city of alhambra to host 710 day celebration june 10 · pdf fileof the chamber; owen...

CITY NEWS PAGE 2A

CHAMBER NEWS PAGE 14A

COMMUNITY NEWS PAGE 17A

ACADEMIC NEWS PAGE 24A

>> see AEF ANNUAL DINNER Page 26A

06

/20

15

Chamber to install new board at 112th Installation Dinner Robert Fukui,

owner of High Point Market-

ing, will be installed as Chamber president at the Alhambra Chamber of Commerce’s 112th Installation Dinner on Friday, June 26, at Almansor Court, 700 S. Almansor St.

The installation will honor 2014 President Lee Lieberg, the Cham-ber board of directors, and new officers.

The program will include dinner, dancing, and the installation of the new Chamber president and officers as well as

Benefitting the Music and More Program, the Alhambra Edu-

cational Foundation’s 11th annual Service to Education Awards Dinner and Gala took place on April 18 at the Hilton Los Angeles/San Gabriel.

The night, emceed by AEF President Steve Perry, present-ed the Service to Education Awards to Charles and Mike Fata of Charlie’s Trio and Mike Vollebreght of TKR, LLC, for Business Organizations; the Alhambra Police Department and the Monterey Park Police

City of Alhambra to host 710 Day Celebration June 10The City of Alhambra

will stage its 710 Day Celebration from 5

p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 10, at Valley and Fremont — a month earlier than in previous years in order to raise awareness

about the Draft EIR/EIS pub-lished by METRO as it relates to the five alternatives and to give the public ample time to make comments prior to the July 6 deadline.

Metro’s Draft Environmental

Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (DEIR/EIS) triggered a 120-day comment period that was kicked off with information hearings in local communities and will culminate with the 710 Day Celebration.

>> see 710 DAY 3A

Robert Fukui, High Point Marketing, will be installed as president of the Alhambra Chamber Board of Directors at the Chamber’s 112th Installation Dinner on June 26.

LA Bluescasters will provide the entertainment during the 710 celebration on June 10.

Scott Hara, left, AEF’s Community Volunteer Honoree, celebrates the night with his family, wife Nancy Omi-Hara, son Garrett Hara, and his son’s girlfriend Skye Free.

AEF presents 11th annual Service to Education Awards Dinner and Gala

presentations of the Outstanding Community Service Award, the Outstanding Business of the Year Award, and the recognition of the Alhambra Chamber of Com-merce 2015 scholarship winners.

Cocktails and appetizers will be served at 6 p.m. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m.

The Installation’s theme is “City on the Move, Bright Future, Rich Heritage.”

Ronny and the Classics will provide the music.

Seats are $65 per person. Platinum Tables are $2,500, which includes 10 VIP seats and an ad and listing in the event program and Around Al-hambra newspaper. Gold Tables are $1,000, which includes 10 preferred seats and listing in the event program and Around Al-hambra. Silver Tables are $650.

For more information, or to make reservations by June 12, contact the Chamber at 626-282-8481.

2A CITY NEWS AROUND ALHAMBRA 06/2015

By Mayor Gary YamauchiThanks to all behind the scenes

I will complete my third and final term as Mayor of the City of Alhambra and re-turn to my post as a City Councilmember for my 12th and final year. It has been an absolute pleasure to serve the residents of Alhambra in this capacity, and I am delight-ed at all that has transpired during my three terms as mayor and 11 years as your coun-cilmember. My motto for my final term was “Everything gets better in Alhambra,” and as I watch the City continue to develop, I am proud to say that I have had a small part in all that has occurred. But the real thanks goes out to those behind the scenes, those you don’t see too often but who perform most of the difficult tasks of preparation, execution, and clean up:

City Manager Mary Swink, who is doing a superlative job at the helm; Mark Paulson, former three-time mayor who is still so actively involved in many com-munity affairs and is past president of the Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club of Alhambra; Frances Moore, almost 40 years as our city clerk, past president of Rotary Club, and participant (donor) to just about everything; Sharon Gibbs, past president of the Rotary Club and executive director of the Chamber; Owen Guenthard, past executive director of the Chamber, gov-ernment affairs specialist, and who leads many Alhambra High School alumnae events; Stephen Chan, past president of the Chamber and YMCA board member and recognized leader of the Asian Community.

Adam Schiff, our former U.S. Congress-man; Judy Chu, current Congressperson; Wayne Ratkovich, developer with great visions and the talent to make them real-ities; Mayors’ Advisory Council, morning

breakfast club that starts most of my days; Valerie Jeffrey; Robert Eisenberg; Dory Kiss; Glenn Barnett; Larry Saunders; Denis Kerechuk, past president of Rotary; Lee Lieberg, past president of Rotary and San Gabriel Valley Board of Realtors; Jeff Maloney, president of Special Olympics committee; Carmen Hernandez, librarian, past president of Rotary, and called on for numerous jobs such as Alhambra Dodger Night and more; Lorelei Gilliam, major contributor to so many great causes; Ray-mond Poon, past president of Rotary and who sets up City-wide health fairs.

Joe Pavon, Al’s Towing, helps to sponsor so many activities in Alhambra, so generous with so many groups; Dulcy Jenkins, chief editor of Around Alhambra; Julio Fuentes, our former city manager now in the City of Santa Clara; Steven Placido, D.D.S.,

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conducted free dental screenings with the Rotary Club; Alhambra Firefighters, all the pancake breakfast events and their contri-butions to so many other activities within the City; Alhambra Police, led by our great chief Mark Yokoyama, our department has become a model for many other cities.

Steve Perry, president of the Alhambra Educational Foundation, raises so many dollars to help the school board, teachers, and students; Jim Richetts, president of the Exchange Club and past president of the Alhambra Planning Commission; Ken Kasamatsu, founder of Pacific Commerce Bank and a friend to Alhambra and all our public events; Yonemoto Physical Therapy, continuous contributor to special events; American Legion Post 139, always there to help returning veterans with any and all problems; Linda Wong, vibrant new Rotar-ian helping so many children with tutor-ing skills and signing up to help wherever and whenever asked; Dr. Stephen Huang, founder of the “Home Of The Angels,” a new non-profit that works directly with disabled persons and a great new addition to Alhambra.

David Wong, great Rotarian, leader in Asian Community, and major contrib-utor to many events; Dave Duarte, year after year a leader for the Alhambra Little League; Peppy Sciarra, longtime Rotarian still leading several committees including “Peppy’s Annual Heartwalk “ that raises nearly $10,000 annually for Children’s Hospital; Evike.com, helps every organi-zation with support for their respective activities; Allied Physicians, a true support group and a major player in Alhambra, we are fortunate to have them in Alhambra; Republic Services — Susanne Passantino,

our trash contractor who comes to the rescue at all our events to supply pro-bono assistance and trash removal; Lorraine Simpson, current president Rotary Club; Gary Frueholz, president elect, Rotary Club.

My wife Linda, who has put up with me for decades and continues to be involved with many helpful organizations. And I cannot forget the City staff who has been “there for me” and has gone the extra mile to help make us councilmembers look good. Thank you all!

The above named are the folks who deserve all the kudos for their unselfish devotion to assisting one another in part-nerships that are producing so much more than solo efforts. I sincerely thank each and every one of you and some of you will be placed on my “2015 Community Ser-vice Hall Of Fame” and receive the mayor’s commemorative token of friendship. I will be very proud to establish this as it will recognize those who constitute the real backbone of our community.

And last but surely not least, I commend the youth in Alhambra for all I have seen you do and all the wonderful help you have provided when needed. I am extremely proud to see you get involved at an early age, and I hope your mind sets allow you to continue on this path for many years.

As I leave the mayorship, I do it proudly, and I know the City will continue to be in good hands. My legacy is the future of Al-hambra. Thank you all for your continued support. I can still be reached if needed on my cell at 626-524-4516 should you have any problems or questions. I wish you all nothing but the best.

Ryan Stringer ‘Night Out’ event to raise funds for Alhambra student scholarships

The Alhambra Police Officer’s Associa-tion is sponsoring a Ryan Stringer Night Out at 6 p.m. Saturday, June 13, at Matt Denny’s Ale House in Arcadia, 145 E. Huntington Drive, to raise funds to sup-port the association’s scholarship program and to honor the memory of Officer Ryan E. Stringer, who lost his life in the line of duty. The price of admission is $10.

Additional scholarship funds will be raised through a donation from the

restaurant and the proceeds from a raffle featuring prizes such as Dodger tickets, Angel tickets, movie tickets, Go Pro’s, and a 32” HDT-TV.

The $1,000 scholarships will be given to each of five deserving high school seniors.

Potential scholarship winners include Alhambra resident high school seniors from Alhambra High School, San Gabriel High School, Mark Keppel High School, Century High School, and any senior

student living in Alhambra.The association is interviewing qualified

scholarship applicants and is expected to announce the winners in the near future.

The public is invited to participate in the funding of these scholarships, which is proposed to be an annual recognition of outstanding students and an ongoing tribute to Officer Stringer.

Those who cannot attend this event may also support the scholarship program

through donations of checks made out to the Alhambra Police Officer’s Association and delivered to the Association, C/O the Alhambra Police Department, 211 S. First St. Please indicate “Ryan Stringer Scholar-ships” in the memo portion of the check.

Entertainment will be provided by the lively Jack Robert’s Harvey Band.

All ages are invited to participate, but the location would suggest leaving the kids at home.

06/2015 CITY NEWS AROUND ALHAMBRA 3A


Recent City Council actions

Students in Government Day.

The following are highlights from the April 27 and May 11 regular City Council meetings.

RecognitionAlhambra High School juniors and

seniors participating in Alhambra’s first “Students in Government Day” were commended for spending time with city staff and elected officials to learn first-hand about the functions of local government. Participants included Daniel Rolon, Sylvia Winston, Koby Arriaza, Shannon Kha, Anhayte Guajardo, Carlos Vides, Katherine Padilla, Emily Tran, Dajanett Tsang, Ag-atha Handojo, Matthew Chan, Matthew Dominguez, Ricardo Gonzalez, Kevin Kong, David Hernandez, David Huang, Natalie Monterroza, Jiawei (Ryan) Liang, Kimberly Pham, Christopher Moreno, Araceli Ramirez, Drew Vasquez, Michelle Yan, and Candice Romero.

First Sergeant William Holodnak, an Alhambra resident and 19-year member of the United States Marine Corps, was commended for being recently promoted

from Gunnery Sergeant to First Sergeant among 600+ Marines with only 13 spots and 1st Sgt. Holodnak scoring among the top three candidates.1st Sgt. Holodnak was also commended for four combat deploy-ments to Iraq and three deployments to Afghanistan. He has also received six Navy commendation awards from the Marine Corps, two Navy Achievement awards, and six letters of appreciation from foreign mili-taries. Additionally, he has been a pistol and rifle expert five times each, is a black belt in the Marine Corps martial arts program and a martial arts instructor, is a combat marksmanship coach for small arms, and has trained Afghan military forces through the Military Instructor Training Team.

The AYSO U-14 Girls Soccer Team #3 was congratulated and commended for its outstanding victory in the Western States Championship game. Out of more than 1,400 participating teams from California, Nevada, Arizona, Washington, and Oregon, Team #3 won 4-0 against La Habra in the

Western States Championship game. Team #3 deserves the highest praise for an accom-plishment that no other ASYO Alhambra/Monterey Park team has ever accomplished. The team members and coaches recognized included Bebe Cabadas, Leonor Corona, Maddie Godinez, Ameyalli Hill, Nikki Hernandez, Jade Gamez, Skye Blue Juarez, Alyssa Torres, Amanda Ramirez, Sam Gonzalez, Kysa Hayashi, Manami Hayashi, Sabrina Vasquez, Erica Gallegos, Coach Abel Hernandez, and Team Mom Claudia Ortega.

Joslyn Center volunteer Gayle McKin-ney was recognized for her service on behalf of all the Center’s volunteers as the month of May was proclaimed Older Americans Month in Alhambra.

To show its gratitude for donations made in support of the Special Olympics LA 2015 Alhambra Host Town Program, the City Council recognized the following donors: $5,000: The Alhambra; Transtech Engi-neers; $2,500: Evike.com Inc.; Alhambra

Firefighters Association; Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP; Home of the Angels; $1,000: West San Gabriel Valley Association of Realtors; Alhambra Rotary; Alhambra Hospital Medical Center; $500: Credit Union of Southern California; First Baptist Church of Alhambra; Jayvee Dance Center; Soroptimist International of Alhambra, San Gabriel, San Marino; Innerlink Chiroprac-tic Clinic; The Alhambra Woman’s Club; Snyder Optometry; Alhambra Educational Foundation; and Republic Services.

Outgoing members of various boards and commissions were recognized for their outstanding and dedicated service to the City of Alhambra. Certificates of Services were provided to Planning Commission: Maria Murray (eight years); Library Board: Cynthia Ison (eight years); Parks & Rec-reation Commission: Donald Mumford (eight years), Jaime Garcia (eight years), Trent Yamauchi (eight years); Transpor-tation Commission: David Duarte (eight years), Sergio Chavez (eight years), Luis

First Sergeant William Holodnak.

The Alhambra Firefighters Association was one of the groups that made a donation in support of the Special Olympics LA 2015 Alhambra Host Town Program.

Continued on next page

Participants of the first Alhambra Neighborhood Cleanup event on Feb. 29 were thanked and commended for their indispensable assistance.

