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JournalServing Monterey Park, Rosemead, Alhambra,

San Gabriel, East L.A. & Neighboring Communities

Monterey Park & West ValleyJuly-August 2013

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Close The710 Gap,Cities Demand

By Shel SegalSupporters of closing the 6.2-mile gap of Interstate 710 between

Interstate 10 and Pasadena took to demonstrating on Fremont Avenue on Wednesday as part of the city of Alhambra’s first-ever “710 Day.”

Not coincidentally being held on July 10 - hence 7/10 - city of-ficials - along with those from neighboring west San Gabriel Valley cities - are making it clear: The want Interstate 710 between Valley Boulevard and Interstate 210 in Pasadena completed.

Barbara Messina, a member of the Alhambra City Council – which has joined forces with neighboring cities Monterey Park, San Gabriel, Rosemead and San Marino – said “it’s time” to get the freeway com-pleted.

“Today is the beginning for us to create awareness amongst the residents not only of Alhambra, but also among the five cities that are part of our coalition,” Messina said. “All of us impacted the same. During the next 18 months, during the environmental impact study it is our time to make the community aware of not only the need but the seriousness of this completion.”

Messina added now that money for the plan is available, now is the time to build it.

“The big lag on our part is because financing had never been iden-tified,” she said. “So, it’s really hard for us to keep people encouraged and interested when we couldn’t say there was money to do this. The tunnel is the only (plan) that’s viable because there’s funding for that. It will be built through a public-private partnership. That means the company fronts all the construction money, they do the maintenance and they will run it. They will collect a toll. It will be a toll road. So that’s why it’s do-able now.”

Alhambra, Monterey Park, Rosemead Unite to

Urge 710 Fwy Completion

July 4 fireworks sale stands used to be the time-honored way for service clubs to raise funds for youth and community programs.

The trend the past couple of years has been for service clubs to opt out of fireworks stands and in-stead, churches and college clubs have gone into the business.

It takes lots of manpower and financial resources to operate a stand.

Churches, East L.A. College groups now make up about half of the 14 fireworks stands that will be operating on July 4th in Monterey Park. The big advantage that they have is that they dont pay rent.

Shopping centers often charge $500 to $2,000 to organiz-ers seeking a site for fireworks sales.

In Rosemead seven of the 12 permitted sellers are churches in the city.

In past years, cities tried their best to either eliminate them or restrict the number. These efforts resulted in a firestorm of protests from groups that have plenty of political muscle.

The number of fireworks stands in Monterey Park has de-clined over the years. The city limit is 25 stands, but only 14 lo-cations are open for business this year in the city.

To get a permit to run a fire-

Supporters of 710 Freeway Completion talk to reporters. --Shel Segal Photo

works stand, to sell legal ones you have to be non-profit, serve the community where you will be stationed, and pay lots of state and local fees as well as fire and liability insurance.

Generally speaking, any fire-work that goes up in the air or ex-plodes is illegal.

However, illegal fireworks such as firecrackers and bottle rockets are so prevalent on the night of July 4th that cities have special roving patrols of firefight-

‘Times a Changing’ for CommunityFireworks Stand Sponsors

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July 15, 2013 Monterey Park - West Valley JournalPage 2 Mid July 2013 Monterey Park - West Valley Journal Page 3

Published by Barron CommunicationsP.O. Box 987, Monterey Park, CA 91754

Offices at 199 W. Garvey Ave., Ste. 205, Monterey Park, CA [email protected] - (626) 607-6837

Monterey Park & West Valley Journal

Published monthly with the help of writers, subscribers, community organizations and contributors and many

stakeholders

David Barron, Editor & Publisher.Shel Segal, Associate Editor

Yoshiko Kamino, Graphics ContractorLeticia Platt, Accounting

David Munoz, photo consultant, Margie Ramirez, contributing photographer, Sergio Medrano, Marketing and many news contributors.

www.sgvjournal.com

MAniBoG & MAniBoG LLPSince 1961

A Full Service Law Firm for You, Your Family & Your Business.

