July - La Verne Community News

Transcription

July - La Verne Community News
July 2014
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Page 2
Are You Ready? Disaster
Preparedness Panel
ULV President
and Linkedin
Executive
Address Mt.
SAC Grads
Senator Liu Hosts Woman of the
Year Luncheon
Grad candidates filed more
than 2,400 petitions for
associate degrees
On Tuesday, June 17th,
2014 the Hillcrest Business
Associates Steering Committee hosted an informationpacked community forum
at the Meeting House at
Hillcrest, featuring a distinguished panel of experts on
Public Safety & Disaster Preparedness, including:
• Ben Wong - Region Manager, Southern California
Edison
• Kevin Greenway – Captain,
La Verne Fire Department
• Casey DeShong – Region
IX Congressional Affairs Liaison, FEMA
• Guillermo Sanchez – Public
Information Manager, American Red Cross
• Dee Falasco – Disaster Preparedness Instructor, American Red Cross
This event, sponsored by
Edison International, was a
resounding success! The over
100 La Verne residents and
business owners who attended received a wealth of emergency preparedness tips that
they could take back to their
family, friends and neighbors.
The panelists also set realistic expectations of what first
responders can and cannot
do following a major disaster.
One of the biggest takeaways
from the event was the importance of preparing for a major
disaster by, at the very least,
having a 3-day supply of food
and water for every member
of your household, including
your pets.
Being informed and having a plan when disaster
strikes can save lives and
property. Early preparation
is the key to your ability to
help yourself, your family,
and your neighbors. The following websites, which were
shared at the event, are
great places to get information and advice on putting
your disaster preparedness
plan together:
• www.ready.gov/prepare
• www.RedCross.org
• www.PrepareSoCal.org
Also, Southern California Edison has a free Mobile
Outage App available for
both Android and iPhones
that allows customers to
view outage locations as well
as find out when service may
be restored. Search “SCE
Outages” in your phone’s
app store.
Walnut — University of La
Verne President Dr. Devorah Lieberman and LinkedIn Marketing
Strategist Hector Preciado headlined Mt. San Antonio College’s
68th commencement on Friday,
June 13, at the college’s Hilmer
Lodge Stadium.
Dr. Lieberman delivered the
commencement address, “Listening to Your Head and Your Heart,”
to the Class of 2014. In July 2011,
she became the University of La
Verne’s first female president in its
120-year history. With 35 years in
education, Lieberman has become
known for her dedication and expertise in the areas of intercultural
communication and diversity.
Mt. SAC recognized Preciado
with the college’s Alumnus of the
Year Award. An immigrant from
Mexico, Preciado was a member
of Mt. SAC’s Class of 1999. He
went on to complete his education
at Pomona College (B.A.) and the
UC Berkeley Haas School of Business (MBA). He began his career
at the Greenlining Institute in
Berkeley, where he ultimately
served as chief operating officer.
Preciado also became a regular
political analyst commenting on
elections and policy issues for
Univision and Telemundo, the
nation’s two largest Spanish television networks. Today, he manages strategic communications
and marketing for LinkedIn, the
world’s largest profession network
on the Internet with more than
300 million members in over 200
countries and territories.
During the ceremony, Mt.
SAC also recognized outstanding
members of the Class of 2014 and
awarded associate degrees to hundreds of graduates who actively
participated in the ceremony. In
all, 2,451 degree petitions were
filed. The youngest graduate was
20; the oldest was 71. Additionally, 35 candidates received Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management degrees in conjunction
with Southern Illinois University.
Mt. SAC also recognized the
10 retiring faculty and academic
managers, who combined have
a total 167 years of service to the
college.
On Friday, June 13, 2014, Senator Carol Liu hosted a special Woman of the Year luncheon at the Pasadena Hilton. It was called Women
Mean Business luncheon. We had two Chamber members who won.
Amie Boersma who represented Prime Healthcare and San Dimas
Hospital won for the Outstanding Junior Businesswoman of the Year
and Jody Gmeiner from Pomona Valley Habitat for Humanity won for
the Outstanding Non-Profit Executive Director. Pictured above from lst
to right: Amie Boerman, Brian McNerney - CEO La Verne Chamber of
commerce and Jody Gmeiner.