Outgoing members of various boards and commissions were recognized for their outstanding and dedicated service to the City of Alhambra.


Arizmendez (eight years); Youth Commission: Kristie Sham (four years), Patrick Placido (four years), Mark Garcia (four years).

Participants of the first Alhambra Neighborhood Cleanup event on Feb. 29 were thanked and commended for their indispensable assistance. The event garnered the help of 121 volunteers including churches, service organizations, and residents who came together to provide cleanup services to 70 homes in the area of Emery Park. By day’s end, 11.59 tons of trash had been collected and disposed of equaling five 40-yard roll-off bins. Those recognized included Rafael Perez, Monica Harvey, Eddie Villegas, Sergio Soto, Maya Flores, Jennifer Wiese, Ruben Soriano, Brandon Cardella, Bryon Garay, Felix Huezo, Denise Magadaleno, Sharon Frasca-Williams, Theresa Lopez, Michael Vercillo, Diana Coburn, Gabriel Campos, Frank Bodeman, Jasmine Hernandez, Adrian Carrasco, Nery Rodriguez, Ryan Chen, Thomas De La Torre, Mario Meza, Alfred Liu, Jessica Reyes, Anthony Castellano, Holly Chenh, Lisa Luna, Natalie Osgood (Petsmart), Esteban Sanches (Starbucks Coffee), Diana Landeros (Starbucks Coffee); Ed Carranza (Smart & Final); Vittoria Pizza; Ma-ria Felix Casas (Huerta Produce), Toribio Huerta (Huerta Produce), Republic Services, Rafael Garcia (Republic Services), German Hernandez (Republic Services), Walter Santana (Republic Services), Jerome Singletary (Republic Services), Esteban Cruz (Republic Services), Patty Ayala (Republic Services), Costco, Shakey’s Pizza, US Storage Center, Albertsons, The Housing Rights Center, Salvador Prieto (Home Depot), Yvonne Saldano (Home Depot), Lalaina Herrera (Home Depot), Janice Crabb (Church of Christ of Latter-Day Saints), Amy Besaw (Church of Christ of Latter-Day Saints), Alhambra First Baptist Church, Alhambra High School Key Club, Deborah Kopit (Society for California Veterinary Vaccine Care), and SGV New Generation Rotary Club.

A donation of $1,007 provided by Steve Chiang was recognized and graciously accepted to help support the Al-hambra Civic Center Library’s non-fiction book collection. Mr. Chiang, an engineer, provided the donation to help provide additional career-related books on engineering.

General Plan / Consolidated PlanA presentation was made about updating the City’s

General Plan through 2035, including various aspects to be included in the plan, as well future community events planned to solicit the public’s participation in determining the future direction of the City.

The City’s 2015-2019 Consolidated Plan, which de-scribes housing-related issues in the City of Alhambra, was

approved along with increased CDBG-related program funding (+1.8%) for FY 2015-16, and decreased HOME program funding (-11.5%).

Contract & Grant Awards• (New) 2016 Tournament of Roses float contract

(Alhambra Chamber of Commerce).• (New) Purchase of six ¾ ton utility bed trucks and

two ½ ton pickup trucks for field crews (Wondries Fleet Group).

• (New) Purchase of two vehicles for the Police Depart-ment (National Auto Fleet Group).

• (New) Safe Routes to School Crosswalk and Paving of First and Second streets from Mission Road to Main Street. (E.C. Construction Company)

• (New) Installation of a High-Intensity Activated Crosswalk (HAWK) System at Seventh Street and Valley Boulevard. (Unique Performance Construction)

• (New) 2015 U.S.D.A. Summer Lunch Program (Revolution Foods) – See related article on page 12A.

• (New) Design services for the replacement of water mains on Westmont Drive between Sherwood and Nor-wich Avenues (SA Associates)

• (New) Rehabilitation of the Garvey Reservoir (J. Colon Coatings, Inc.).

• (New) Joint Powers Agreement for the operation and management of the Metrolink Station at California State University, Los Angeles, from Oct. 1, 2015, through June 30, 2036, (Board of Trustees of the California State Univer-sity on behalf of California State University, Los Angeles, the County of Los Angeles and the cities of Monterey Park and Los Angeles).

• (New) Almansor Park Picnic Shelters Replacement (Southern California Rooms, Inc.).

• (New) Code Enforcement and Building Permitting Software Systems (Comcate).

• (Amended) Reprogramming and utilization of CDBG funds for new/replacement street improvements, sidewalk improvements, handicap ramps, and removal of other architectural barriers that impede handicap access (HUD).

• (Amended) Acceptance of additional contingency grant funds to FY 2013 Homeland Security Grant Program (County of Los Angeles).

• (Amended) Two-year extension for tree maintenance services for City’s tree maintenance program, which in-cludes a Web-based tree inventory program (West Coast Arborists).

• (Completed) Granada Park Gym Flooring Project (Hur Flooring Company).

Continued from previous page

City Council actions

is a monthly publication with a total circulation of 40,000. It is mailed to every business and residence in the city of Alhambra. Around Alhambra is also mailed to all interested local, state and county officials.

We welcome comments, press releases and community interest stories and will make every effort to include all appropriate information.

For advertising rates and other information, contact Alhambra Chamber of Commerce104 S. First St., Alhambra, CA 91801Tel: 626 282-8481 Fax: 626 282-5596www.alhambrachamber.org

Executive CommitteePresident: Lee Lieberg, Landz Real EstateVice President: Robert Fukui, High Point MarketingImmediate Past President: Frank Chen, Law Offices of Frank W. ChenAt-Large members: Evike Chang, Evike.com Valarie Gomez, West San Gabriel Valley YMCA Mark Paulson, Anthony Venti Realtors

Board of Directors Oriana Chan, Wells Fargo Bank

Iris Lai, Alhambra Hospital Medical CenterElizabeth Martinez, Republic Services

Megan Moloughney, The Ratkovich Co./The AlhambraJoe Pavon, Al’s Towing

Todd Sakamoto, The Mailbox Shop Marissa Castro-Salvati, So. California Edison Helen Romero-Shaw, So. California Gas Company Lorraine Simpson, Credit Union of Southern California Dr. David Snyder, Optometrist Walter Tang, Superior Scientific Joanna Vargas, The Fit Factor Studio

StaffExecutive Director: Sharon GibbsMembership/Advertising Sales: Stan YonemotoLegislative Affairs: Owen GuenthardOffice Manager: Irma HernandezEditor: Dulcy JenkinsWriters: William Kinman and Sarah GrearOffice Assistant: Rosemarie ValerioPublished by: Alhambra Chamber of Commerce

AROUND ALHAMBRA is not responsible nor liable for any claims or offerings, nor responsible for product availability that may be advertised. Opinions expressed in columns, letters and guest editorials are those of the authors. All rights reserved. Reproductions in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

JUNE 30, 2015


Monday: 11 am - 9 pmTuesday: 10 am - 9 pmWednesday: 10 am - 9 pmThursday: 10 am - 5 pmFriday: 10 am - 5 pmSaturday: 10 am - 5 pmSunday: 1 pm - 5 pm

101 S. First St.Alhambra, CA 91801626-570-5008www.alhambralibrary.org

It’s June, the kids are out of school, and the Alhambra Civic Center Library announced it’s time for the Summer Reading Program.

The library is tripling the fun of summer reading by conducting three Summer Reading programs.

“Every Hero Has A Story” is the theme of the Children’s Summer Reading Program, which involves lots of reading, fun prizes, and a summer’s worth of interesting programs to warm the heart of any youngster.

Children, ages 0 to 12, who sign up for the summer program pledge to read at least 100 minutes each week. Pre-readers will have someone read to them. This will qualify them for the prizes, including a free book to take home.

The programs, scheduled at 3:30 p.m. on Mondays from June 1 through July 20 in Reese Hall, include a magical lineup:

• Arty Loon, Magic Show, June 1.• Joseph Peck, Steel Drum Music,

June 8. • Michael D. McCarty, Storytelling,

June 15.• Fantastick Patrick, Circus Variety

Show, June 22.• Brother Yusef, Blues Music,

June 29.• Big Hero 6, a PG, 2014 movie,

July 6.

• Cory Hills, Percussive Storytelling, July 13.

• Illusions by Allen Magic Show, July 20.

While no registration is required to attend, please note that space is limited, and the doors will close 15 minutes after the start of each program.

In addition to this lineup, the regu-larly scheduled Family Story Time, for families with children 5 to 12 years old, continues with stories, puppets, and other activities at 7 p.m. Wednesdays in the Story Time Room.

The Civic Center Library adult and teen patrons will read, receive fun prizes, and attend interesting activities in a pro-gram entitled “Escape the Ordinary.”

Teens will join the Summer Reading program on their kickoff day, Thursday, June 4, beginning a summer’s worth of games, pizza, fun, and reading.

At 1:30 p.m. on frequent Thursdays in Reese Hall, teens will participate in the following activities:

Teen Superhero Craft Day on June 11 – participants will make awesome su-perhero-inspired crafts, including comic book pins and “POW!” headbands.

Everyday Hero Career Fair on June 25 – everyday community heroes will be present to describe their activities, answer questions, and guide inter-ested participants into hero-making professions.

Comic Book Workshop on July 2 – teens will learn all about comic books and how to make their own, personal comic book.

The Amazing Spiderman 2 on July 16 – watch the movie, enjoy snacks, and fulfill the SRP theme by Escaping the Ordinary.

Superhero Costume Party on July 23 – at this end of the Summer Reading Program party participants will make their own superhero costumes, complete with a new secret identity. There will be pizza and snacks.

Adults will “Escape the Ordinary” this summer, reading and collecting prizes and attending a series of pro-grams. The Adult Summer Reading Program begins on Monday, June 1, at which time participants may register at Summer Reading program Central (the first floor Homework Center, where last summer’s program was coordinated, but rumor has it that this year’s decoration, in itself, will be worth the trip).

Escape the Ordinary programs, in Reese Hall, include:

Movie – Captain America: The Win-ter Soldier at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 2. Rated PG-13.

Jayvee Dance Program at 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 8.

Scrapbooking, Knitting & Crochet-ing at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 13.

Movie – Guardians of the Galaxy at

Summer Reading programs dominate library activities in June, July

6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 16. Rated PG 13.JPL Space program at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 23.Craft Program at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 27.Cook Book Club, a brand new program, debut-

ing this summer, at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 30.Movie – The Avengers at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July

7. Rated PG-13.Movie – Holiday, a classic, 1938 film, at 6:30

p.m. Tuesday, July 7. NR.Scrapbooking, Knitting & Crocheting at 2 p.m.

Saturday, July 11.Cook Book Club at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 14.Craft Program at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 18.The ever popular “Quiz Game Dinner” (for

registered Summer Reading Program participants) at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 21. Registration required.

Check program details at www.alhambralibrary.org. For more information, phone the reference desk at 626-570-3212.


Police Department testing police officer body cameras

Recently, four Alhambra Police Officers were equipped with a brand new body camera affixed to their uniforms. These four officers will wear the cameras for three weeks to test how this specific brand of camera performs in the field. The officers will record incidents such as routine traffic stops, interviews during investigations, arrests, and other police encounters.

Over the next several months, addition-al cameras from different manufacturers will be tested by field officers. The purpose of these tests is to determine the pros and cons of each brand of camera. Officers will consider factors such as the ease of use, comfort, officer safety issues, battery life, device storage limits, functionality, and overall performance of the cameras. Mean-while, police department IT specialists will become familiar with the technology used to store and retrieve the data recorded by the officers in the field. Additionally, policy will be developed to ensure that the best practices are used.

Body cameras are an important tool that can be used to better document crime

Proceeds from Roaring Twenties Casino Night to benefit Alhambra Host Town Program

On May 8, the Alhambra Host Town Committee presented its Roaring Twen-ties Casino Night Fundraiser and Kickoff Party at The Alhambra. Attendees enjoyed an evening filled with casino-style games, music, and drinks by the Rabbit Hole and Ohana Brewing Co. The proceeds collected from the event will benefit the Alhambra Host Town Program for the Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles.

The Host Town Program occurs three days prior to the Games where selected Host Towns from San Diego to San Luis Obispo will host the delegations. During

this time, the City of Alhambra will serve not only as the “Gateway to the San Gabri-el Valley” along with neighbor Monterey Park, but also a welcoming “international gateway” to 100 German athletes, coach-es, and families. This program provides a cultural exchange to promote inclusion and acceptance for people with intellectual disabilities, while allowing the delegates to adjust to the climate and time zone before the World Games. To find out about vol-unteering opportunities in the Host Town program, interested participants are urged to contact City staff at 625-570-5011 or Chamber staff at 626-282-8481.

Four Alhambra Police Officers have been equipped with a new body camera affixed to their uniforms.

scenes, memorialize statements, aid officer training, and help ensure officers maintain the highest level of professionalism while building trust and relations with the community.

The Alhambra Host Town Committee presented its Roaring Twenties Casino Night Fundraiser and Kickoff Party at The Alhambra on May 8.


Design of Alhambra’s 2016 Rose Parade float showcases how ‘Parks Make Life Better!’

In 2016, the 127th Rose Parade’s theme will be “Find Your Adventure” to help shine light on the centennial celebration of the nation’s national parks.

Phoenix Decorating Company has once again come up with a stunning design to play up the splendor found at each of

Alhambra’s parks, while the California Parks and Recreation Society has graciously agreed to let the City of Alhambra use its motto of “Parks Make Life Better!” to advance the message that Parks and Recre-ation are essential community services that contribute to a better quality of life.