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(323) 888-1005 (323) 888-2962 faxwww.manibog.com

Recent Case Results

My Neighborhood, Like It or Not

BeachcomBer

By Dave Barron,Journal Editor

EDITORIALTime to Move Ahead

And Complete 710 Freeway

Hundreds Attend Rally Demanding State Finish 710 Freeway to Relieve Traffic

Point of Law

Attorney G. Monty Manibog

Everyone Should Know Their Rights

She added she doesn’t understand why the people of cities along I-210 – namely South Pasadena, Pasadena and La Canada – are opposing the project and have done so for years.

“It doesn’t affect them at all,” Messina said. “I don’t know why they’re so upset, especially the La Canada people. What about all the people south (of Valley Boulevard on Interstate 710)? The Cudahys? The Maywoods who gave their property to get the Long Beach Freeway to where it is now? It was never intended to end on Valley Boulevard.”

Not so fast with the construction, said Pasadena resident Sylvia Plummer with the group “No on 710.” Plummer said the project is just “a bad idea.”

“It’s a bad idea for all the cities involved,” Plummer said. “This tunnel is a five-mile, no-exit tunnel. My concerns are the pollution, the trucks, the goods movements going through the tunnel. We already have enough traffic on the 210 and this is going to bring more. (Alhambra) will suffer more. Alhambra is complaining about traffic on Fremont. What about when people don’t want to pay a toll of $5 to $15? They’re going to find out then what traffic is really like.”Fellow group member and Pasadena resident Ann Kelley agreed with Plummer.“It doesn’t solve Alhambra’s problems and it doesn’t solve surface street problems between here and the 210 Freeway,” Kelley said. “I hope it will never go through.”(Shel Segal can be reached at [email protected].)

It is time to move ahead and complete the 710 Freeway and stop all the nonsense.

Whether it is a tunnel or a land highway, the extension of the 710 Freeway from the San Bernardino Freeway to the 210 Freeway must be started and completed.

Our communities in the West San Gabriel Valley have been suffering daily from heavy traffic, air polution and stressful conditions. That’s because tens of thousands of cars travel through our residential streets every day because the 710 Freeway (Long Beach Freeway) has never been completed.

The Metropolitan Transit Authority (Metro) is conducting a series of community meetings to get consenus on a number of options is that are being considered. It is time for you to attend a meeting and voice you opinion. Just a few more than a handful of people have attended the first couple of meetings. The opponents of the extension have flooded previous meetings in the northern area.

Last of three meetings was held on Tuesday, July 23, 6 p.m. at Langley Center,.But more meetings will be held in the future.However, it is time to push aside a number of alternatives offered such as light rail

system, buses “Transit System Management,” and “Transit Demand Management.” The worse alterantive is the “no build” option, which means “don’t do anything.”

If we can’t build a surface road extension, our opinion is that we have no choice but to build a freeway tunnel.

People to the north of our communities oppose all alternatives. Attend the meeting: Remember - give your input and learn important facts. You can get prepared for the real battle that is yet to come.

ers and police officers to cite violators.Fireworks stands are only permitted to sell ones certified by the State Fire Marshall.Theoretically, organizations can make a 50 percent profit on the sale of “safe’n sane”

fireworks. In most cases, they are lucky to make a couple of thousand dollars for a week of labor.

However, in a good location with careful watch on the cash register and inventory, firework stand operators can make more than $10,000 in profit in one week.

Some volunteers, especially, the ones who head up the “fireworks committee” are known to take personal vacation days to staff and supervise the fireworks stand.

Committees usually have volunteers or hire security to keep watch on their structures to prevent thefts during the night hours.

One other burden is providing lighting. While some locations have electricity nearby, many fireworks stands must rent and operate a noisy gas-powered generator.

City and state fees required insurance coverage and rent of the fireworks structure and location rental in a shopping center parking lot can eat up a large part of the profit.