La Verne Heights Elementary
Wins Break Room Make-Over
Contest
Foothill Credit Union (Foothill) conducted a contest within 13
foothill community school districts
to award one lucky school with a
break room make-over. La Verne
Heights Elementary from the Bonita Unified School District was
selected as this year’s make-over
recipient. With the help of project
partner, C.E. Fry Construction,
the transformation will take place
over the school’s summer break.
Principal Patrick McKee was
informed in secret that his school
was chosen for the make-over.
He and Foothill’s Marketing Director, Stacy Arena, conspired to
make the surprise announcement
to the rest of the school’s staff at
their annual walk-a-thon. To say
the least, the school’s faculty and
staff were very excited to hear the
news.
The Foothill Marketing team
and Jeff Fry from C.E. Fry Construction met with the principal
to discuss a vision for the break
room. The teachers had already
brainstormed and came up with
a “wish list.” Among their wishes
were a Starbucks vibe, warm colors, two Keurig coffee brewers,
and a chalkboard.
The Foothill staff is very excited to begin the make-over process
and a grand reveal will be scheduled for the school’s staff to see
the completed room when school
resumes in the fall.
Foothill specializes in serving
local school district and hospital employees. The credit union
strives to exceed its members’ expectations. With a zest for serving
schools within the credit union’s
field of membership, Foothill has
become a recognized organization
within the community.
Page 2
La Verne Community News
July 2014
2014 LeRoy Haynes Graduation Chino Hills
Youth Saves
Ceremony
Dog from
Beating
On June 6th, 2014, Qihui Zhai,
Patio Dining
and Banquet
Facilities
up to 70
GRADUATES LINE UP TO RECEIVE DIPLOMAS - The
seven members of the LeRoy Haynes Center graduating class of 2014
(faces concealed and identities withheld because of court-mandated confidentiality requirements) line up to receive their diplomas during the
June 5th graduation ceremonies at the La Verne campus. Congratulating the graduates at rear, from left, are LeRoy Haynes President and
CEO Dan Maydeck; high school dean and transitional specialist Rafael
Deloera; La Verne City Councilmembers Robin Carder and Charlie Rosales; and Cecilia Schumm, LeRoy Haynes co-director of education.
‘EPITOME OF PERSEVERANCE’
OPEN
7 DAYS
6am-10pm
http://www.lavernecommunitynews.com
G0514
– LeRoyHaynesCenterco-director
of education Cecliia Schumm, presenting the keynote address at this year’s
graduation ceremonies at the Haynes
Education Center, told the seven
members of the graduating class that
they are the “epitome of perseverance.”
She said no one has overcome more
than the graduates, all special needs
children. She told the graduates as
they work toward reaching their goals
that they have reached the same final
destination as students in conventional high school. She urged them to “continue the dream, continue to conquer.”
“You have accomplished so much and
you will accomplish so much more,”
she said. “Remember this time (and)
your success is our success.”
The LeRoy Haynes Center provides specialized treatment and educational services to children with special
needs relating to emotional development, autism, Asperger’s Disorder,
learning disabilities, neglect and abandonment.
The group home facility has grown
from its initial 10 residents to six cottages, each housing 12 children. Mental health treatment services are provided to every resident.
The Haynes Education Center, a
non-public school founded in 1989 as
a companion to the group home facility, initially provided schooling to the
children of what was formerly LeRoy
Boys Home. It has grown to serve not
only the children who live on campus
but the community as a whole, accepting children (boys and girls) from 14
school districts throughout Southern
California.
The entire facility serves 350 to
400 children annually through its four
basic programs – therapeutic residential treatment, transitional housing,
Haynes Education Center and mental
health.
For more information, contact the
LeRoy Haynes Center at 233 West
Baseline Road, La Verne, CA 91750,
(909) 593-2581, or visit the web site at
www.leroyhaynes.org.
a resident of Chino Hills, was
charged with felony animal cruelty for beating his dog for duration
of ten minutes. The beating was
captured on video thanks to the
courageous efforts of local kids.