Annual July 4 Fireworks Extravaganza to be presented at Almansor Park

The annual Fourth of July Fireworks Extravaganza will be presented at 9 p.m. Saturday, July 4, at Almansor Park, 800 S. Almansor St. The skies will light up with explosions and flashes and colors and excitement.

Beginning at 2 p.m., there will be food vendors, family activities, carnival games, and entertainment.

Beginning at 7:30 p.m., The Suffragettes band will take the stage.

The fireworks in the Extravaganza show

are the only fireworks allowed in the park, so leave personal fireworks at home. Home is also the best place for approved safe and sane fireworks and dogs. Neither is allowed in the park.

Parking is limited at the park, so arrive early to get a spot in or near the park, although regular attendees will say a more remote parking space makes it easier to get home as the entire crowd exits the park.

For more information, phone 626-570-3242 during weekday business hours.

Two women who work in Alhambra receive Courageous Citizen Awards

Jennifer Clark and Consuelo Tejada, who work in Alhambra and who prevented the abduction of another woman and assisted City police in the arrest and con-viction of the assailant, were awarded the Courageous Citizen Award on May 6 by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

In a 2013 incident at an Alhambra coffee shop, a prison parolee, after remov-ing his required GPS monitoring device, forced his way into the car of a young woman, brandished what appeared to be a handgun, took her cell phone, hit her on the head, and threatened to kill her.

Ms. Clark observed the happenings, saw that the woman was pleading for help, and verbally confronted the man, who jumped

out of the victim’s car and into his own car and drove off.

Ms. Tejada also saw the attack and the retreat of the attacker. She followed him to his car, wrote down his license plate, and notified the police.

The criminal was found guilty of mak-ing criminal threats and is now serving 40 years-to-life in a state prison.

“They stepped up in a very dangerous situation. In a split second, they decided they were going to make a difference,” Dis-trict Attorney Jackie Lacey said concerning Ms. Clark, Ms. Tejada, and a few other L.A. County Hometown Heroes from other cities who were receiving awards. “There is no doubt that our community is safer because of them.”

From left: honoree Jennifer Clark, District Attorney Jackie Lacey, honoree Connie Tejada, and Deputy District Attorney David Ayvazian.


Police Department offers Citizens Academy for Youth

Alhambra youth, 11 to 13 years of age, are invited by the Alhambra Police Department to participate in a Citizens Academy for Youth, Monday through Thursday, June 22 through June 25, a program focusing on strategic prob-lem-solving and good decision-making techniques, community engagement and partnerships, education, outreach, and future planning.

The conflicts that face today’s youth are gigantic: drugs and violence, bullying, self-doubt and esteem issues, Internet predators, gang recruitment, and more.

Academy sessions are scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon on four consecutive week-days. Participants are required to attend all four days to complete the program.

The program includes a wide range of subjects on which interactive discussions will take place. Subjects included are Handgun Safety and Law; All Forms of Bullying; Internet Use and Safety; Leadership, Character and Decision- Making; Career and Education Planning;

Traffic and Pedestrian Safety; Drug Use and Cigarette Smoking; Alcohol Abuse Prevention; Gangs and Peer Pressure; and Juvenile Legal System.

Participants will be greeted by Chief of Police Mark Yokoyama and plunge directly into the week’s curriculum, taught by Alhambra Police Department officers. During the week they’ll also take part in a tour of the Police Department and take a field trip to the Alhambra Superior Court.

Graduation is at 11:30 on Thursday.The Citizens Academy for Youth grad-

uates will join the many graduates of the department’s long-running Citizens Po-lice Academy who, through participation in a similar program addressing police and public issues, are advocates for police and public partnerships throughout the community.

Interested youth should quickly (deadline: Monday, June 8) contact Crime Prevention Officer Sharon Frasca-Williams at [email protected] or at 626-570-5177.

Congress can deliver drought relief

BY MARK R. PAULSON, DIRECTOR SAN GABRIEL VALLEY MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT

The big lie in Cali-fornia right now is that there must be a choice between urban and rural water use, rather than a solution that meets all the state’s needs. Congress could deliver immediate relief to both groups by passing legislation to minimize water-supply reductions.

Due to overzealous application of the Endangered Species Act, the federal government has defaulted to the most water restrictive policy possible, without regard to science or drought conditions. Over the last 20 years, that has meant redirecting some 2 million acre-feet of water a year from human to environmental purposes, causing nearly continuous shortages for our farmers, weakening our water system and, sadly, producing no measurable benefits for the fisheries. Legislation could require the

release of more water from state and federal projects — the highest amount within the law’s environmentally acceptable range — for use by cities in Southern California and farms in the Central Valley. Laws protecting wildlife would remain in force, and determinations about the environmental conditions would con-tinue throughout the drought.

Asking the federal government to respond to a drought is no different than telling FEMA to handle floods, fires, and earthquakes. The federal government should be required to demon-strate some balanced consideration of hu-man conditions and permit the capture of excess water for cities and food production when the situation is appropriate.

There is bipartisan support for a legislative solution. With the crisis upon us, Congress must pass relief legislation immediately.


Sign up for new Alhambra Gateway App to report issues — watch them get fixed fast

Starting June 1, there’s a new mobile app for residents to submit service requests and access City Hall using a smart phone, online, or phone connection, and SMS. The new Alhambra Gateway mobile app is designed to provide users with instant and direct access to appropriate City staff from any location about hazards they come in contact with, such as potholes and uprooted trees; signage and garbage issues; transportation problems; code enforcement and construction-related con-cerns; police issues, noise complaints, etc. Residents can also use the in-app widgets to find information about events, public facilities, trash pickup, and more.

With its ability to pinpoint one’s loca-tion by GPS, all users have to do when they observe a problem is to snap a photo, add their location, and send it directly to City Hall via the app. It’s possible to add com-ments to describe the concern and enable push notifications to receive smart phone alerts concerning the request, or simply log into the app to check the request status. The app is anonymous, allowing residents to maintain privacy when reporting possi-ble violations or neighborhood concerns.

Residents who speak a language other than English can submit requests in their native language. The Alhambra Gateway app supports 17 languages, including Span-ish, Chinese, and Vietnamese, through One Voice — an instant translation feature enabling non-English speaking residents to access City services and submit requests in their native language. Any subsequent

updates and comments from the City will be translated back into the resident’s native language.

The Alhambra Gateway app can be downloaded for free from both the Apple and Google app stores. The app is com-patible with Apple, Android, and Window systems. To get the app, enter “Alhambra Gateway” in the search field, click install, and download.

Just as the public will have instant access to City Hall, the City of Alhambra will re-ceive daily reports itemizing the number of complaints, their type and location, what kind of response occurred, the number of outstanding unresolved complaints, and when notification is made as to the outcome of a request. The City may also use the app to notify residents of street closures, emergency alerts, parking bans, and other public information.

Alhambra Mayor Luis Ayala stated that he “is thrilled that the Alhambra Gateway app is being offered to the Alhambra com-munity and believes it will help streamline and improve efficiency at a very basic level so nothing falls through the cracks.”

With the Alhambra Gateway app, offered by PublicStuff, an innovative CRM software company, the City of Alhambra will be able to manage and improve its effi-ciency in responding to residents’ concerns.

Alhambra Gateway is supported through the City’s Web site at http://www.cityofalhambra.org/page/545/publicstuff/. For more information, contact Paolo Kes-pradit at 626-570-5011.

Cool off in the poolThere is no cooler spot in the City of

Alhambra during the summer months than the two municipal pools at Alhambra Park and Granada Park.

June is the month that pool activities swing into high gear, as residents seek waters to cool the summer temperatures, encourage their youngsters to take swim lessons, and ensure their own physical longevity by getting in those multiple laps during either morning or afternoon hours.

For youngsters, there are fun times waiting at the Alhambra Park Water Play-ground, and for kids 8 years old and above, there are late summer Swim Team and

Inner Tube Water Polo programs for com-bined fun and skill development activities.

The best way to pick which aquatic programs to participate in is to consult the City of Alhambra summer/fall 2015 Lei-sure Classes, Activities & Excursions Guide, available at www.cityofalhambra.org and mailed to each postal address in the city. Aquatic programs descriptions begin on page 16, with complete details on arrang-ing a “cool in the pool” summer.

For more information, phone the Alhambra Park Pool at 626-570-5051 or the Granada Park Pool at 626-570-5093. Office hours are listed in the guide.


Dispose of household hazardous waste, e-waste at nearby events in June

The typical home contains an array of household hazardous products for clean-ing, painting, beautifying, lubricating, and disinfecting. Many of these products contain corrosive, toxic, ignitable, or reactive ingredients and are considered to be household hazardous waste. When no longer needed, they should be taken to a HHW/E-Waste Collection event. These products should never be poured down the drain, dumped onto the ground or into the storm drain system, or be put out with the trash.

The County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works sponsors disposal events on a monthly basis, but many of them are not within close driving range. However, this month two events are being offered

relatively nearby from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 6.

Pasadena at The Rose Bowl, parking lot “K”, 1001 Rose Bowl Blvd., Pasadena 91103.

Irwindale at the L.A. County Depart-ment of Public Works, Flood Control Maintenance Yard,

160 E. Longden Ave., Irwindale 91706.Residents may dispose up to 15 gallons

or 125 pounds of household hazardous waste free of charge. Attendants will pull the items from your trunk — no need to even get out of the car.

To find out specifically which items can be disposed of at a HHW/E-Waste event, please visit www.dpw.lacounty.gov/epd/hhw, or phone 888-CLEAN LA.

Summer Leisure Classes begin in early June

City of Alhambra Leisure Classes, sum-mer session, begin the second week of the month, necessitating quick action to take part in classes in the following categories: dance classes, enrichment classes, health & fitness, music classes, parent/child classes, and sport fitness.

To see the classes, go to the City of Alhambra Web site, www.cityofalhambra.org, and click on Leisure Activities Guide.

It’s easy to enroll in a program at www.cityofalhambra.org. Click on Leisure,

Recreation & More, then choose a category and review all the classes available. Find a class, click on the Info logo next to the blue “I” - for info – letter, and see a full page of facts, including ages, location, dates and times, and much more.

For those “hard to decide what class to take” folks, a guest fee option is described at the beginning of each category of classes, providing a class visit for just a $7 fee. If one decides at that point to register for the class, the $7 is transferable to the total class cost.


Youth summer lunch, recreation programs scheduled in Alhambra’s parks

Monday, June 1, is the beginning date for the Summer Food Service program that takes place at Alhambra’s major parks, an annual program serving weekday lunch and snacks to children 1 to 18 years of age. Combined with the annual Summer Youth Recreation Program, Alhambra’s young-sters are assured of a summer of healthful outdoor activities and a well-balanced lunch for free.

Lunches and snacks, provided through the U. S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the City of Alhambra, are served on a first-come, first-served basis, and must be consumed on the site the designated area.

Locations and times of lunches and snacks are as follows:

• Alhambra Park, Lunch: noon to 2 p.m; Snack: 3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

• Almansor Park, Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; Snack: 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

• Granada Park, Lunch: noon. to 2 p.m.; Snack: 3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

• Story Park, Lunch 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Snack: 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The food is served regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, or handicap.

Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated in any USDA-related program should write to Secretary of Agri-culture, Washington, D.C., 20250.

Recreational activities include tourna-ments and games supervised and conduct-ed by trained Recreation Leaders:

• Alhambra Park, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.• Almansor Park, 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.• Granada Park, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.• Story Park, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.Arts and crafts sessions are offered on

Tuesdays and Thursdays according to the following schedule:

• Alhambra Park, 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

• Almansor Park, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.• Granada Park, 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.• Story Park, 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.For more information, please phone

626-570-5081 during weekday business hours.

Alhambra’s major parks are located at the following addresses:

• Alhambra Park, 500 N. Palm Ave.• Almansor Park, 800 S. Almansor St.• Granada Park, 2000 W. Hellman Ave.• Story Park, 210 N. Chapel Ave.

Basketball Sports Camp begins June 29

The annual City of Alhambra Basketball Sports Camp, Beginning Basketball, begins on Monday, June 29. Youngsters ages 7 to 13 will learn the basics of basketball.

Session II, Intermediate Basketball, begins on Monday, July 13. Families can now register their future basketball stars for both sessions either online; in person at the Almansor Park Recreation Office, 800 S. Almansor St.; or by phone at 626-570-5081, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Online registration is easy. Go to the City of Alhambra Web site, www.cityofalhambra.org, click on Online Services, click on Leisure, Recreation & More, click on Youth

Sports, and there’s the Basketball Sports Camp registration page.

The Basketball Sports Camp is important to emerging sports participants because they will gain much more than improved techniques in ball-handling, dribbling, and defense. They will also learn important les-sons about self-esteem, teamwork, and the value of hard work.

Participants in each two-week session will practice from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at the Almansor Park Gym. The registration fee for each session is $30, which includes a free Sports Camp T-shirt.

27 Quick and Easy Fix Ups to Sell Your Home Fast and for Top Dollar

Because your home may well be your larg-est asset, selling it is probably one of the most important decisions you will make in your life. And once you have made that decision, you’ll want to sell your home for the highest price in the shortest time possible without compromising your sanity. Before you place your home on the market, here’s away to help you to be as prepared as possible. To assist home sellers, a new industry report has just been released called “27 Valuable Tips That You Should Know to Get Your Home Sold Fast and for Top Dollar.” It tackles the important issues you need to know to make your home competitive in today’s tough, aggressive marketplace.

