthed in 2059, contained various mementos memorializing the history of unincorporated East L.A. It also included letters from local youth to Eastside residents of the future describing what life was like in East L.A. in 2009 and expressing high hopes for a brighter tomorrow. All youth and staff who participated in the time capsule burial ceremony are active members of the East Los Angeles Community Youth Center. | |||||||||
MENTAL HEALTH CENTER OPENS IN HUNTINGTON PARK | |||||||||
We were proud to open the San Antonio Mental Health Center recently. Located at 2629 Clarendon Ave. in Huntington Park, this new facility will help L.A. County properly and holistically serve some of our most vulnerable residents. The new building features plenty of space where clinicians can treat their clients, new training rooms, as well as ample office space for clerical workers and other staff. Though mental health services will remain the center's focus, we will continue offering CalWORKs and GAIN services for qualifying clients here, too. For more information, call the center at (323) 584-3700. |
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GOLD LINE RAIL SAFETY SESSIONS COMING TO YOU! | |||||||||
The Gold Line Eastside Extension is scheduled to begin operation by the end of this year. And since most of this light rail line is above ground, it's vital that the downtown Los Angeles, Little Tokyo, Arts District, Boyle Heights, and unincorporated East Los Angeles communities are fully versed in the latest rail safety tips and techniques. Metro personnel already have made two rail safety presentations to the 23,500 students attending the 60 schools within 1.5 miles of the Eastside Extension route. Metro also will hold safety fairs in Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles in the spring -- and when the trains start running, Metro safety officers will be positioned along the route for at least four and a half months. But in the meantime, Metro is hosting several safety awareness sessions, all of which are free and open to the public. Call Dixie Pattison of Metro at (213) 922-4050 for more information. Anthony Quinn Library at 3965 E. César Chávez Ave. Mon., Apr. 6 from 6:40 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sat., Apr. 18 from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Benjamin Franklin Library at 2200 E. First St. Tues., Mar. 3 from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sat., Mar. 14 from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. East Los Angeles Public Library at 4837 E. Third St. Sat., Mar. 7 from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wed., Mar. 11 from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Little Tokyo Library at 203 E. Los Angeles St. Thurs., Mar. 19 from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sat., Mar. 21 from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Stevenson Public Library at 803 Spence St. Tues., Mar. 24 from 6:40 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sat., Apr. 4 from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. | |||||||||
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TWO POMONA ROADWAYS TO BE 'EARTHQUAKE-PROOF' | |||||||||
We're moving forward with seismic strengthening projects along two major thoroughfares in Pomona: One along Garey Ave. as it traverses under the Union Pacific Railroad tracks between Commercial and First Streets, and another along First St. over Towne and White Avenues. The goal of these projects is simply to ensure that both roadways can withstand a major earthquake. Construction on both projects already has begun. The Garey Ave. project should be complete by the end of April 2009 at a total cost of $385,705 and the First St. project should be finished by the end of May 2009 at a total cost of $266,174. When they are finished, both sites will meet current structural design standards via reinforcement of abutments and placement of steel casings around existing columns. | |||||||||
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JOB FAIR AT DODGERS STADIUM ON MARCH 14TH | |||||||||
With California hit hard by the national economic recession, you or someone you know is probably looking for a job. If so, don't miss the 14th Annual Community Job & Information Fair at Los Angeles Dodger Stadium on Sat., Mar. 14th from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. At least 60 prospective public and private sector employers will be looking for the right person to join their team. Positions in the L.A. County family are available, too, and include openings in the Dept. of Human Resources, the Dept. of Military and Veterans Affairs, the Office of Education, the Office of Public Safety, and the Sheriff's Dept. |
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$20,000 REWARD IN PAULINE SQUIRES HIT-AND-RUN FATALITY | |||||||||
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L.A. County is offering a $10,000 reward to match the City of Azusa's $10,000 offer -- for a reward total of $20,000 -- for anyone with information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator responsible for the 2004 hit-and-run killing of 23-year-old Pauline Squires in Azusa. The accident that killed Squires and injured her friend, 19-year-old Michael Braier, took place on March 27, 2004, when a vehicle going north on Azusa Ave. failed to stop at the Fourth St. intersection. It struck Squires and Braier, who were crossing the sidewalk on foot. Braier survived with a broken neck but Squires was pronounced dead. While no witnesses actually saw the crime take place, a local Azusa man reported to the Azusa Police Dept. that he heard the crash and saw a silver or light gray Ford Focus or Toyota Echo drive by with a shattered windshield. There are no signs that the driver braked or swerved after hitting Squires and Braier. We truly hope this reward induces someone to come forward to help us catch the culprit. Pauline was taken from her parents, surviving family, and friends in the prime of her life. They deserve justice and closure. Anyone with information should call Corp. Dean Brewer with the Azusa Police Dept. at (626) 812-3200. | |||||||||
$10,000 REWARD IN ULTRERAS DOUBLE HOMICIDE | |||||||||
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The City and County of Los Angeles have teamed up to offer a $100,000 reward for anyone with information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the double homicide of Veronica Ultreras and her three-year-old daughter Cynthia. On Sat., Jan. 2, 1993, the two were strangled in their Highland Park duplex at 848 N. Ave. 50. The perpetrator then set the family's Christmas tree on fire while Veronica, a 22-year-old kindergarten teacher's aid, lay unconscious in the burning living room. Cynthia's body was later found submerged in the bathtub. L.A. County recently established a $25,000 reward and, simultaneously, L.A. City Councilman Ed Reyes announced a $75,000 reward, bringing the total to $100,000 -- and making it the largest reward in L.A. history. Though the crime took place over a decade ago, Veronica and Cynthia deserve justice. It is long overdue but we remain determined. Anyone with information is urged to call the LAPD at (877) 529-3855 |
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EXERCISE EQUIPMENT AT LOS NIETOS SENIOR CENTER | |||||||||
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In addition to hosting regular Farmers' Markets in Mayberry Park each Friday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., we've made it even easier and more convenient for unincorporated Whittier residents to stay healthy by installing new indoor exercise equipment at the Los Nietos Community and Senior Center. Located at 11640 E. Slauson Ave., this center already serves as a lively hub for local seniors who want to remain involved in the community. But keeping physically active is important, too. So we hope unincorporated Whittier residents enjoy this new equipment—free of charge. Members of our senior clubs and participants in the center's aerobics and exercise classes are already taking advantage of the new treadmills and StairMasters. Later this year, we'll be bringing outdoor exercise equipment to unincorporated Whittier residents when we open up a new Fitness Zone at Mayberry Park. For more information on when the new indoor exercise equipment is available for use, please call the Los Nietos Community and Senior Center at (562) 699-2040. | |||||||||
CORRECTION | |||||||||
In our last newsletter, we misidentified the organizers and misrepresented the attendance level of the 34th Annual East Los Angeles Christmas Parade. This event actually was organized by the Whittier Boulevard Merchants Association and was attended by 50,000 people according to the California Highway Patrol. We sincerely regret the error. | |||||||||
4801 East 3rd Street
Los Angeles, California 90022
Phone: (323) 881-4601
Fax: (323) 887-7286
500 West Temple Street, Room 856
Los Angeles, California 90012
Phone: (213) 974-4111
Fax: (213) 613-1739
molina@lacbos.org
3400 Aerojet Avenue, Suite 240
El Monte, California 91731
Phone: (626) 350-4500
Fax: (626) 448-1573