Late last month, a family
heard what sounded like an animal crying in pain. When the family of three went to their window
they saw their neighbor beating
his young dog. The two quick
thinking younger children immediately pulled out their cameras
and started videotaping the beating. The mom quickly called the
Inland Valley Humane Society
& SPCA to report the abuse. Humane Officer William Taber arrived on the location shortly after
and found the dog in a neglected
state and being kept in a very
small, feces infested wire pen.
Officer Taber immediately
seized “Mookie”, the 3 year old
female Cocker Spaniel, and transported her to the Inland Valley
Humane Society & SPCA. Dr,
Shannon Beals, DVM, resident
shelter veterinarian examined the
dog and started treatment immediately.
“We are never surprised by the
ingenuity of today’s youth”, said
Supervisor of Animal Services,
Beth Les of the Inland Valley Humane Society”. “Their quick thinking not only saved this dog from a
life time of abuse but they were
able to ensure we had the evidence to pursue criminal charges
against the abuser”.
Qihui Zhai is being charged
with felony animal cruelty and if
convicted he could face jail time,
fines, counseling & probation.
The Inland Valley Humane
Society & SPCA is happy to report
that Mookie has since healed and
found a new home.
The Inland Valley Humane
Society and S.P.C.A. is a private,
non-profit animal welfare organization dedicated to providing protection, shelter and medical care to
abandoned and injured animals
of our community. For more information, contact IVHS at info@
ivhsspca.org or by phone at 909623-9777.
July 2014
La Verne Community News
The Frederick R. Weisman
Museum Of Art Presents
Bob Peak: The Movie Poster
and Beyond-- Four Decades of
American Illustration
Now through August 3, 2014
Malibu — Bob Peak: The
Movie Poster and Beyond--Four
Decades of American Illustration,
an exhibition showcasing original
illustration art for films and other
media, is on view at the Frederick
R. Weisman Museum of Art at
Pepperdine University through
August 3, 2014.
Bob Peak (1927-1992) is considered to be one of the most important American illustrators working in the decades after World
War II. He used his extraordinary
skills as a draftsman and designer
to transform the appearance of
American magazines in the 1960s
and 1970s. He was responsible for
creating the sophisticated look of
the “Mad Men” era by creating
images with a unique blend of
style, sophistication, and casual
elegance.
Peak’s work was in demand by
all the major national magazines,
and he helped shape almost every
type of print genre--ranging from
fashion to sports. He is probably
best known, however, for creating over 100 movie posters. These
include some of the most memorable and iconic images in our
culture, such as the designs for
My Fair Lady, Funny Girl, and
Apocalypse Now.
This exhibition features 44
original, hand-painted works of
art that span Peak’s entire career.
It includes examples ranging from
his first advertising campaign
in 1955 to his late works of the
1990s. There is a special emphasis
on the 1960s--a period that many
consider to be his best and most innovative. Highlights include rare
compositional studies for West
Side Story and My Fair Lady, as
well as finished art for Funny Girl
and Thoroughly Modern Millie. A
special treat is a display of four of
the seven original paintings Peak
created to promote Francis Ford
Coppola’s Apocalypse Now. This
fascinating series of paintings reveals how the director’s and artist’s ideas about the movie evolved
as filming progressed.
In the 1970s Peak began a
series of over 40 covers for Time
magazine. This group of powerful portraits is represented in this
show by key political personalities
of the time such as John F. Kennedy, King Faisal of Saudi Arabia,
and then-President elect Jimmy
Carter. Also in the 1970s and ‘80s
Peak became interested in science
fiction and fantasy; this phase of
his career is represented by studies for the movies Superman and
Excalibur, as well as a series of
three paintings for the action film
Rollerball.
Michael Zakian, curator of the
exhibition, said, “It is especially rewarding to bring this exhibition to
the people of Los Angeles. For the
general public, it will be a walk
down memory lane. The images
he created had such an impact on
popular culture that even younger
visitors will recognize many of his
creations. For working artists, it
is a rare treat to see hand-painted
originals by a master painter, designer, and illustrator. Working in
the days before digital design, he
often drew elements on different
pieces of paper and then moved
them around on his board to find
the perfect composition. The working studies offer a glimpse into the
creative process of a master.”