Through these 27 tips you will discover how to protect and capitalize on your most important investment, reduce stress, be in control of your situation, and make the best

profit possible. In this report you’ll discover how to avoid financial disappointment or worse, a financial disaster when selling your home. Using a common-sense approach, you will get the straight facts about what can make or break the sale of your home. You owe it to yourself to learn how these important tips will give you the competitive edge to get your home sold fast and for the most amount of money.

Order your free report today. To order your FREE copy of this report call toll-free 1-888-300-4632 and enter 1023. You can call any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Get your free special report NOW.This report is courtesy of Rudy L. Kusuma

Real Estate Broker Lic# 01820322. Not in-tended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract. Copyright © 2012

Congratulations to Teresa Ybarra who was named one of Congresswoman Judy Chu’s “2015 Women of Distinction” of the 27th District. Ms. Ybarra is the president of the Alhambra Latino Association and was a teacher for 27 years in the Alhambra Unified School District. The ceremony took place in April at the San Marino Center. “These amazing women do so much for our community. Congratulations to each and every one of you and thank you for what you all do for our community,” Congresswoman Chu said on her Facebook page.


Eco Fair educates hundreds of residentsIt was another outstanding

Eco Fair at Alhambra Park orchestrated by the City of Al-hambra, at which governmental and independent agencies and businesses shared with the pub-lic ways and means of saving money and, more critically, saving the environment.

The information providers, listed at the end of this article, provided Alhambra residents with information that could not only ease their lives, but also their pocketbooks. City of Alhambra departments were present to share information about their services and im-portant upcoming events, such as the Alhambra Host Town program benefiting the Special Olympics World Games and the revamping of the City’s

General Plan.The musical group Big Truth

kept toes tapping; a selection of gourmet food trucks reduced hunger pangs; a giant bouncer kept the kids busy, when they weren’t playing ring toss or having their faces painted; and parents beamed at both the Jay-vee Dance Studio presentations and the display of creative Wa-ter Awareness posters created by their youngsters.

Everyone went home with a recyclable-bagful of “green” ideas.

The City of Alhambra thanks the following for their Eco Fair participation: Allied Waste/Republic Services, Calverde Reliable Energy, Civic Spark, Clean Rays Energy, The Energy Network, Geo

The City of Alhambra had its Eco Fair 2015 on May 2. “MRFy” appeared at Eco Fair to promote recycling.

The following crimes were reported to the Alhambra Police Department during April. The areas of occurrence are listed to the nearest block—not exact addresses. By publishing these reports, it is hoped that Alhambra residents will take the necessary measures to ensure their individual safety, as well as the safety of their property. Neighborhood Watch Works! To join Neighborhood Watch, or for more crime prevention information and safety tips, contact the Alhambra Police Department Crime Prevention Office at 626-570-5177.

District OneBurglary (1)00 E. CommonwealthTheft/Burglary from Vehicle (8)00 S. Hampton00 S. First300 N. Atlantic300 N. Chapel500 N. Vega500 N. Stoneman400 N. Vega100 N. ChampionGrand Theft Auto (5)300 N. Fourth400 W. Main200 N. Stoneman1200 N. Monterey00 S. ValenciaRobbery (1) 00 N. First

District TwoBurglary (1)1100 S. GeranioTheft/Burglary fromVehicle (6)600 W. Valley (x2)800 S. Stoneman2000 S. Fourth800 S. Stoneman1100 S. Fourth

Grand Theft Auto (6)1100 S. Azalea800 S. Ninth00 E. Glendon1800 S. Second1500 S. Ninth1200 S. SecondRobbery (2)1200 S. Atlantic1200 E. Valley

District ThreeBurglary(2)100 S. Elm800 S. WinthropTheft/Burglary from Vehicle (21)200 S. Hampden100 S. Meridian100 N. Huntington100 S. Westmont3100 W. Poplar (x2)100 N. Curtis700 N. Dos Robles700 S. Westminster700 N. Electric300 S. Orange Grove400 S. Orange Grove300 N. LaFrance3100 W. Concord (x4)1500 W. Acacia100 S. Stockbridge1700 W. Commonwealth3200 W. Concord

Grand Theft Auto (5)Birch/Huntington400 S. Elm900 S. Fremont600 N. Olive00 N. MargueritaRobbery (0)

District FourBurglary (6)2500 W. Loma Vista1800 S. Campbell2000 S. Bushnell1700 S. Edgewood2500 S. Snead2200 S. HitchcockTheft Burglary from Vehicle (6)2700 S. Fremont1300 W. Hellman3200 W. Montezuma1200 S. Electric (x2)2700 W. HellmanGrand Theft Auto (5)1800 S. Westmont1500 S. Curtis2900 W. Shorb2200 S. Winthrop1500 W. FrontRobbery (1)2000 W. Valley

Water Awareness Poster Contest winners deliver important message

Drought conditions in California are heralded daily in the press and on the news, and the youth of Alhambra, responding to the problem in the City of Alhambra’s Water Awareness Poster Contest, have come up with creative, colorful ways to get the message across to the adult population to save water.

This annual contest always pro-duces unique and often humorous messages to get across a very serious message, but this year’s contest winners are to be congratulated for their resourcefulness in calling special attention to an ongoing, but now critical, problem.

Prize-winning posters were recent-ly displayed at the City of Alhambra Eco Fair at Alhambra Park and dis-played in the City Hall lobby during May.

The winners each received a one year’s membership in the California Science Center. They are:

Kindergarten and first gradeFirst place — Stacey Lin, Grace

Garden Kindergarten.Second place — Olijah Bangit,

Ramona School kindergartenThird place — Leonardo Sanchez,

Emery Park School first grade.Second, third, and fourth gradesFirst place — Jessica Jiang, Gar-

field School third grade.Second place — Hanna Liang,

Park School third grade.Third place — Eric Sun, Baldwin

School third grade.

First Place Division C - Sophia Hua from Emery Park School, sixth grade.

Fifth and sixth gradesFirst place — Sophia Hua, Emery Park

School sixth grade.Second place — Zachary Ferraro, St. Thom-

as More School fifth grade.Third place — Kun Song, Baldwin School

fifth grade.Seventh and eighth gradesFirst place — Kelly Tsai, Fremont School

seventh grade.Second place — Esai Gonzalez, Ramona

School seventh grade.Third place — Irene Wong, Garfield School

eighth grade.

Promotions, Go Star Solar/Star Energy Partners, Goudy Honda, Home Depot, Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, New

Century BMW, San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District, Solar City, Southern California Edison, Southern California Gas, Titan

Solar Corporation, Tower Garden by Juice Plus, Tree People, Water Wise Now, West Coast Arborists, and Wondries Toyota.

710 DAY From Page 1AThe public’s participation is critical to efforts to Close the Gap and to “Build the Tunnel” and will have a decisive impact on the outcome of the final decision.

710 Day will be more than just educational pre-sentations and booths. It’s also geared to be a fun and family-friendly celebration where adults and children can enjoy many transportation-themed games and activities, photo opportunities, as well as live entertainment and food vendors. There are also plans to bring in bumper cars with a mock tunnel that will help children and adults better understand the tunnel concept.

LA Bluescasters will provide live entertainment during the celebration and will be followed by a pep rally with the Alhambra City Council, members of the Alhambra Unified School District, and other local elected officials from the 710 Coalition cities of Monterey Park, Rose-mead, San Gabriel, and San Marino.

Recent public hearings indicate that there is increas-ing interest and support for the completion of a tunnel which would connect the southern terminus of the 710 freeway at Valley Boulevard to the 134 and 210 freeways in Pasadena. With two-to-one support for the tunnel

option as the best way to alleviate the area’s increasing traffic dilemma (it’s the only option that addresses the incomplete freeway system and already has funds allotted to it), the City of Alhambra is urging all supporters to take every opportunity to ensure their voices are heard.

For more information about the “Close the Gap – Build the Tunnel” campaign, visit www.cityofalhambra.org and www.710coalition.com.

To make comments online about the DEIR/EIS, log onto http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist07/resources/envdocs/docs/710study/draft_eir-eis/comments.php

14A CHAMBER NEWS AROUND ALHAMBRA 06/2015

Planet Fitness celebrates opening of Alhambra location

There will be no Lunch & Learn meetings in June or July.

The program will continue in August.

Planet Fitness offers low prices, brand name equipment, unlimited fitness training and more; join now for just $1 down and then $10 a month.

Thank you to ALHAMBRA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE2015 SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM DONORS

$14,740$1,000

EVIKE.COMJLEE ENGINEERING, INC.

MANDARIN BAPTIST CHURCH OF LOS ANGELESNATIONAL BUILDERS CONTROL, INC.TEAM NUVISION – RE/MAX TITANIUM

THE BOILING CRABTHE RATKOVICH COMPANY

SHEA PROPERTIES

$500G.E. PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT, INC.

LORELEI GILLIAMMcCOMPUTER CONSULTING, INC.

OWEN GUENTHARD SIMON LEE & ASSOCIATES, ARCHITECHTS

ANNIE CHIN SIU TRANSTECH

$400JOSH GOLDBERG

$300 OHANA BREWING COMPANY

$250 ALHAMBRA DENTAL

ALHAMBRA POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION ALONDRA HOT WINGS MICHAEL ANTONOVICH THE RICHETTS FAMILY

T0MOMI SUSHI W.Y. INTERNATIONAL, INC.

$190 CREDIT UNION OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

$100 ALHAMBRA EXCHANGE CLUB

ALHAMBRA VETERINARY HOSPITALDILBECK REAL ESTATE

DR. JEFFERY SHIAU OPTOMETRIST THE HAT

EMMETT A. TOMPKINS JR., ATTORNEY AT LAW

The Alhambra Chamber of Commercethanks these members for renewing their memberships

and for their continued support:Academy of Special Dreams Foundation

115 W. California Blvd., Suite 326Pasadena, CA 91105

323-253-7380Member since 2012

AT&T, Inc.1150 S. Olive, Room 2801

Los Angeles, CA 90015213-743-7006

Member since 1990

Athlon Legal, APC14 N. Fair Oaks Ave., Suite 503

Pasadena, CA 91103626-888-9035

Member since 2011

Bunker, Mary LouiseMember since 1995

Enterprise Rent-A-Car1300 W. Main St.

Alhambra, CA 91801626-457-2828

Member since 2011

K&K CommunicationsPinki Chen

Alhambra, CA 91801Member since 2009

Karen Chao, O.D., Inc.121 S. Del Mar Ave., Suite A

San Gabriel, CA 91776626-287-0401

Member since 2008

Michael S. Yu, A Law Corporation

2 E. Valley Blvd., Suite 270Alhambra, CA 91801

626-289-2833Member since 2000

Mission Patrol349 E. Main St., Suite #104-205

Alhambra, CA 91801866-767-9369

Member since 2013

Pacific Plaza1611 S. Garfield Ave.Alhambra, CA 91801

626-209-6660Member since 2013

Rybicki, FameMember since 2014

Sanz Construction, Inc.2724 W. Main St.

Alhambra, CA 91801626-872-2150

Member since 2008

SERVPRO of Alhambra560 W. Main St., Suite C-801

Alhambra, CA 91801626-283-5875

Member since 2014

The Granada L.A.17 S. First St.

Alhambra, CA 91801626-284-7262

Member since 2012

The Huntington Professional Building3010 San Pasqual St.Pasadena, CA 91107

626-289-1819Member since 2001

Wondries Family Collision Center

328 S. Marengo Ave.Alhambra, CA 91803

626-282-5496Member since 2001

To renew your membership with a credit card,

please phone the Chamber at 626-282-8481.








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Planet Fitness, the innovative health club franchise known for its Judgement Free Zone® and affordable prices, recently announced the opening of a new club in Alhambra at 610 E. Valley Blvd.

Planet Fitness prides itself on offering extremely affordable memberships and a unique Judgement Free Zone® unlike any other gym, where members experience a hassle-free, non-in-timidating environment. Each club fea-tures the brand’s iconic “Lunk Alarm” — a purple and yellow siren on the wall used to gently remind people that grunting, dropping weights, or judging others is not permitted.

Additionally, now through June 30, members can join for just $1 down and then $10 a month. The new Alhambra Planet Fitness is 25,000 sq. feet and will offer brand new cardio machines, new ful-ly equipped locker rooms with day lockers and showers, two massage chairs*, 34 full size flat screen televisions, a 30-minute express circuit and 12-minute ab-circuit, two HydroMassage beds*, tanning booths, and two Total Body Enhancement booths. The club will be open 24 hours, seven days a week. And there is plenty of parking.

“We’re thrilled to bring our Judgement Free Zone Alhambra,” said Planet Fitness franchisee Michael Rollins. “We look for-ward to providing everyone in Alhambra with a high quality, judgement free fitness experience at an extremely affordable cost.”

Membership includes a variety of other benefits, including unlimited small group fitness instruction by a certified trainer through the pe @ pf® program. In addi-tion, as a member appreciation gesture, Planet Fitness provides free pizza on the

first Monday of every month and free bagels on the second Tuesday

of every month, while supplies last.