Having the right location is considered the most important factor. So if you are lo-cated at a city borders near other communities that don’t permit fire works. This drives those buyers right to you!

(Continued from Page 1)

Times Changing for CommunityFireworks Stand Operators

CONSUMER HOT LINEHow This

WorksThis is a place where you can

submit your praises and complaints about local restaurants, retailers, government agencies and other service providers.

You can even send a photo to illustrate your comment. Show yourself with your “thumbs up” or “thumbs down.”

Simply email your comment to [email protected]. It must include your full name, email address and a phone number.

Please don’t give a thumbs up for your own business. Save that comment for Yelp!

Keep your comments short and to the point. It should be about 25 to 50 words. Be specific! “You liked it because.... or you didn’t like it because...”

We reserve the right to edit for brevity or to clarify your comment, that’s why we want your phone number.

THUMBS UPEnjoyed a great Mexican dinner

at El Tepeyac Restaurant off the 60 FWY. Food was really tasty. But Thumbs Down because it took so long to order our dinner and to get served.

We’re not panning the waitresses, they were shorthanded in the kitchen.

Go there, but be patient. Enjoy a beer while you are waiting.

THUMBS UPFor Rick Wang at Ricks Auto

Service on Monterey Pass Road. They did a great job on on Odessey at a great savings.

THUMBS UPFor the CleanTeam that keeps

Downtown Monterey Park clean with daily sweeping and picking up the litter.

Thumbs Down on smokers who litter the sidewalks and tree wells with cigarette butts.

THUMBS DOWNFor UPS Drivers who double park

on narrow streets when there is parking along the curb nearby.

We understand that they are under lots of pressure to deliver, but, hey, don’t make us suffer.

When I tell a new friend where I live, they often reply in a manner that some would consider a “put down.”

I don’t think they mean to hurt my feelings, just stat-ing a fact as they know it.

For example, Orange County people will say that I live in the “Inner City.”

Friends in East L.A. will remark that I live in “Chinatown,” then they ask me for a recommendation for the best Din Sum restaurant.

People here in Monterey Park will say “Oh you live in that part of town.”You see I live on East Newmark Avenue. It is a neighborhood sandwiched between

the nice part of the city and not-so-nice part of town. The police tell me that the south east quadrant of the city has the highest crime rate in the city.

My neighborhood is full of illegal boarding houses, apartments, and lots of traffic, lots of pedestrians and lots of Asian and Hispanic people- many of them new arrivals in this country.

My kids want me to move east to what some call “White Man’s Country.” But even those living in beautiful Chino Hills, sort of regret those comments.

Now they say, “YOUR drivers are moving here now.”When I complain that I have trouble finding parking or backing out of my driveway,

one leading local official encouraged me to move out to a quieter neighborhood and maybe a less diverse community.

“This area use to be a diverse community of Latinos, Asians, Italians, Polish and many other cultures.” Now is nearly all Chinese. Time to move” they advise me.

I have thought about moving, but its not because of the changing demographics. Its because heavy traffic caused by the gap in the 710 freeway and Mark Keppel High School.

Years ago when kids in the west side of Monterey Park attended Alhambra High School, traffic was a lot less. Today, they have to cross town to deliver their babies to Keppel. Instead of driving through busy Garvey Avenue, they travel on Newmark Av-enue. I can easily tell because morning traffic dramatically drops off during the summer.

Who says our neighborhood in not diverse? Across the street the homes there are oc-cupied by a people of Hispanic, Italian and Irish descent. Next door are Japanese Ameri-cans, Vietnamese, and Cuban American neighbors.