Peak grew up in Kansas during the Depression and began creating illustrations while at Wichita State University. He studied at
the Art Center College of Design
in Los Angeles. In 1953 he moved
to New York City and began his
career as a professional illustrator. His forward-looking style
appealed to advertisers wanting
to attract new, younger customers. His work began to appear in
major advertising campaigns and
national magazines. By the 1960s
he was one of the most soughtafter illustrators in New York. His
willingness to experiment allowed
him to adapt to changing tastes
decade-by-decade, and he helped
define the look of his era.
About the Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art
The Frederick R. Weisman
Museum of Art at Pepperdine
University was founded in 1992.
It showcases historical and contemporary art by nationally recognized artists, but focuses on the
art of California. Past exhibitions
have included Rodin’s Obsession:
The Gates of Hell (2001), Claes
Oldenburg: Drawings (2004),
Chihuly Los Angeles (2005), Jim
Dine: Some Drawings (2007), Roy
Lichtenstein: In Process (2011), Illustrating Modern Life: The Golden Age of American Illustration
from the Kelly Collection (2013),
and Wayne Thiebaud: Works on
Paper (2014).
Located on Pepperdine’s main
campus at 24255 Pacific Coast
Highway in Malibu, CA, the museum is open Tuesday-Sunday, 11
a.m.-5 p.m., and is closed on Mondays and major holidays. There is
no admission charge.
For more information, call
(310) 506-4851 or visit: http://arts.
pepperdine.edu/museum
KEY DATES:
Exhibition: Now through August 3, 2014
Frederick R. Weisman Museum
of Art
Pepperdine University
24255 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, CA 90263
Museum hours: Tuesday through
Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed on Mondays and major
holidays
No admission fee
General information: (310) 5064851
Museum staff: (310) 506-7257
http://arts.pepperdine.edu/museum
Business
Groups Urge
Metro to
Include Azusa
to Claremont
in Foothill Gold
Line
Irwindale — In a letter sent
to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority on June 18, 2014 the
San Gabriel Valley Economic
Partnership and thirteen chambers of commerce and organizations across the region urged the
Metro Board to amend the Short
Range Transportation Plan to
include the Azusa to Claremont
leg of the Gold Line Foothill Extension.
The letter outlined the importance of an effective transportation network to the vitality of the
San Gabriel region, citing the
alleviation of traffic congestion
and affordable travel alternatives for local residents as benefits of extending the Gold Line.
“We are concerned that the
Metro will not keep its promise
to voters who approved Measure
R to complete the Gold Line to
Claremont,” commented Cynthia Kurtz, President and CEO
of San Gabriel Valley Economic
Partnership, “The completion of
this project is vital to this region
where nearly one-fifth of Los Angeles County residents reside.”
The letter indicates that the
Azusa to Claremont extension
is environmentally cleared and
ready for design and build in
2017. The extension has the
potential to be completed by
2022, a date comfortably within
the timeline of the Short Range
Transportation Plan.
Signers of the letter include
the Azusa, Duarte, La Verne,
Arcadia, Monrovia, Claremont,
Pasadena, South Pasadena, El
Monte/South El Monte, Irwindale, and Alhambra Chambers
of Commerce, as well as the
Citrus Valley Association of Realtors, Industry Manufacturers
Council, and San Gabriel Valley
Economic Partnership.
About the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership
The San Gabriel Valley
Economic Partnership is a regional, not-for-profit corporation
supported and directed by its
members and committed to the
continued successful economic
development of the San Gabriel
Valley. A collaboration of businesses, local government, higher
education institutions, and nonprofits, the Partnership pursues
this commitment by fostering
the success of business, engaging in public policy, marketing
the San Gabriel Valley and connecting people, companies, and
organizations in the San Gabriel
Valley. For more information,
contact the San Gabriel Valley
Economic Partnership at (626)
856-3400 or visit its web site at
www.valleyconnect.com.