The PF BlackCard®mem-bership, which is $19.99 a month, includes additional

amenities such as the ability to bring a guest every day at no addi-

tional charge, access to all 900+ clubs in the Planet Fitness chain, as well as the use of massage chairs*, HydroMassage beds*, tanning, Total Body enhancement booths, and 50% off select cooler drinks.

Planet Fitness has more than 900 locations nationwide and is also a national brand partner of NBC’s The Biggest Loser®. For more information, or to join online, please visit www.planetfitness.com, or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PlanetFitness and Twitter, www.twitter.com/PlanetFitness.

About Planet FitnessFounded in 1992 in Dover, N.H., Plan-

et Fitness is the fastest-growing full size health club franchise in the United States and has revolutionized the industry with a combination of extremely low prices and a unique, friendly, and hassle-free environ-ment called the Judgement Free Zone®.

Planet Fitness has more than 900 locations nationwide. The company prides itself on giving people an unbeatable value, top-notch facilities, and an atmosphere that focuses on the needs of occasional or first-time gym users rather than hard-core fitness fanatics. All Planet Fitness clubs feature a wide selection of brand-name cardio and strength equipment and pro-vide unlimited fitness instruction with all memberships.

*PF Black Card ® amenities may vary by location

06/2015 CHAMBER NEWS AROUND ALHAMBRA 15A

E.L. Maloney serves Alhambra community for 67 years

E.L. Maloney Kitchen and Bath is a third-generation family-owned business lo-cated in Alhambra since 1948. The family business began from the home garage on Commonwealth, where they worked on commercial and industrial projects. After founder and father E.L. Maloney died at the young age of 50 in 1959, the family business decided to focus on remodeling services. In 1978, due to business growth, they relocated to their current location, 1008-A Huntington Drive, San Marino.

The family kept one of its 1948 GMC panel trucks. “The truck, like our company, is going as strong as ever,” said Tom James Maloney. “Our family-owned company spans three generations of experts who will guide your remodeling project from start to finish, balancing form and func-tion to match your lifestyle. Every truly successful upgrade or makeover is based on inspiration, careful planning, and master craftsmanship, and will pay dividends for years to come.”

In 2005, Tom Emmett Maloney, Tom James Maloney’s son, assumed the role of president and sole owner of the company making him the third generation owner. Tom Emmett is a life-long resident of Alhambra and graduate of Alhambra High School. His daughters, Megan and Mor-gan, were raised in the Alhambra School District and continued their education at Pasadena City College. He is also on the Alhambra Planning Commission and has spent eight years as the Parks and Recreation commissioner for the City of Alhambra.

“While remodeling has taken a bigger portion of our time, we still pride ourselves on our plumbing service,” said Tom James. The business serves the San Gabriel Valley, with Alhambra as their base for their busi-

ness. With a 1,000-square-foot showroom where they have been since 1978, they also have two warehouses for their bulk product.

“Everything we make is custom built,” said Tom James. “The quality shows compared to something modular that will begin to fall apart in five or 10 years.”

“What makes us different from other contractor services in the industry is our integrity and standard of service,” said Tom James. “We live on those; that’s our repeat customers because we advertise very little. Word of mouth is our main asset.”

The family business participates in the community food drive event each November for Union Station. Customers participate with donations to help those in need, which include homeless, battered women, families, and children.

“Our company has been in business here in Alhambra for the last 67 years. We have many great memories and have made many friends and customers,” said Tom James. “We look forward to being of service to our city and customers in the future.”

E.L. Maloney is open by appointment only by phoning 626-289-0228. Visit them online at http://elmaloney.com/. Follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/E-L-Maloney-Construction/.

“Our company has been in business here in Alhambra for the last 67 years. We have many great memories and have made many friends and customers,” said Tom James Maloney. His son, Tom Emmett Maloney, is on the left.

Heritage

Big T’s Mini Mart, 240 W. Main St., Alhambra, celebrated its grand opening on May 4. Alhambra’s newest convenience store “offers you all of the market items you need.” From left are Frank Chen, Alhambra Chamber Immediate Past President; Councilmember Stephen Sham; Big T’s Mini Mart owners Trent and April Yamauchi; Councilmember Steve Placido, D.D.S.; and store manager Eric Ohye.

WELCOME OURNew CHAMBER MEMBERS!

Bleu Physical Therapy1819 W. Valley Blvd., Unit BAlhambra, CA 91803626-988-6211www.bleutherapy.comBleu Physical Therapy strives to provide the best physical therapy posible, focusing on improving the quality of life, relieving pain, and bettering lives with the highest quality state-of-the-art physical therapy.

Neil’s Express Automotive, Inc.700 S. Garfield Ave.Alhambra, CA 91801626-284-3214www.neilsexpressauto.comNeil’s Express Automotive Inc. is a family-owned and operated auto repair and truck repair shop that has been in business since 1949. It offers a comfortable atmosphere, where all employees treat customers with respect and treat every vehicle with great care.

There will be no mixer this month

Please join the Chamber at its

112th Installation Dinner6 p.m., Friday, June 26

Almansor Court700 S. Almansor St.

The Alhambra Chamber of Commerce presented a New Member Breakfast on May 20 at the Chamber. The New Member Breakfasts offer new members a chance to meet the Chamber staff, speak about their businesses, and learn about Chamber services, such as advertising in the Chamber’s newspaper, Around Alhambra; business referrals; ribbon cuttings; services the City provides; and Chamber activities, such as the Business Expo, golf tournament, and more. Marketing Director Stan Yonemoto welcomes the new members.

16A CHAMBER NEWS AROUND ALHAMBRA 06/2015

Big T Mini Mart is newest addition to Main Street

Big T Mini Mart, Alhambra’s newest addi-tion to Main Street, officially opened on May 2 to offer a fresh experience to Alhambra’s local convenience store customers.

With upscale TV menu boards featuring news, sports, or radio throughout the day, this store is stocked with not only every day quick snacks and sodas but with upscale convenience items such as fresh sandwiches, restaurant style nachos, and premium drinks. “We feature normal and upscale items,” said co-owner, Trent Yamauchi. “It’s the best of everything, the greatest snack food destination for anyone in the city.”

Mr. Yamauchi worked in his family’s vending business for 15 years before deciding to open Big T Mini Mart. The building was originally a Payless shoe store and many Chi-nese restaurants after that. “When I saw the for lease sign, I jumped at the opportunity,” said Mr. Yamauchi. “There really aren’t that many places where you can walk to a convenience

store in this community.” Mr. Yamauchi leased the store as is, and

hired a contractor who built the store to order in about a month’s time. His brothers support-ed him by coming together with each other’s strengths and helped with budgeting, IT tech, and security for the store.

“Everyone loves convenience stores,” said Mr. Yamauchi. “Everything in here is fun: getting snacks, watching a ballgame, getting a big gulp. I loved doing that as a kid.”

The store includes 12 feet of grocery items, a dedicated cooler for eggs, butter, cheese, bacon, and other staples, and Mr. Yamauchi plans to carry fresh fruit items in the future. There are eight employees, and they serve their customers in English, Spanish, and Chinese.

Customers may make requests for items that are not currently on the shelves, and the store will do its best to get the items in. “I love giving people a selection,” said Mr. Yamauchi.

“I started this business because, obviously,

Co-owners Trent and April Yamauchi were excited to plan their official grand opening to celebrate the opening of Big T Mini Mart.

it’s my dream,” said Mr. Yamauchi. “I wanted to be my own boss. But I want to take care of my employees, make the people around me happy, and fill a need in downtown Alhambra, and it’s something that I’ve delivered to them in a beautiful package.”

Big T Mini Mart is located at 240

W. Main St, Suite B/C. It is open daily from 6 to 11 p.m. The phone number is 626-289-2448. The Web site is http://www.bigtminimart.com/. Follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Big-T-Mini-Mart/1582415085363309.

Split-roll property tax fight could be important 2016 election issueBY OWEN GUENTHARD, LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS COMMITTEEALHAMBRA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The California public employee unions and a coalition of political activists are reported to likely qualify a ballot initiative which may reform a large portion of Proposition 13 that was passed in 1978. If successful, the split-roll tax initiative

would most likely result in a huge increase in commercial property taxes that would only be passed on to California consumers in the form of higher prices. Residential and farm land would not be effected if the proposed revisions take place.

The coalition behind the proposed ini-tiative is believed to be led by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU)

and the California Teachers Association (CTA). If successful, proponents for the change say they want to use the increased tax revenues for infrastructure and schools.

One of the leading opponents of this measure is expected to be the California Business Roundtable (CBR) who would argue that Prop. 13 currently offers important certainty and predictability to

businesses that already pay higher taxes and fees than businesses in other states. Since the passage of Prop. 13, the negative trend which saw businesses and residents exiting California to states like Texas, Arizona, and Nevada has been slowed.

The Alhambra Chamber of Commerce will closely monitor and report on the status and progress of this important issue.

The Chamber’s Lunch & Learn seminar on May 21 was presented by Geoffrey Noonan, special agent with the U.S. Secret Service. The topic was Securing Sales in Retail: Safeguarding Your Point-Of-Sale System. Lunch & Learn is offered from noon to 1:30 p.m. the third Thursday of each month, providing educational seminars pertinent to small businesses.

Main Street Jewelry & Watches, 210 W. Main St., Alhambra, had its grand opening and ribbon cutting on May 21. The store specializes in silver vintage pieces from the ‘40s and ‘50s from Mexico and offers a diverse selection of Tiffany items; a collection of new and used watches, including high-end Rolex, Omegas, and Timex; and much more. Co-owner Vartan Kojobabian is a Swiss Certified Watch Maker. From left are co-owners Mr. Kojobabian and David Alvarez and Chamber Legislative Affairs Director Owen Guenthard.

06/2015 COMMUNITY NEWS AROUND ALHAMBRA 17A

Ramona Convent Secondary School receives $100,000 grant from Shea Properties

Ramona Convent Secondary School has received a $100,000 grant from Shea Properties. The donation will provide for significant technology improvements to the school, including the installation of Wi-Fi across the campus and in classrooms.

“Shea Properties is honored to support the students and staff of Ramona Convent Secondary School through this technology grant,” said Andres Friedman, Vice Presi-dent of Acquisitions and Development at Shea Properties. “This grant will maximize the resources and learning tools used to provide the best possible education and promote academic excellence.”

“Technology is a necessity in the curriculum offered to today’s students,” said Sister Kathleen Callaway, SNJM, president of Ramona Convent Secondary School. “It is not simply about having more devices in the classroom but about using them effectively as tools to enhance student learning. We are grateful for the donation from Shea Properties and for the educational advantage it will provide for our students and faculty.”

Shea Properties previously donated building and classroom improvements for All Souls School’s Chinese and Spanish Language Immersion program.

Shea Properties is building Alhambra Place, a new mixed-use retail and apart-ment project located on Main and Gar-field in the heart of Downtown Alhambra. The project began construction on the 140,000-square-foot specialty retail and dining space in the fall of 2014 and is ex-pected to reach completion in the summer of 2015. Construction of the apartments has begun, with the first units scheduled to be available in the fall of 2016.

For more information, visit www.sheaproperties.com.

About Shea Properties Shea Properties, headquartered in Aliso

Viejo, Calif., is a diversified real estate company responsible for the acquisition, design, development, construction, and management of business parks, shopping centers, apartment communities, and mixed-use environments. Since beginning operations in 1977, annual revenues have grown steadily to more than $250 million, while the overall value of the portfolio has grown to more than $3 billion. Shea Prop-erties owns and operates approximately 6,500 apartment units and 5 million square feet of office, industrial, and retail space in California and Colorado. Shea Properties has nearly $1 billion in devel-opment projects underway.

Soroptimists invite community to view film Girl Rising

Soroptimist International Alhambra, San Gabriel, San Marino invites the com-munity to join them on the Red Carpet for a screening of the documentary film Girl Rising at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, June 28, at the historic Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd. Glendale.

This groundbreaking film, already seen by millions, is the centerpiece of a global campaign to educate and empower girls. Around the world, millions of girls face barriers to education that boys do not. And yet when a girl is educated, the cycles of poverty are broken in just one generation. Find out how educating girls can change the world, and learn how to make a difference.

The film is produced by award-winning ABC News journalists; narrated by Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Salma Hayek, Alicia Keys, and Meryl Streep; and features original music from Academy Award-win-ner Rachel Portman and Lorne Balfe.

Soroptimist International works world-wide for human rights and to improve the status of women. Josephine Yang, current president of Soroptimist International Alhambra, San Gabriel, San Marino, said, “Girl Rising embodies the Soroptimist goals, and I am proud and excited that our club has been given permission to screen this film.”

Everyone has the star-power to make a difference in the lives of women and girls, so all attendees will be invited to walk the red carpet and pose for the camera as they enter the theater. Tickets are $35 for VIP admission, which includes pre-screening wine and cheese reception; $25 for gen-eral admission; and $15 for children and students.

More information about tickets and the program can be found at www.SIAl-hambra.org or www.alextheatre.org. All proceeds from this event will be used for programs that support women and girls.

The Taste of Alhambra event will not be offered anymore.