Unlike some of the affluent hillside areas, we have a lot of children – of all cultures.You see them walking biking and skate boarding to Barnes Park and the Monterey

Park library.During the Summer, they will come by wearing flip-flops and carrying beach towels

as they head off to the Barnes Park pool.You see newly-wed couples walking down Newmark Avenue for summer evening

strolls. A year later, they come by pushing a stroller with a baby in it.Every September you’ll see moms, dads and grandparents walking their children to

Repetto and Ynez schools in the morning and then in the afternoon.Yet the traffic really gets to me sometimes. Fire engines travel with their sirens

screaming through Newmark Avenue at all hours of the night and day. They , too, travel down Newmark Avenue to avoid traffic congestion on Garvey Boulevard.

Do me a favor, next time you are going cross-town, go on Garvey Avenue or take Emerson and Graves street. Stay off of Newmark Avenue.

THUMBS DOWNFor whoever checks on the brick

sidewalk in front of city hall. It is uneven and I saw a man trip and nearly fall

THUMB UPTo the volunteers at Langley Senior

Citizen Center for the great job that they do.

(Continued from Page 1.)

MONTEREY PARK - Work began Monday, July 29, on a mural honoring the memory of Beth Ryan long-time city employee who was superintendent of Langley Senior Center.

The mural is sponsored by the Friends of the Seniors, a non-profit organization. The public were invited to participate making the mural by placing their handprints on the design created by muralist Nathan Mauden. An image of Ryan, who passed away last year, will be featured in the mural.

Activities will begin at 8:30 a.m. in the main room at Langley Center.Langley Senior Center is located at 400 West Emerson Ave. For information

concerning the mural project contact Frank Venti at (626) 524-6019.

Mural to Honor Former Senior Center Director

About 100 people attended the SR710 Extension community meeting at Langley Center last week. Besides presentations from project team and answered some questions. Questions from floor were taken.

Billed as an “all communities” event, residents and officials from Monterey Park, Alhambra, Rosemead and South Pasadena were present in the audience.

Persons favoring the extension wore blue tee - shirts with a statement urging to “close the gap.” Opponents wore buttons protesting plans for the traffic relief options.

100 Attend Metro Meeting on 710 Options

Editor’s Note: Former Mayor and Councilman Manibog is a contribution columnist offering legal tips to Journal read-ers. The following article is repeated from a previous edition.

Do you know your basic constitutional rights? You may be a law-abiding citizen, never in trouble with

the law, but you could be arrested, jailed, and charged with some alleged criminal activity at any time without understand-ing why and innocent of any wrong-doing.

Such occurrences happen to people from all walks of life – doctors, lawyers, college presidents, politicians, labor-ers, street cleaners.

But the Bill of Rights in the U.S. Constitution, a succes-sor and improved version of the British Magna Carta, spells

out and protects your individual rights. You are guaranteed your “day in court,” a fair trail to be decided by a “jury of

your peers,” unlike in some third world countries where you can be taken from your home in the dead of the night without an arrest warrant, without notice to an anyone, and without right to bail. In many such countries, you could face a “kangaroo court” or simply disappear without anyone knowing what happened to you.

Fortunately, we live under a “government of laws and not of men,” with no whim-sical “bills of attainder,” in the United States which could deprive you of your rights and liberties.

If you are arrested on any charges, you must exercise your rights if you are to avoid or defeat and unjustified indictment.

Even if you may have committed some illegal act, you may charged with offenses more serious than your actions may warrant.

For example, an unintended killing may amount to involuntary manslaughters, but you could be charged with murder.

All too often, innocent defendants may plead guilty to lesser charges to avoid the risk of harsher penalties if convicted of more serious crimes.

Our legal system is the best in the world, but it is not perfect. Innocent people do get convicted, as best exemplified by the past and ongoing disclosures relating to the Rampart Police scandals.

Therefore, and in a nutshell, you do have a right to remain silent when confronted by police at an accusatory stage, which is your Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. You should be advised of your right to call or have an attorney present and to have one appointed to represent you, if you cannot afford one. These are well-publicized rights you’ve heard about time and again. Take advantage of and exercise your rights and one of the first steps in doing so is to call for an attorney you may know or have one appointed for you a public expense. Remember, it’s your life, liberty and property that could be a stake and in serous jeopardy. Your constitutional rights are you best protections against unjustified and overcharged criminal indictments, so USE THEM! Remember the adage, “If you sleep on your rights, you may well lose them.”