Page 3
Summer groups for teens and
young adults now forming
“Teen Talk”, Weight Loss Support, Transitions from Middle School to
High School, How to navigate through Relationships, Grief/Loss Group
Melissa Lamoureux, MS, Intern-Marriage, Family Therapist
Mary Weber, MA, Intern-Marriage, Family Therapist
Andrea R. Torres, MS, Intern-Marriage, Family Therapist
Sliding fee scale available for Groups, Individual Therapy
Clinical Supervisor, Judy McGehee, Licensed Marriage, Family Therapist
MFC #32546 @ mcgeheepartners.org • 626-963-3337
G0614
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1236 N San Dimas Canyon Rd
San Dimas, CA 91773
909-599-0901
Member SIPC
LA VERNE COMMUNITY NEWS
P.O. Box 3128, San Dimas, CA 91773
Voice or Fax (626) 967-2263
e-mail [email protected]
Gerald L. Enis
Editor and Publisher
Operations Manager
Shirley Enis
Internet & Web Presence
So. Cal Networking Services
http://www.lavernecommunitynews.com
The La Verne Community News’ opinion is expressed only in its editorials. Opinions expressed in articles,
letters, columns, and guest editorials are those of the authors. The La Verne Community News is not
liable or responsible for any offerings or product availability that may be advertised. Copyright 2014
by La Verne Community News. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written
permission is prohibited.
Page 4
La Verne Community News
July 2014
News from the Bonita Unified School District
Superintendent’s Message
students. Some of those future
challenges include:
Dr. Gary Rapkin
Future Challenges
The Bonita Unified School District consistently uses a wide variety of indicators and multiple measures to determine how each of our
students and schools are performing. I am pleased to report, based
on these indicators and measures,
that all of the schools throughout
the Bonita Unified School District
experienced an overall exemplary
2013-2014 school year.
After an analysis of the previous school year, it is always important to begin carefully looking
at future challenges as we set
the bar high to provide a rigorous comprehensive education for
all Bonita Unified School District
• College and career readiness
• Meeting the rigor of the Common Core State Standards
• Ensuring that our educational
technology is designed to enhance
and deepen the educational experience for all students
• Ensuring that the arts, athletics, and student activities are
structured in a manner that provides students the opportunity to
explore their talents
• Moving further along the road
to ensure that all schools and
classrooms are continually encouraging and assisting students
to take greater responsibility for
their learning
• Ensuring that each student
has the opportunity to learn in a
safe, nurturing environment so
they can best gain access to their
dreams
I believe we can and will exceed
these challenges with our talented
team of educators and support
staff, in partnership with our parents and community.
Dr. Gary Rapkin
Superintendent
La Verne Heights Lions Walk Right Past Goal and
Raise $45,655
Teachers, students, parents, and community members take La Verne Heights Elementary School’s 17th
Annual Walkathon to a new level raising over $45,000.
La Verne Heights Elementary
School raised over $45,655 at its
17th Annual Walkathon, “Roaring with Pride,” in May. Sponsored by the La Verne Heights
PTA, the Walkathon brought
students, families, businesses,
and the community together to
raise funds to support the outstanding programs in place at La
Verne Heights. Donated funds
support the school’s award winning Accelerated Reader and
Math programs, assemblies, field
trips, and the Character Counts!
Mollie Choa Wins New Car for Perfect Attendance
Bonita High School student Mollie Choa won the Glendora Chevrolet
“Cool to be in School” Perfect Attendance Grand Prize, a 2014 Chevy
Sonic.
Ed Jones Education Center
student Luis Lopez won a fistful
of gift cards at the Glendora
Chevrolet “Cool to be in School”
Perfect Attendance Rally.
Bonita High School student
Mollie Choa won a 2014 Chevy
Sonic as the grand prize in a perfect attendance raffle hosted by
Glendora Chevrolet. This is the
second year of the dealership’s involvement with both Bonita Unified and Glendora Unified School
Districts. Each school reports increased positive attendance habits thanks to Glendora Chevy’s
incentives.
“Our number of students with
perfect attendance has increased
tremendously since implementing
this program,” Bonita High School
Assistant Principal Joshua Kirk
said. The 2011-12 school year was
the last year before the program
was implemented, and BHS had
roughly 20 students who finished
the year with perfect attendance.
In 2012-13 we finished with 115,
and this year we finished with 87.”
San Dimas High School reports perfect attendance numbers
nearly tripling since the contest
began: Eighteen students in 2012,
44 in 2013, and 55 in 2014.