Thanks to the community for all of the support!For more information, phone the

Chamber at 626-282-8481

18A COMMUNITY NEWS AROUND ALHAMBRA 06/2015

Wells Fargo works for small business;offers free business planning tools, resources2015 Wells Fargo Works Project Contest runs through June 30

Wells Fargo is also an-nouncing other initiatives to expand the support it offers small business owners through Wells Fargo Works for Small Business. These include:

• Wells Fargo Works Project National Contest. For the second year, Wells Fargo is inviting eligible business owners to enter a nationwide contest to win $25,000 and a business

In a recent national survey, only 33% of business owners said they have a formal business plan, yet those with a plan also have significantly higher expectations for the year ahead than those without. These results were among survey findings point-ing to the value of business plans as Wells Fargo introduces The Business Plan Center, a new Wells Fargo Works for Small Business offering that provides online tools to help business owners create and update their own business plans.

In the January Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index survey, business owners who said they had a formal, written plan reported much greater optimism for 2015 — their future outlook score (+51) was 12 points higher than business owners without a plan (+39) and 8 points higher than business owners overall (+43). Further, those business owners with plans compared to those without were more likely to report that in the next 12 months they expect to:

• Increase jobs at their businesses (32% of business owners with plans vs. 19% of business owners without plans).

• Grow revenues (62% vs. 51%).• Increase capital spending (39% vs.

28%).• Apply for new credit (26% vs. 14%).In an effort to provide business owners

with a simple, convenient way to create or revise business plans, Wells Fargo is launching The Business Plan Center, a free, online resource now available on Wells-FargoWorks.com. The Center features the Business Plan Tool, a step-by-step guide to

develop a written business plan. It also of-fers a Competitive Intelligence Tool, which provides business owners with key insight on competitors and the market for their businesses that can be used as part of the planning process. Other interactive learning resources on the new Center include videos, articles, and infographics covering essential elements of a business plan.

“Every business — big or small — needs a plan. We know from research and our direct experience working with business owners that a formal, written business plan is the foundation for long-term financial success,” said Lisa Stevens, Wells Fargo’s head of Small Business. “Many business owners have business plans in their heads. We want to help every business owner put a plan in writing, if they don’t have one al-ready, so they have a guide to organize their goals, improve decision-making, and focus on activities that will help their business thrive.”

The new Business Plan Tool will enable business owners to develop and update writ-ten plans that include a high-level summary of the business; an overview of business history, structure, and management, and its current and planned products and services; a detailed marketing plan; and market and competitive analyses. It also will allow business owners to enter financial data — such as starting balances, fixed assets and liabilities, sales forecasts, and expenses. The tool will generate financial statements, such as a detailed cash flow statement, profit-and-loss statement and balance sheet.

mentorship opportunity. To enter, business owners must submit a 2-1/2 minute video or 600-word essay with a photo responding to questions about their business. Twen-ty-five finalists will be selected to each receive $1,000 for their business. Five grand prize winners will be selected from the 25 finalists to receive $25,000 each for their business. The contest began May 1 and runs through June 30, and winners will be announced in September. View Webisodes from last year’s finalists to see how they’ve taken their business to the next level since participating in the contest.

• New and enhanced content on WellsFargoWorks.com.The online learn-ing resource will feature videos, articles, and infographics on the importance of creating and updating business plans, as well as offer useful tips on how to approach building a plan. Later in the year, Webinars will be available, focusing on the key components of a business plan, such as marketing, legal,

and finance. The expanded site includes hundreds of informational articles and videos, featuring financial guidance from small business experts.

• Small Business appreciation offers. Through the end of June, Wells Fargo will conduct its annual Small Business appreci-ation celebration. The event celebrates the accomplishments of small businesses and provides business owners with time- and money-saving offers on several products and services, including Wells Fargo’s Busi-ness Platinum Credit Card with Rewards and Merchant Services and Business Payroll Services products.

To help more small businesses achieve financial success, Wells Fargo introduced Wells Fargo Worksfor Small Business — a broad initiative to deliver resources, guid-ance, and services for business owners. For more information about Wells Fargo Works for Small Business, visit WellsFargoWorks.com and on Twitter @WellsFargoWorks.


Ramona Convent helps host Girls’ School Advantage event

On May 4, Ramona Convent partnered with the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools (NCGS), along with nine other member schools, and hosted the annual Girls’ School Advantage event at Mount St. Mary’s University, Chalon Campus, in Los Angeles.

Participating NCGS member schools included Archer School for Girls, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, Girls Academic Leadership Academy, Immaculate Heart High School, Louisville High School, Marlborough School, Marymount High School, Vivian Webb, Westridge School, and Ramona Convent.

Nearly 200 attendees learned about the benefits of an all-girls education and the wide variety of girls’ schools in Los Angeles area. Presenters included opening remarks from NCGS Director of Strategic Commu-nications & Research Olivia Haas, keynote speaker Dr. Linda J. Sax of UCLA’s Higher Education Research Institute, and a Q&A panel of student representatives from each of the participating schools. Ramona’s Ris-ing Senior, Channing Orange, represented Ramona.

Guests’ comment cards overwhelmingly praised the effectiveness of the student panelists. Channing shared many personal

testimonials such as, “Going to an all girls’ school, you are empowered with your sisters. They are all there to encourage you, no matter what. We are all one big family.” Channing said that her “childhood dream was to become a police officer and that she wants to study criminal justice with a minor in public relations in the hopes of changing the community for the better.”

The event concluded with a school fair where administrators, student panelists, and parents of current students were available to answer school-specific questions. Ramona was represented by a table made up of alums and future alums: Veronica Puente-Smith ‘79, Director of Enrollment and PR; Ve-ronica Fernandez, ‘00, Associate Director of Enrollment and PR; Carla Rivera ‘04; Tori Concepcion ‘17; and Kathleen Ngo ‘18.

Ramona Convent is a school for girls in grades nine through 12 that is set apart by a rich curriculum, expansive selection of college preparatory and AP/honors courses, comprehensive co-curricular programs, and a welcoming community. Students travel through four years of high school with the support of spirited friends and expert, car-ing, and engaged teachers while surrounded by the inspiring beauty of a park-like campus.

Ramona Convent School students Kathleen Ngo ‘18, Channing Orange ‘16, and Tori Concepcion ‘17 attended the annual Girls’ School Advantage event on May 4.

Jayvee invites community to dance like no one is watching

Summer is just around the corner, and Jayvee Dance Center is giving the com-munity the chance to learn funky dance moves and make new friends.

“Jayvee has offered dance classes for children ages 2 to adult for 10 years. With guest instructors who have worked on America’s Best Dance Crew, Ellen, So You Think You Can Dance, and artists such as Pussy Cat Dolls, Snoop Dogg, and Beyonce, Jayvee Dance continues to

bring in cream-of-the-crop instructors to provide quality dance instruction to our community. They welcome all ages and all skill levels, so don’t be shy,” said Studio Manager Tu DeVera.

Register for the studio’s summer session and ask about the Youth Special. More information is available at the front desk of Jayvee Dance Center at 216 E. Main St.

For more information, phone 626-281-JVJV (5858).

Learn to funky dance at Jayvee Dance Center this summer.


Milestone 2015: Real Stories of East LA features major re-design

Milestone is the annual literary arts journal that has been pub-lished by East Los Angeles Col-lege since 1945, representing the voices of ELAC through fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and art. The current issue, with submissions from students and the communi-ty featuring not only poetry and prose but creative artwork and stunning photographs, features a major re-design as it shifts to a purely student-driven staff that has helped launch Milestone into the 21st century by means of social media and a streamlined submission process via Milestone.Submittable.com.

Milestone is available to the public not only on campus at the ELAC Student Store, but also at Stories Books and Café in Echo Park,1716 W. Sunset. The issue is $10 and will provide readers with many hours of enjoyment and challenges as they take in the efforts of mostly younger people as they share their views of the world in and around Los Angeles.

The views are heartfelt and ex-pressed in a variety of ways: short stories, poems, memoirs, and even in often-humorous stories that are told in just six words, such as in the Six Word Story Contest winner’s “Life is bland without salsa,” by Irving Grey Angeles, and thought-provoking as in a near-winner’s “Sad beginning confusing middle happy ending,” by Inffanyt.

One noted former student in-cluded in the new Milestone is Luis J. Rodriguez, who was a student in

Milestone 2015: Real Stories of East LA features submissions from students and the community.

1979 when his essay “La Veinte-Nueve” first appeared in Milestone – a reading of which brings to mind the headline stories that appear in newspapers practically every day. Mr. Rodriguez is an accomplished author, currently serving as Poet Laureate of Los Angeles, and his appearance in this student-dominated publication may well encourage some of the included authors to think about how their creative futures might develop.

The student contributors are briefly introduced in the closing Milestone pages, from Joshua Castro’s (Mr. Castro is on the staff of Milestone and a graduate of Alhambra High School) “I’m 27, born in CA. That’s all” to more lengthy personal descriptions, all delight-fully readable and foreshadowing the authors’ possibly imminent literary careers.

Those interested in the arts and the contributions on those noble subjects by a younger generation should pick up a spring 2015 copy of Milestone before the 2016 edition makes its appearance, and get to know the next generation of would-be authors and concerned citizens.

Alhambra couple’s nominee wins Extraordinary Healer AwardOncology Nurse Laura J. Vasquez receives national award

CURE magazine annually solicits input from their readers for nominations for their Extraordinary Healer Award for Oncology Nursing, asking their readers to describe the compassion, expertise, and helpfulness that a special oncology nurse has exhibited.

Anthony Weiner (owner of Wendy’s in Alhambra) and his wife, Denise, suffered the greatest pain that parents can feel when their daughter Alexa, just four years old, was diagnosed with brain cancer. Through several years of treatment at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, the family learned to respect and honor Oncology Nurse Laura J. Vasquez. They nominated her for the Extraordinary Healer award.

“To say that Laura went above and beyond the duties of a pediatric oncology nurse is an enormous understatement,” said Mrs. Weiner in her award nomination statement.

Ms. Weiner said there was an instant connection with Ms. Vasquez when Alexa was first admitted to Children’s Hospital a day before her 5th birthday, and that

the nurse’s compassion, together with her nursing knowledge, led Alexa to trust her. “She was the only person in the hospital who could give Alexa a shot without complaint.”

“We really teach them that you can still be a kid, just one getting chemo and dealing with this diagnosis,” Ms. Vasquez said. “They just want to be kids.”

The Weiners’ gratitude and respect for Nurse Vasquez’s treatment of Alexa, espe-cially expressed in their heartfelt essay of nomination, led to Ms. Vasquez winning the 2015 Extraordinary Healer Award for Oncology Nursing.

Ms. Vasquez was honored at the recent Oncology Nursing Society’s Annual Congress in Orlando, Florida, attended by nearly a thousand nurses from across the country and by patients, survivors, and peers, including Anthony and Denise Weiner.

“There just aren’t enough words to show our family’s gratitude,” said Mr. and Mrs. Weiner.


In lieu of flowers, Daniel Raymond Johnson family gives back to YMCA

On April 25, the YMCA of West San Gabriel Valley honored the family of Daniel Raymond Johnson by hosting a memorial to celebrate his life. Mr. John-son loved the Y, so the family decided to donate to the YMCA in lieu of flowers. Donations in small and large increments were received in his memory. He was born on Feb. 26, 1926, and died on March 2, 2015.

Mr. Johnson was a longtime member and friend of the YMCA. Family, friends, and members of the YMCA joined to celebrate and honor the legacy that Mr. Johnson left both for the YMCA and in the many lives that he touched.

Valarie Gomez, CEO of the YMCA, gave a heartfelt speech for Daniel Johnson. She thanked the family for allowing them to share his life and legacy with the YMCA family. “His positive attitude and kindness and mentoring of our staff and encour-agement to our members was endearing and inspiring,” said Ms. Gomez. She told how Mr. and Mrs. Johnson shared stories around the lunch table of how they met as a young couple and raised their children. Referring to the Johnson family, Ms. Go-mez said, “We knew you before we met each and every one of you.”

Mr. Johnson was a Navy veteran who after leaving the military joined the Los Angeles Police Department. After seven years as an officer, he was accepted into South Western Law School where he passed the bar in 1961 and joined the L.A. County District Attorney’s office as a Deputy District Attorney.

Mr. Johnson was physically active and had been active in the YMCA since he was a young boy. “He’s always had a special place in his heart for the Y,” said Gary Wong, Mr. Johnson’s son. “Since the Y has always been a big part of his life, the family decided to have his memorial at the YMCA so that the Y family could also celebrate his life. We had no idea how big the response would be.”

“Dad was always very active; the family ran the 10 K and would always exercise together,” said son Brian Johnson. “He taught us about life-long fitness, but as he got older he lost his balance, so to be able to exercise he started to swim. He com-peted in senior Olympics and won gold medals in his age category, so swimming was a way to continue his belief in life long fitness.”

The dedication was meaningful to the entire family, and all who attended were

generous with donations.“My Dad is my hero,” said daughter

Mary Genovia. “In the 54 years I’ve known him, I can honestly say I have nev-er heard him say anything negative about anyone.” When asked how he felt about the YMCA, Mrs. Genovia responded, “The YMCA was his life; he lived to come to the YMCA and the people here were family to him. They never denied him his passion.”

“Dad was a very humble, smart man,” said son Danny Johnson. “He was a great father and friend; he was a great man, and he was that way to everyone. There will be a big hole in our life now that he’s gone. He loved people, and he loved helping. That is his legacy.”

“Dan was a man who came into our lives, energized and excited to swim,” said Ms. Gomez. “But he energized and excited us with the joy that he shared each and every day on how he was inspired to come here to the Y. We are grateful for the man who continued to come and live abundantly in our community. Mr. Johnson will always be in our hearts and in our community.”