July 15, 2013 Monterey Park - West Valley Journal Page 5July 15, 2013Monterey Park - West Valley Journal

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MILKIN SCHOLARS gather for group picture.Each will receive $10,000 prize.

SANTA MONICA, CA (July 15, 2013) – Four of the 16 outstanding Southern California students named as 2013 Milkin Scholars by the Milkin Family Foundation are from local communities, it was announced this week.

The local 2013 Milken Scholars from the area and their college choices are:

· YUEN TING (KELLY) LAU, Mark Keppel High School, will attend Princeton.

· LUZDARY RUELAS, Schurr High School, will attend the Massachusetts.

Institute of Technology· STEVEN TAN, Gabrielino High School, will attend UC

Berkeley.· PAVIN TRINH, Gabrielino High School, will attend

Stanford.These Scholars were chosen based on their academic

performance, community service, leadership and ability to persevere in the face of challenges. They will be formally honored at a ceremony and dinner in Marina del Rey on Saturday, July 27.

Each Scholar will receive a $10,000 scholarship plus opportunities for ongoing mentoring, assistance with internships, opportunities for community service, and access to a wide range of resources for their academic and professional careers.

“These remarkable students have already proven they have the capacity to change the world for the

better,” notes the program’s director, Gregory Milken. “The Milken Scholars program provides them with the support to develop their potential and become tomorrow’s leaders.”

The class of 2013 Milken Scholars is composed of the Southern California students as well as eight recipients from New York City. Milken Scholars are selected in their senior year of high school through a rigorous nomination, application review and interview process. Nominations are based on the following criteria.

Four Local StudentsWin $10,000 Milkin Scholarships

Happy Hour Specials

Happy 59th AnniversaryG. Monty Manibog and his wife Jean recently celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary. The couple met aboard a ship traveling to the United States. In photo above, they are seen at a family gathering. Monty, who writes the column, “Point of Law,” dedicated his recent column to his wife.

ALHAMBRA – The Po-lice Department has received a $49,777grant from the Depart-ment of Alcoholic Beverage Con-trol (ABC) to help reduce alcohol related crimes and problems and to reduce the availability of alco-hol to minors.

Alhambra currently has 109 bars, restaurants and retail stores which are licensed to sell alco-hol.

The grant operational period will extend to June 30th, 2014.

Under its contract, Alhambra Police will increase its current levels of education for ABC li-

cense holders and their employ-ees.

“We are further committed to enforcing alcoholic beverage laws relating to licensed establishments and the problems associated with alcohol sales and consumption,” a city press release stated.

The Alhambra Police Depart-ment has created a close working relationship with ABC investiga-tors and together, the city press release stated.

Under the grant Alhambra police in coordination with the ABC investigators and agencies will provide training to ABC li-

censed establishments, conduct training for police officers and conduct inspections. The police will also conduct sting operations to determine if licensed establish-ments are abiding by state laws and local operating permits.

“In partnership with the com-munity and ABC, the Alhambra Police Department expects the results of this grant will provide a better understanding of the need to comply with alcohol related laws and regulations. This will enhance the safety of our citizens and protect the quality of life that exists in our community.”

Alhambra Police Get $49,000 GrantFor Alcohol Training, Enforcement

Local residents are invited to celebrate “National Night Out” on Tuesday, August 6 to learn about police department services and public safety.

In Monterey Park the event will be held at the front of city hall, 320 W. Newmark Ave. from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

In Rosemead the event will be held at Zapopan Park Public Safety Center, 8301 Garvey Avenue. Event will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Alhambra will conduct its program on the same night from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in front of the Police Department office at 211 S. First St.

All the events will feature police activities, tours, information, free entertainment and hot dogs. The events are free.