The Ed Jones Educational
Center had fifteen percent of their
student body qualify for the contest this year. “Glendora Chevrolet has been more than generous
in attending each of our Renaissance Rallies helping to keep the
program relevant in the eyes of
our students,” Ed Jones Dean Joe
Hansen said.
Staff members of the Month at
San Dimas, Bonita, and Chaparral High Schools were loaned the
Chevy Volt for a period of one
week each. “Every month our staff
would nominate their colleagues
for the wonderful work they are
doing on campus,” Kirk said. “The
teacher or staff member with the
most nominations was honored
with the Teacher/Staff of the
Month Award.”
Glendora Chevrolet has shown
incredible support for all three
schools. “After hearing about how
Chantal Oxier had persevered
through two years of perfect attendance only to be sent home
with a 102 degree temperature
the last week of the contest this
year,” Hansen continued, “Ryan
Wines the Glendora Chevrolet
director of events gave Principal
Maureen Williams a slew of gift
cards for Movies, Jamba Juice, Inn-Out and more, to pass along to
Chantal for her efforts.”
Additional student winners:
Oluwafunmito Akinkugbe, Bonita High School, gift cards, and a 32 inch
Flat Screen TV
Shelly Greer, Ed Jones Center, gift cards
Devin Lachner, Bonita High School, gift cards
Luis Lopez, Ed Jones Center, gift cards
Devon Salazar, San Dimas High School, tablet
Daylen Shields, Ed Jones Center, gift cards
program.
Last year, 89 percent of the
students at La Verne Heights
participated in the walkathon
raising $40,100. With 94 percent
participation this year, the students passed their $40,500 goal
by over $5,000.
Over one hundred community
and business sponsors donated
to the cause, including the La
Verne Police Department, the
Mayor, and City Council Members. Of these, 13 businesses
donated $500 or more, including
Anderson Tax Service, Anaheim
Carpet & Flooring, Foothill Credit Union, Valero, Jiffy Lube, My
Delight Cupcakery, Steven Takamatsu DDS, Toyota of Glendora,
Tensor ID, ExxonMobil, Delt
Builders, BJ’s Restaurant, and
Investors Team Realty.
The students and staff of La
Verne Heights offer their thanks
to the La Verne Heights families,
local businesses, and the community as a whole for their generous
support.
Chaparral High School
Graduates 44
Chaparral High School graduates 44 students. Top Row: Michael
Trussell, Derek Johnson, Alexander Turner, Scott Thomas, Brent
Smith, De Vonshe McFadden, Jamale Antwine, Joshua Arias, Leon
Dameron III; 2nd Row: Jonathan Hernandez, Hector Gomez, Chase
Entrikin, Master Johnson, Travis Harker, J.R. Purification, Edward
Arana, Luis Lopez, Zac Watters; 3rd Row: Reuben Benitez, Matthew
Cote, Latisha Hassan, Moncerrath Contreras, Geovani Hurtado, Tyler
Gebbie, Gabriel Smith, Javeion Sims, Anastasia Tovar; Bottom Row:
Eric Takemori, Alexa Merritt, Savanah Simpson, Dameion Thomas,
Linda Harwood, Desiree Spadaro, Sharon Lopez, Marie Ortega,
Manuel Martinez, Stormie Lynch, Brianna Luna, Elva Escobar.
Graduated but did not walk: Sedrick Speed.
Over 600 friends and family
were joined by the Board of Education and District Administration to celebrate the 44 graduates
from Chaparral High School at
their 2014 graduation ceremony
in the Avalon Room at the Pomona Fairplex on June 3. Principal Maureen Williams commissioned the graduates to “Discover
the path that fits your style, and
in the same compassionate manner you displayed at Chap, go
make the impossible possible!”
Chaparral graduate Savannah Simpson, recipient of the
math award and the La Verne /
San Dimas Educational Foun-
dation Perseverance Scholarship, stated during her student
address, “The teachers believed
in us when no one else did and
helped us when no one else
would.”
Chaparral High graduate Linda Harwood, who was awarded
the San Dimas Senior Citizens
Club Scholarship, applauded the
school’s positive culture in her
address. “Here at Chap we were
constantly told that we could
do anything if we only put our
minds to it.”