The donations to the Y continue, and to date, the Y has received $13,000.

Daniel Raymond Johnson was a Navy veteran who after leaving the military joined the Los Angeles Police Department. After seven years as an officer, he was accepted into South Western Law School where he passed the bar in 1961 and joined the L.A. County District Attorney’s office as a Deputy District Attorney.

To Advertise in Around Alhambra call 626-282-8481


To inquire about these adoptable animals, contact the San Gabriel Valley Humane Society at 626-286-1159, or visit at 851 E. Grand Ave., San Gabriel. Adoption hours are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. The shelter is closed on Mondays. Directions and photos of many more dogs and cats can be found online at www.sgvhumane.org.

The adoption fee for cats is $99, which includes spay/neu-ter, vaccinations, de-worming, FIV/FELV/heartworm testing, and microchip. A $120-$135 dog adoption fee includes microchip, vaccinations, spay/neuter surgery, and de-worm-ing, as well as a free health check-up at a participating vet (some breeds slightly higher).

Take advantage of the new cat adoption program to cele-

brate kitten season. The “Me and My Shadow” companion adoption program allows pet adopters to have “twice the fun at a third of the cost.” When adopters take a second kitty, who must be “black like a shadow,” the cost is only $29.

Save money with the Bud-dy Program. Adopt two pets at the same time for a reduced fee.

The Senior for Senior Pro-gram offers pets for $39 each.

The San Gabriel Valley Humane Society is the local, affordable choice for spay and neuter, vaccinations, and TNR (trap, neuter, and re-lease) for feral cats. Check out the Web site for information on the adoptable pets and adoption programs: www.sgvhumane.org.

Templeton is a gentle cat who can be very timid. Approach him calmly to gain his trust and spend a few minutes with him. He loves to snuggle with his cat friends and is very affectionate toward them. He has a playful nature and loves to jump in and out of cardboard boxes and surprise his friends as they pass by. Come visit him in Meow Manor and see what a loving pet he can be.

Domestic short hair mix • Adult • Male • Medium • ID#5723

Timo is a friendly fellow with striking eyes. One is ice blue and the other is sable brown. Timo likes his walks, exploring as he goes along, sniffing and chasing leaves. He has a pleasant medium energy level. Sit down on the grass, and Timo will sit still and quiet on his walker’s lap while he watches the activity around him. Timo needs some reinforcement with commands so he will be the good companion and family member he is destined to be. Please stop by and meet Timo.

Shenzi is a spunky little girl with a great personality. She is friendly with people and other dogs, and she loves to play. She enjoys going for walks and is easy to handle on leash. She is very responsive to her walker and willing to please. Shenzi has a happy disposition that will make her a wonderful member of a lucky family. Please come in to meet Shenzi and see if she is the one.

American Staffordshire terrier • Adult • Male • Large • ID#14938

Chihuahua mix• Adult • Female • Small • ID#15504

AYSO Region 60, Alhambra Boys U-10 Team wins championship

Front row: Coach Oscar Reynoso Sr., Emilio Reynoso, Jacob Hardwick, Alex Palmer, and Elvin Yang.Second row: Osami Maciel, Ryan Vazquez, Jonathen Martinez, Jayden Sanchez, and Ivan Manzanilla.In the back is Coach Julio Sanchez.

The Alhambra’s Boys U-10 team, coached by Oscar Reynosa Sr., Julio Sanchez, and assistant Oscar Reynoso Jr., was one of three teams that represented the City of Alhambra and the only U-10 team that made it through to win the cham-pionship by beating Arcadia’s team 4 – 2. The City of Alhambra Cheetahs was their nickname because of their speed and soccer skills.

“Alhambra, the team in blue, showed up for practices and gave it their best whether they had a win or loss. Some games were a little tougher than others because one or two players were missing; however, they played with passion and dedication nonetheless. The bloody noses, bee stings, heat, conflicts in schedules, and weekly changes in weather and locations were not obstacles; they just loved playing and being around their teammates,” said Coach Reynosa Sr.

Coaches positioned each player based on their strengths and rotated each player as necessary. Par-ents said, “Listen to your coach,” “Keep focused, kick hard,” and they praised each player at every pass, goal attempt, and especially when a goal was scored. “I just can’t sit,” said one mom. “I get too

excited.” Cheering and high fives were exchanged at the end of each game.

“I have good news and bad news; the bad news is you lost the game today, and the good news is you’re in the playoffs,” said Coach Sanchez at the last match. The Alhambra team, despite some loses, had placed for semifinals. It wasn’t over yet. One more practice was scheduled for the following week before the big game. Each player was deter-mined and had an unwavering winning attitude.

Saturday morning they were firm on winning the quarter finals and defeated Pasadena at Muir High School in Pasadena. Alhambra moved on to the semifinals Sunday morning. They won again against Glendale. “The excitement was electrify-ing,” said Coach Reynosa Jr. Alhambra U10 had only one more team to overthrow, Arcadia.

“They all played tough and gave it their best, but Alhambra was much too fast and executed great passes to score the final goals conquering Arcadia 4-2,” said Coach Sanchez. “We could not be prouder of the Alhambra blue team. Dreams do come true. They got the championship medals. It was a tremendous celebration.”

Granada Park United Methodist Nursery School & Kindergarten celebrates 49 years of community service

Granada Park United Methodist Nursery School & Kindergarten first opened its doors in 1966. The school’s goal has been to supplement the home in meeting the physical, emotional, social, intellectual, and spiritual needs of children and to help each child develop his or her self-esteem. “We foster an awareness of God’s love and care while providing supervised opportunities for each child to develop his or her creative abilities,” said Director Theresa Laib.

Granada Park United Methodist Nursery School & Kindergarten supports families through sharing information to promote parent education.

“Over the years, we have successfully accomplished our goals because we love and accept children as they are; use exploration and discovery as a learning tool; provide opportunity and encourage verbal expression; offer an open classroom atmosphere to encourage children to make choices; and offer experience in art, music, language art, creative movement, science, cook-ing, pre-reading, and math activities. We believe active

play is vital for both mental and physical development. We protect and nurture the self-esteem of each child and use all senses that involve the total child learning development,” said Mrs. Laib.

Granada Park United Methodist Nursery School & Kindergarten is a non-profit school catering year-round to preschool and kindergarten children. There is multi-lingual capability in English, Spanish, and Cantonese. The school is staffed by teachers specializing in early childhood education. They have been selected for their warmth and understanding of children, their creativity, enthusiasm, and their ability to work closely with the parents to meet the individual needs of the student.

Many of the teachers have a degree in early child development. Teachers without degrees are required to have a minimum of 12 units of early childhood edu-cation training. All staff members have valid pediatric CPR/first aid certificates, health and CRB (criminal record bureau) checks. The school is located at 1850 W. Hellman Ave., Alhambra 91803.

Granada Park United Methodist Nursery School & Kindergarten is a non-profit school catering year-round to preschool and kindergarten children.

For more information, e-mail [email protected] or visit the Web site at www.gpumnsk.org.

For enrollment information, phone 626-284-5006. Financial assistance may be available through Options and Gain programs.

Now accepting registration for the Summer Program and Fall Program: pre-school, pre-K, and kindergarten.


June 1 – MondayPlanning Commission7 p.m., City Hall, council chambers 111 S. First St.

June 2 – Tuesday• Alhambra Chamber Executive Committee 8:30 a.m. Alhambra Chamber, 104 S. First St.• HUD - Housing Committee 7 p.m. - City Hall, conference room 111 S. First St.

June 4 – ThursdayParks and Recreation Commission7 p.m., Joslyn Center, Story Park 210 N. Chapel Ave.

June 8 – MondayCity Council, 7 p.m. City Hall, 111 S. First St.

June 9 – Tuesday• Alhambra Chamber Board of Directors 8:30 a.m., Alhambra Chamber, 104 S. First St.• Library Board of Trustees 6 p.m., library boardroom, 101 S. First St. • Youth Commission 6 p.m., library boardroom, 101 S. First St.• Coordinating Council 6:30 p.m. Alhambra Civic Center Library, Reese Hall, 101 S. First St.• Design Review Board 7:30 p.m., City Hall, conference room 111 S. First St.

June 15 – MondayPlanning Commission7 p.m., City Hall, council chambers111 S. First St.

Alhambra Service Clubs and OrganizationsTuesday: The Exchange Club meets at 12:30 p.m. every Tuesday at Almansor Court, 700 S. Almansor St., Alhambra. The Rotary Club and Soroptimist Club meet at noon every Tuesday at Almansor Court. The Civitan Club meets at noon every first and third Tuesdays at Azteca Restaurant, 717 S. San Gabriel Blvd., San Gabriel. The Kiwanis Club of Alhambra meets at 5 p.m. the first and third Tuesdays at noon at Denny’s Restaurant, 369 W. Main St., Alhambra (for information, phone 626-943-2542). Wednesday: The Alhambra Historical Society presents its program meetings at 7 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of January, March, May, September, and November (November meeting takes place after Thanksgiving) at the Masonic Center, 9 W. Woodward Ave. The Alhambra Woman’s Club meets at noon on the first Wednesday each month (except for June through Sept.), at the Masonic Center, 9 W. Woodward Ave. Toastmasters meets from 6:45 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays each month at the Colonial Kitchen Restaurant, 1110 Huntington Drive, San Marino. The League of Women Voters meets on the third Wednesday each month (626-798-0965 for info.). The Lions Club meets at 6:15 p.m. on the third Wednesday each month at the Regent Café, 1411 S. Garfield Ave., Alhambra. Thursday: American Legion Post 139 meets at 7 p.m. on the first Thursday each month at the Legion Hall, 24 N. Stoneman Ave., Alhambra. San Gabriel Valley New Generation Rotary Club meets from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. every Thursday at Fronteras Mexican Grill & Cantina, 118 W. Main St., Alhambra.

Community Calendar of Events

JULYJUNE June 17 – Wednesday• Arts & Cultural Events Committee 7p.m., City Hall, conference room 111 S. First St.• Survivors of Murdered Children, SGV Chapter 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Third Wednesday of each month Alhambra Police Department 211 S. First St., room EDC on second floor Contact Tina Yamashiro at 626-298-9054 or

[email protected]

June 18 – ThursdayNo Chamber Lunch & Learn Program in June and July

June 19 – FridayRotary Club of Alhambra Demotion DinnerAltadena Country Club

June 22 – MondayCity Council, 7 p.m. City Hall, 111 S. First St.

June 23 – Tuesday• Government Affairs Committee 9 a.m., Chamber, 104 S. First St.• Design Review Board 7:30 p.m., City Hall, conference room 111 S. First St.

June 24 – WednesdayNo mixer this monthJoin the Chamber for its 112th Installation Dinner on

Friday, June 26

June 26 – FridayChamber’s 112th Installation DinnerAlmansor Court, 700 S. Almansor St.6 p.m. Cocktails7 p.m. Dinner$65 per person

July 2 – ThursdayParks and Recreation Commission7 p.m., Joslyn Center, Story Park 210 N. Chapel Ave.

July 4 – Saturday City of Alhambra’s annual Fourth of July event2 p.m. at Almansor Park, 800 S. Almansor St.Food vendors, entertainment, family activities, and

carnival gamesFireworks begin at 9 p.m.

July 6 – MondayPlanning Commission7 p.m., City Hall, council chambers, 111 S. First St.

July 7 – Tuesday• Alhambra Chamber Executive Committee 8:30 a.m. Alhambra Chamber, 104 S. First St. • HUD - Housing Committee 7 p.m. - City Hall, conference room 111 S. First St.

July 8 – WednesdayTransportation Committee7 p.m., City Hall, conference room 111 S. First St.

July 13 – MondayAlhambra City Council, 7 p.m. City Hall, 111 S. First St.

July 14 – Tuesday• Alhambra Chamber Board of Directors 8:30 a.m., Alhambra Chamber, 104 S. First St.• Library Board of Trustees 6 p.m., library boardroom, 101 S. First St.• Youth Commission 6 p.m., library boardroom, 101 S. First St.• Design Review Board 7:30 p.m., City Hall, conference room 111 S. First St.

July 15 – Wednesday• Coordinating Council 6:30 p.m. Alhambra Civic Center Library, Reese Hall 101 S. First St.• Arts & Cultural Events Committee 7 p.m., City Hall, conference room 111 S. First St.

July 16 – ThursdayNo Chamber Lunch & Learn Program in July

July 20 – MondayPlanning Commission

July 21 – July 24Special Olympics co-hosts Alhambra and

Monterey Park are making welcoming plans to accommodate the needs, as well as ensure the health and safety and enjoyment, of the 100 delegates arriving from Germany to Southern California.

July 27 – MondayAlhambra City Council, 7 p.m. City Hall, 111 S. First St.

July 28 – Tuesday• Government Affairs Committee 9 a.m., Chamber, 104 S. First St.• Design Review Board 7:30 p.m., City Hall, conference room 111 S. First St.

July 29 – WednesdayBusiness After Hours Mixer Hosted by Tri-Star Vending690 S. Date Ave., Alhambra5:30 to 7:30 p.m.$10 members, $15 non-members

Play Day starts fun summer with family, friends at All Souls World Language Catholic School

Play Day will take place Saturday, June 6, for families with children 4 to 8 years old at All Souls World Language Catholic School, 29 S. Electric Ave., Alhambra.

The school will be open for families join-ing the community in August as well as for prospective families looking to learn more about All Souls’ unique dual language programs.