‘National Night Out’

Cities Plan Law Enforcement Night

*Location is Willard Elementary School, 3152 North Willard Ave, Rosemead. Please call Sergio for more information at (626) 239-1752. Please do not call the School.

NEWS 24-7www.SGVJournal.com

*Program Starts August 20. Pre Registration Discounts

Publication ScheduleDue to summer vacation schedules, the next issue of the

Journal will be published on August 15. Deadline for news and advertising is Monday, August 12. For information call (626) 572-7450.

July 15, 2013Monterey Park - West Valley JournalPage 6 Page 7July 15, 2013

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Journal PlansConsumer Hot LineWest Valley Journal and SGVJournal.com are

planning a “CONSUMER HOT LINE” where you can submit your praises and complaints about local restaurants, retailers, government agencies and other service providers.

Comments will be published in the West Valley Journal newspaper each month and on the www.sgvjournal.com website under the title of “CONSUMER HOT LINE.”

You can go to our website, register and send your comments online using your nickname. You can also send your comments via email to [email protected].

You can send a photo if you wish to illustrate your comment. Don’t forget to state the name the business agency or retailer you wish to praise or criticize when you submit the comment.

Was the food tasteless and delivered cold to your table at a local restaurant? Or, instead, was it delicious! Let us know.

Did the plumber do a lousy job? Let us know.Were you treated rudely or ignored at a local retailer?

Let us know.Did you get great service with a smile by a local

business? Let us know.Did it take forwever to get a business license or

permit at a local city? Or was it fast, efficient service with a smile? Let us know.

Just send us an email to [email protected]

For Sale:5% partnership interest in

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5% represents 5000 sq ft with market value of $750,000 - $1,125,000 ($175 – 225 sq ft). Good investment, pays approx. $20,000 yearly rent dividends. Prime commercial land downtown MP, Garvey – Garfield. Call (323) 888-1005 Sell for only $550,000. Save $200,000

Funeral services are planned for My Tien Tran, a local resident who passed away July 23. She was a native of Canton, China.

Survivors include a son, Hung Thai; daughter-in-law Sara Ma; and two grand children, Janie Thai and Patrick Thai.

Viewing will be held July 31, 2 to 6 p.m. at the Universal Chung Wah Funeral Home, 225 N. Garfield Ave, Alhambra.

Last viewing will be offered on August 1 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at funeral home followed by graveside services at 11 a.m. at Rose Hills Cemetery.

Funeral Services PlannedFor My Tien Tran

New East Los Angeles Col-lege President Marvin Martinez spent part of his first day on the job Monday July 1meeting fac-ulty, staff and students.

The by the Community Col-lege Board of Trustees, after an extensive search, voted Jan. 31 to appoint Martinez the eighth Pres-ident of the 68-year-old college.

Martinez was serving as President of Los Angeles Harbor College at the time of the ap-pointment. His official first day of service at ELAC was July 1. Martinez served previously as Vice Chancellor for Economic and Workforce Development for the LACCD.

His resume includes adminis-trative positions at Santa Monica and Cerritos colleges. Martinez succeeds Ernest Moreno, who resigned in 2011 after serving as head of the college for 18 years,

Moreno was elected to the Board of Trustees in March.

New East L.A. College President Welcomed

WELCOME -- New East L.A. College President Marvin Martinez meets with staff and students on his first day at the college. - Photo by Mario Villegas

Marvin MartinezTakes Over

ReignsOf College

MONTEREY PARK – The city could lose more than $360,000 in federal funds if it does not make-up its mind on selecting a low-income housing project at a meeting on Monday, July 22.

Deadline for commitment of the housing funds is July 31.

At last Wednesday’s meet-ing, the council halted the meet-ing at 11:50 p.m. with a lot of unfinished business, including selection of a housing proj-ect for the federal funds. If no project is selected, the city must return the funds to the federal government.

The council will take up the unfinished business at a contin-ued meeting on Monday, July 22, 6 p.m. in the council cham-bers.