Student of the Year Sharon
Cont. page 5
July 2014
La Verne Community News
Page 5
News from the Bonita Unified School District
Bonita High School Graduates Lauded for
Leadership and Achievement
Bonita High School 2014 graduate Joseph Neves accepts a handshake
from Principal Robert Ketterling at the June 6 Commencement
Ceremony.
Christian Botello addresses his classmates at the 2014 Bonita High
School graduation ceremony at Citrus College.
Bonita High School Principal
Bob Ketterling recognized the
school’s 492 graduates for their
leadership in the four A’s: academics, athletics, the arts, and activities at Commencement Ceremony
on June 5, 2014, at Citrus College.
Class of 2014 Achievements
• Two hundred forty-two students are enrolled in a four-year
university
• Twenty-one members of the senior class were inducted into the
National Honor Society
• Eighty-seven students earned
a Grade Point Average of 4.0 or
higher
• Girls’ Basketball made it to the
CIF finals and came within a basket of winning the Championship.
• Six teams won Hacienda
League Championships: Boys
Cross Country, Girls Cross Coun-
try, Girls Basketball, Girls Water
Polo, Baseball, and Softball.
• Three athletes, Seth Morales
in wrestling, Dominique (Nicki)
Wheatley in basketball, and
Natalie Rivas in water polo, were
named by the San Gabriel Valley
Tribune and/or the Inland Valley
Daily Bulletin as Athletes of the
Year.
• Natalie Rivas (Girls Water
Polo) and Dominique Wheatley
(Girls Basketball) were named
Hacienda League MVPs
• Dominique Wheatley was
named to All-CIF and All-State
Teams
• Eighty-six percent of the graduates started together in Bonita
Unified School District Kindergarten classes.
• Nineteen seniors had perfect
attendance
• The football team defeated San
Dimas High School 33-13 in the
Smudge Pot
• Seventeen Bonita Student
Athletes will be playing college
athletics
• Jacob Broussard was accepted
into the University of Southern
California’s Thornton’s School of
Music.
• Dillon Nobbs was accepted into
the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. He will be training at Elite Triathlon in Colorado
Springs for a chance to compete in
the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
Salutatorian Dominick Copas took two Honors classes and
twelve Advanced Placement (AP)
classes and tests and is an AP
Scholarship with Distinction. He
played water polo three years and
was named to the All-League,
First Team. He will be attending
St. John’s University in the fall
and studying economics and finance.
Valedictorian Eduardo Gonzalez took three Honors classes and
12 AP Classes and tests. He was
the Associated Student Body president for two years, a phenomenon that has not occurred since
1943. He participated in track and
cross-country for four years and
soccer for two. His senior project
was the Effects of Government on
the Youth of America. He will be
attending Harvard in the fall and
studying government.
Lopez, who also received
the Every Student Succeeding
Award, was given the honor of
leading the students in the poignant turning of their tassels.
Prom King Ruben Benitez asked
students to “take a moment to
reflect on the impossible odds we
faced just to achieve something
that most people take for granted: an education.” Graduates Brianna Luna and Anastasia Tovar
reminded the seniors that “tonight is a celebration; tomorrow
is a new opportunity.”
The ceremony included a slide
presentation with photos from
the school year set to the song
“These are the Days.” “The lyrics
mirrored the thought of each staff
and family member,” Principal
Maureen Williams said. “You are
touched by something that will
grow and bloom in you!”
San Dimas High School graduates (left) Jennifer Aguinaga, Janell
Wheaton, Jackie Clark, and (right) Peter Marquez represent the
Saints at their graduation ceremony June 4.