Second-grade student Elizabeth Martinez uses her recess time to create a masterpiece.

“Reservations are not required. Children and their parents may also tour the school rooms and talk to teachers to see first-hand what dual language immersion classrooms look like, and we’ll be happy to answer any questions they may have,” said Principal Carrie Fuller.

Enrollment at All Souls has grown steadi-ly during the last three years. Through the efforts of the Family Guild, a new art room has been added and the first annual student art showcase will take place in early June. During the Play Day on June 6, exhibited work will be displayed so that visiting fami-lies can take an art walk through the gallery and enjoy the creativity of the young artists.

All Souls will be open throughout sum-

mer vacation and will offer weekly tours.The annual Play Day will offer get-to-

know-you activities and makes it easy for children to make friends. A book fair with books in English and Spanish will be open during the Play Day so parents can see their child’s summer reading will include quality books that reinforce the language skills they acquired this school year.

“All Souls is the first elementary school in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to offer two dual language immersion programs: Spanish-English and Mandarin-English,” said Principal Fuller.

For more information, go to www.allsouls.la, or follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/allsouls.la.

24A ACADEMIC NEWS AROUND ALHAMBRA 06/2015








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The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors honored the Mark Keppel H.S. Zero Robotics Club on May19 at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration. Los Angeles County Board Supervisor, Fifth District, and Mayor Michael Antonovich invited the students and staff, including Principal Jacinth Cisneros, teacher mentor Ellen Hake, and the Alhambra Unified School District Board of Education for the ceremony. The Robotics Club, composed of freshmen and sophomores, was the Virtual Champion of the 2014 Zero Robotics H.S. Tournament sponsored by NASA and MIT. Los Angeles County Board Supervisor, First District, Hilda Solis said, “I want to say congratulations to Mark Keppel High School. I remember fondly representing them in the state senate, in congress, and now again on the Board of Supervisors. We all share your success. Go Aztecs!”

Fremont Elementary School students plant American Heart Association

Teaching Garden to celebrate Earth Day

The Teaching Garden, which has been flourishing throughout Los Angeles, is part of an effort to fight childhood obesity and build healthier schools, families, and communities. Developed using American Heart Association science and nutritional guidelines as well as information from gardening and education experts, the program is a real-life laboratory where students learn how to plant seeds, nurture growing plants, harvest produce, and ultimately understand the value of good eating habits. Fremont’s Teaching Garden kickoff celebration began with a ribbon

cutting, garden dedication, and remarks by Principal Dr. Ignacio Muniz. Then students from transitional kindergarten to fifth grade transported soil, planted, and watered. Fremont School thanks the American Heart Association and its generous sponsors for funding the Teaching Garden.

Mark Keppel Zero Robotics Club honored by Board of Supervisors

06/2015 ACADEMIC NEWS AROUND ALHAMBRA 25A

Alhambra High School hosts Northrup Middle School Career and College Day

As eighth-graders, most students do not have solid ideas about what to study in col-lege, where to go, and what to do as a career. William Northrup Elementary School eighth- grade students got a taste of what the future holds for them at Alhambra High School.

Alhambra High School hosted a Career and College Day Fair for Northrup Elemen-tary School eighth graders on March 19. Stu-dents explored the different Career Technical Education (CTE) classrooms, the high school campus, and learned about college. Career & Technical Student Organizations (CTSO) student leaders led the CTE class tours and demonstrated outstanding leadership and mentoring skills to the young visitors.

Following the campus tours, Northrup students met with professionals at the career fair. Students learned about different career industries such as finance, business, automotive technology, child development, engineering and manufacturing design, and graphic design. Representatives came from CHASE Bank, Kerechuk Motor Service, Graceland Christian Day Care Center, Fluff Ice, Chase Design Group, Northrop Grumman, and Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA).

Data collected from Northrup students’ pre and post-tests were promising as well.

Based on the data, there was a 12.9% increase in students who indicated they planned to pursue additional education/training after high school and a 12.3% increase in students’ interested in taking CTE courses in high school.

“I was so impressed at the wonderful day that was planned by AHS for our Northrup eighth-graders!” said eighth-grade teacher Audrey Martin. “From start to finish, the students were engaged, entertained, and filled with reminders of the importance of a college education. They also received valuable input from many professionals on career choices that are available to them as they continue to grow and learn more about themselves and their preferences. AHS will be a great place for our students to develop over the next four years. It was a very productive, organized, full day, and the eighth- graders (and teachers and chaperones, too) had a great time and felt very privileged to be there.”

The Career Technical Education Depart-ment would like to thank everyone who made the event a great success. Another Career and College Fair Day took place at the end of April at Mark Keppel High School.

For more information, please contact Judy Huffaker, Career Technical Education Coordinator, 626-943-6990. Northrup students tour the wood technology class at Alhambra High School.

Northrup students learn about the different careers available with the Southern California Gas Company.

26A ACADEMIC NEWS AROUND ALHAMBRA 06/2015

Celebration of thanks at Marguerita School

It was a celebration of volunteerism at Marguerita Elementary School on April 30 with an afternoon tea reception orga-nized by the staff. Teachers, students, and administration gathered to thank parent and community volunteers for their many generous hours and effort in partnership with the school. Volunteers were present-ed with humble certificates of apprecia-

tion and a mug full of candy as they sat and enjoyed a glass of ice tea or a punch drink with home baked scones, bite sized croissant chicken sandwiches, cookies, and biscotti. Seventh- and eighth-grade students volunteered their time to serve at the tea while teachers gathered to spend a relaxing time talking with parent and community volunteers.

Marguerita parent volunteer Evelin Correa receives a certificate of appreciation from Principal Florence Goh.

Department for Community Organi-zations; Alhambra High School teacher Jennie Malonek for Education; and Mark Keppel High School PTSA member Scott Hara for Community Volunteer. The gala acknowledged several business and community organizations and individuals for their support of the Alhambra Unified School District and AEF. Congresswoman Judy Chu delivered introductory remarks praising AEF’s work and encouraging attendees to bid on auction items.

Education Honoree, Jennie Malonek, joined the AUSD in 1991 and is best known for being the coach of Alhambra’s successful Academic Decathlon team and taking them to state five times. The team has been in the Los Angeles County Top 10 high schools 17 out of her 22 years coaching. The multi-talented Ms. Malonek teaches science and also coaches the girls frosh/soph basketball team. Just this year, Ms. Malonek was also awarded with the Roberta Kordich LA County Ac-ademic Decathlon coach’s award. In her acceptance speech, Ms. Malonek spoke about the late-bloomer Albert Einstein and joked “there is still hope for me.” She praised all the educators and administra-tors in the room and said she was “very blessed to be in the best profession that there is.” She offers this Einstein quote as inspiration: ““There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”

Community Volunteer Honoree Scott Hara, an active member of the MKHS PTSA and former head of the Brightwood PTA, recounted his proudest moments in community service. He was a Statewide Board of Director of the California Mathematics, Engineering, and Science Achievement (MESA) program, in which he helped MESA meet a five-year goal in 2003 of more than 35% of its graduating seniors being UC-eligible. At Mark Keppel High School, where he co-

founded the College Program, Mr. Hara helped increase the number of National Merit Finalists and out-of-state college options, such as the Ivy Leagues. When he was president of the Brightwood PTA, the school had 940 parents out of 935 students as members and started movie and magic nights, among many other innovative programs. Mr. Hara, an Eagle Scout, is a devoted Scoutmaster and has helped 20 young men become Eagle Scouts. Mr. Hara praised all the people who have collaborated with him and concluded his acceptance speech saying, “One of the best things that comes back to me is I made so many friends in this community. We moved here 22 years ago, and this is the best decision we’ve made. So volunteer and make a difference.”

Other highlights of the evening included the silent auction that held a safari trip to Africa, a trip to Korea and China, and fine jewelry from Hikari Pearls. Cathay Bank donated 10 large gift baskets, which attendees were surprised to find tickets under their plates for. The live auction saw the trip to Waikiki — with first class round trip tickets donated by Delta Air Lines and accommodations at the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani Hotel donated by Steve and Debora Perry — fetch a $3,800 bid; and a purebred AKC Yorkshire Terrier puppy named Snickers went for $2,000.

AUSD Supt. Laura Tellez-Gagliano, Ed.D., offered her sincere thanks and gratitude to the Alhambra Educational Foundation for its generosity and contin-ued support to students. “I congratulate tonight’s well-deserving and forever-giv-ing honorees. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of our students, our schools, and our communities,” Supt. Tellez-Gagliano said.

For more information or to make a tax-deductible donation to AEF and its Music and More program, please go to www.aef4kids.com.

AEF ANNUAL DINNER From Page 1A

Jennie Malonek, center, AEF’s Education Honoree, with fellow Acadec Coach Tin Tran and his wife Sharon Tran.

06/2015 ACADEMIC NEWS AROUND ALHAMBRA 27A

Monterey Highlands celebrates 50 golden years

Featuring a ‘50s themed celebration, Monterey Highlands marked its 50th anni-versary with a plaque dedication ceremony and “healthy cake” made solely of fruit on March 5. Alumni, current and retired staff, parents, the Monterey Park Mayor, and school district administrators — some of whom taught at Highlands — joined the students. The event reunited many mem-bers of the Highlands family. School Board President Adele Andrade-Stadler, who at-tended Highlands as a child, congratulated the school, along with board member Jane Anderson, a retired Highlands teacher, who introduced the retired teachers. Among them was Lydia Chee, whose daughter Pamela Wong now teaches second grade at Highlands. PTA President Carla Holguin presented the beautiful slate plaque to Principal Dr. Debbie Kotani while the crowd cheered. The plaque showcases this year’s school achievements: California Distinguished School and National PTA School of Excellence.

The highlight of the presentation was the thousands of bubbles that everyone blew into the air at the end of the cere-mony. As a nationally recognized Healthy School, yogurt parfaits were served to all students and fruit to staff instead of cake. This healthy option was met with enthu-siasm. Student Audrey Jung said, “The yogurt parfait was yummy. I wish we could celebrate every year!”

After school, almost 500 participants

came out to learn about healthy lifestyles at the PTA Community Health Fair. Parent volunteers educated attendees about exercise, the importance of breakfast and My Plate while passing out healthy food snacks. The fragrance of fresh popcorn wafted through the air as attendees visited information booths hosted by the L.A. County Public Health and the Monterey Park Farmers Market, Lions Club, Library, and Fire Department. Highlands FBLA student volunteers were on hand to help, including Jonathan Palomo and Manuel Holguin, who popped the free popcorn. Students enjoyed having their faces painted with fruit. For those who dared, LA Fitness provided body fat testing. Parents Dr. Rich Chung and Irene Del Valle gave dental advice and free toothpaste, while alumni Dr. Matt Chang checked posture. Students Adri Ho and Valerie Dao announced the winners of the free raffle. Prizes included a bicycle and vegetable plants donated by the American Heart Association, who also checked pulse rates. Students and adults competed fiercely in the hula-hoop and jump rope contests with K-EARTH 101 spinning the tunes. The free event ended with parents Cesar and Christina Duran demonstrating how easy it is to include fruit in a daily diet by making smoothies for everyone.

Overall, the day was one to remember as Monterey Highlands celebrated 50 years of healthy choices.

From left from the top row:Fourth row: Assist. Supt. of Educational Services Dr. Gary Gonzales.Third row: Director of Special Education Michele Yamarone, Director of Accountability and Assessment Grace Love, Director of Secondary Education Brad Walsh, and Coordinator of ELD Debbie Stone.Second row: Asst. Supt. Of Business Services Denise Jaramillo, Director of Elementary Education Janet Lees, AUSD Board member Jane Anderson, Supt. Dr. Laura Tellez-Gagliano, and Monterey Park Mayor Team Pro Peter Chan.First row: Principal Dr. Debbie Kotani, board President Adele Andrade-Stadler, and PTA President Carla Holguin.

Congratulations to Alhambra High School’s girls varsity soccer player Vivian Viramontes for her achievement of making it into the CIF All-Soccer team. Vivian, a junior and a varsity striker, proudly holds her All-CIF Southern Section certificate with her coaches. From left: Coach Pete Dudosh, Coach Nabor Solis, Vivian Viramontes, Coach Marco Viramontes (her father), and Alfonso Cobos.

SGHS Business and Technology Academy hosts farm-to-table event

April was a busy month for San Gabriel High School’s Business and Technology Academy (BTA) who hosted a farm-to-table tapas reception for school and district administrators and students on April 24 and a Mentor Mixer for its juniors and seniors on April 30. The farm-to-table event featured a menu of Spanish tortillas, spiced almonds, smoked salmon and herbed cheese, baguettes with mushrooms and basil pesto, strawberries with balsamic, blood orange olive oil and mint, and orange fennel infused water. Each tapas contained at least one product from the garden. There were also table decorations, bookmarks, and lip balm made with ingredients from the garden. The fifth annual Mentor Mixer introduced BTA students to careers in the business and technology sectors. BTA seniors Javier Bobadilla (BTA president), Phillip Becerra, and Ralph Gutierrez speak with Osania del Rio, vice president of business development at Allstar Marketing Group. For more coverage of the Mentor Mixer, please visit thematadorsghs.com.








Alhambra Dental





TOOTH SAVED

NEGLECTED TEETH



TEETH RESTORED

Before In One Visit



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city of alhambra to host 710 day celebration june 10 · pdf fileof the chamber; owen...

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