At the beginning of the meeting the council heard a pre-sentation from a Metro spokes-person regarding the studies and five options on the extension of the 710 Freeway to the 210 Freeway. The options include tunneling, a train system, two different bus systems and no ac-tion.

The Council also received an update from Frank Venti, for-mer councilman, on a planned mural honoring Beth Ryan, for-mer administrator of Langley Senior Center. Work on the mu-ral will start July 29.

The council heard a lengthy report on alternative housing projects that qualify for the fed-eral funds. Marta Escanuelas appealed to the to dedicate the funds to the MERCI facility for mentally and physically disabled persons. However, staff told the council that the MERCI project did not qualify for the funds.

To expend the funds, the council has several options in-cluding a six-unit low-income housing project at the city park-ing lot located at Newmark and Ramona Streets.

City council took no ac-tion regarding the award of a new Spirit Bus contract. The staff recommended award of the contract to Transportation Concepts, instead of the current contractor.

After hearing from the three top bidders, the council asked the staff to come back with more details and the rational used in their recommendation.

MP Council Debates Use of Housing Funds

MONTEREY PARK - It’s a whole new ball game for volunteers who are currently serving on city commissions or want to serve in the future.

The city has sent a letter to current commissioners informing them that they must re-apply and complete a new commission application. In addition, they will have to show proof of residency when they file their applicatiions.

Although the letter did not give any deadlines, the plan is to get the city council to make new appointments at their meeting of August 7.

Current or new applications can submit their application to the City Clerk’s office or directly to an appointing council member.

Each council member gets at least one appointee to each commission except for the Library and Personnel boards,

which are appointed by the entire council. The Sister Cities Committee also will not be affected by the changes.

The new ordinance provides several changes in the make up of the commissions. The Art & Culture Commission, Community Relations Commission and Historical Heritage Commission are being consolidated into one ten-person commission to be called the “Community Participation Commission.”

Two commissions -- the Youth Advisory Board and the Modification Committee are being eliminated. The Modification Committee will be replaced by a “Board of Appeals,” to handle appeals by citizens regarding planning and building matters. The Youth Advisory Board will be folded into the “Community Participation Commission.”

The City Clerk’s office said people can prove their residency by showing a recent water bill, driver’s license or voter registration records. Residency will have to be confirmed annually.

City commissioners serve at the pleasure of the appointing commissioner and can be replaced at any time.

City Reduces Commissions,Seeks New Applications

What would it be like if a natural disaster such as an earthquake struck Southern California and you became homeless? Will you have food, water, and shelter for all your family members? The city of Rosemead is offering an opportunity for you to experience such an emergency with a mock event. Why?

That’s because earthquakes strike suddenly, violently, and without warning at any time of the year and at any time of the day or night. The disaster can be so severe that homes and offices may not be safe to enter or to occupy.

The city is inviting residents to come together for a “Summer Survival Family Campout” on Friday, August 2, 6 p.m. to Saturday, August 3, 10 a.m. at Rosemead Park, 4343 Encinita Avenue.

Mandy Wong, Rosemead'a emergency coordinator, said that the mock tent city will give residents an opportunity to review their own emergency plan and to assess if they have basic disaster supplies on hand while practicing emergency shelter.

The city recommends that each person in the family be self-sufficient for at least three to seven days with food and water. Families should also consider basic camping equipment so as to be ready if they have to evacuate to a park or if it becomes necessary to make a shelter in their own backyard.

The Summer Survival Family Campout will also offer emergency preparedness activities for all ages including:

Fire suppression demonstration by CERT volunteers.

Splinting demonstration by LA County Fire Personnel.

Emergency Preparedness games and crafts. Disaster-Ready Scavenger Hunt. Ham Radio Demonstration. Emergency food preparation and tasting.Residents can register for this free event by July 25

with the Parks and Recreation Department. Families must bring their own camping gear and food for Friday’s dinner and Saturday’s breakfast.

“Join us for an educational and fun experience. Please call (626) 569-2160 to reserve a camp spot or for more information.

(Editor’s Note: For a complete schedule for the event, visit www.sgvjournal.com

Rosemead Offers Overnight ‘Survival Camp’ Experience to Test Emergency Planning

Army Pfc. Victor Zuniga has returned to the U.S. after being de-ployed overseas at a forward operating base to serve in support of Operation Endur-ing Freedom.

Operation Enduring Freedom is the official name given to anti-terrorism military operations involving U.S. troops and allied coalition partners.

Active duty and reserve component members from all branches of the U.S. armed forces have been deployed to support the war against global terrorism outside the borders of the United States.

U.S. troops serve in South, Southwest and Central Asia, the Arabian peninsula, the Horn of Africa, islands in the Pacific, and Europe. Zuniga is a combat engi-neer assigned to the 23rd Engineer Company at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.

The private first class has served in the military for one year. He is the son of Antonio and Leonore Zuniga of South Curtis Avenue, Alhambra.Zuniga graduated in 2008 from Alhambra High School.

People On The Move

Christian Ruiz from San Gabriel, CA was named to the Dean’s List at the University of New Haven for the spring 2013 semester. Full-time undergraduate students must have a 3.50 or better cumulative GPA for the semester to be eligible for the Dean’s List.

Crystal Lam, Whittier College music major Crystal Lam was named to the Spring 2013 Dean’s List in recognition for her academic excellence.

Lam graduated from the Whittier on May 17 with distinction in her major and received an award for “Outstanding Performance in Music” during the spring Honors Convocation.

Throughout her four years at Whittier Lam participated in the college choir and played the piano and organ.

Undergraduate students are awarded Dean’s List honors if he or she earns a 3.70 grade point average (GPA) while completing a full-time course load (12 units) in the fall and spring terms.

To submit a recognition for local people and their achievements, please email to [email protected]

News24-7www.

WVJournal.com

Monterey Park & West Valley JournalPage 8 July 15, 2013

Monterey Park dedicated its new Emergency Operations Center (EOC), built at the cost of more than $500,000, thanks to a federal grant.

The dedication was held Wednesday, July 17, 2013 before local officials, firefighters and police officers at 329 East Newmark Ave, across the street from the Monterey Park City Hall.

The new EOC will serve as the command center for coordinating response and recovery efforts in the event of natural or man-made disasters, such as an earthquake, fires or flooding.

It replaces a much smaller facility, a meeting room, located in the city hall building.

The new 2,000 sq. ft. facility will also be used for training and emergency exercises.

Besides having state of the art communications equipment, the facility is powered by a 100 kilowatt back-up generator and supplies to support a staff in an emergency situation.

Staff Plaques WebVersFire

Monterey Park Dedicates New Emergency Operations Center

EOC DEDICATION – Monterey Park Fire Chief Jim Birrell (right) thanked the city staff and officials for helping make the new Emergency Operations Center a reality. He singled out Captain Shannon Files, (second from right; Management Analyst Lillian Bow, and firefighters Jonathan Gin and Ruben Olivares for leading the team that developed the facility. - Photo by Dave Barron

Chief Jim Birrell thanked the city staff and officials for helping make the new EOC a reality.

He singled out Captain Shannon Files, Management Analyst Lillian Bow, and firefighters Jonathan Gin and Ruben Olivares for serving on the team that developed the facility.

He also expressed appreciation to Congresswoman Judy Chu for her support in obtaining a federal grant to construct the facility.

Mayor Teresa Real Sebastian along with Council members Anthony Wong, Hans Liang, Peter Chan and Mitchell Ing, as well as City Clerk Vincent Chang and Treasurer Joseph Leon were present.

Construction of the facility began in December 2012 and was completed in May.

Attending the event were State Senator Ed Hernandez, Assemblyman Ed Chau, and representatives from Supervisor Gloria Molina and Congresswoman Chu.