San Dimas High School graduated 285 students on June 4,
2014. During his address at the
ceremony, Principal Michael Kelly highlighted some of the graduates’ remarkable achievements
and then encouraged the students
to seize their future:
Class of 2014 Achievements
• One hundred and three students are enrolled in a four-year
university
• Nick Aufrecht, Daniel Dubrowa, Aleksy Fernandez, Olivia Hernandez, Cameron Jaeger,
Daniel Mantilla, Fracela Palencia,
Marcus Reedstudents, and Travis
Schiewe maintained perfect attendance for their senior year
Class of 2014 Future Plans
Community College Total: 199 • The class contributed 12,000
University of California Total: hours of community service
• The class established the first
40
California State University ever SDHS Girls Water Polo
Team
Total: 81
Private Colleges and Univer- • Chino Barrios, Hunter Chaputa, Jonah Phipps, and Jacob Pivasities Total: 121
Out-of-State Colleges and roff earned perfect scores on both
sections of the California High
Universities Total: 19
Trade or Technical Schools School Exit Exam (CAHSEE)
• Brandi Elizalde became the
Total: 4
first ever SDHS Girls’ Wrestling
Armed Services Total: 17
CIF Champion
• Travis Schiewe was named
CIF Champion for Character
• Sarah Baiedi was selected for
All State Honor Choir three out of
Acheivement Awards and Scholarships
four years
Accelerated Reader
Brent Smith
• SDHS Football Team won the
Alternative Learning Center Hector Gomez
CIF Championship
Bonita Unified Management Brianna Luna
“And now the time has come
Team Award
to
move
to the next adventure in
Career and Technical Ed
Chase Entrikin
your
life.
San Dimas has been a
Delta Kappa Gamma Society Travis Harker safe
harbor
for all of you to enjoy,
Citizenship Award
and Don Johnson
but
I
want
each of you to think
Economics
Desiree Spadaro
about
these
words attributed to
English
Anastasia Tovar
Mark
Twain:
‘Twenty years from
Every Student Succeeding Award
Sharon Lopez
now
you
will
be
more disappointed
Fine Arts
Josh Arias
by
the
things
you
didn’t do than by
Government
Josh Arias
the
ones
you
did.
So throw off the
Journalism
Michael Trussell
bowlines,
sail
away
from the safe
La Verne-San Dimas Educational Savannah Simpsoson,
harbor.
Catch
the
trade
winds in
Foundation
Desiree Spadaro, your
sails.
Explore.
Dream.
Dis
DJ Thomas, and cover,”
Kelly
said.
Michael Trussell
Undaunted by the crowd of
Math
Savannah Simpson
4,000
friends and family members
Perseverance Award / Student
Sharon Lopez
who
filled
the athletic stadium, Saof the Year lutatorian
Danielle (Nina) Escueta
Renaissance
Alexa Merritt
charged
her
classmates, “We’ll all
ROP Business
Briana Luna
face
the
future
together, because it
ROP Event Planning
Tyler Gebbie
starts
right
here,
right now!”
San Dimas Senior Citizens Club Linda Harwood Valedictorian
John Morcos had
Scholarship
Alexa Merritt
a
similar
message:
“What you did
Sarah Stewart Citizenship and Josh Arias
yesterday,
or
last
week, or last
Perseverance Award Chaparral High School Graduates 44
Cont. from page 4
San Dimas Graduates
Encouraged to Explore, Dream,
Discover
year doesn’t matter. The past is
the past, and the future is yours
for the taking.”
Class of 2014 Future Plans
Community College Total: 146
Community College Transfer
Total: 95
University of California Total:
22
(Berkeley, Davis, Los Angeles,
Merced, Riverside, San Diego,
Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz)
California State University
Total: 43
(Cal Poly Pomona, Cal Poly
San Luis Obispo, Cal St. Channel Islands, Cal St. Chico, Cal St.
Fullerton, Cal St. L.A., Cal St.
Monterey Bay, Cal St. San Bernardino, Cal St. San Marcos, San
Francisco St. Univ.)
California Private Colleges
and Universities Total: 19
(Azusa Pacific University, Biola
University, California Baptist
University, DeVry University,
Fashion Institute of Design &
Merchandizing, Hope International University, LeCordon Bleu,
Pepperdine University, Pitzer
College, Point Loma Nazarene
University, The Art Institute, San
Francisco Art Institute, University of La Verne, University of San
Diego, and University of Southern
California)
Out-of-State Colleges and
Universities Total: 19
(Briar Cliff University, Cesar Ritz
College, Colorado State University, Concordia University, Hofstra University, Northern Arizona
University, Pennsylvania State
University, St. John’s University,
University of Arizona, University
of Florida, University of Northwestern Ohio, University of Oregon, University of Hawaii, Manoa,
Washington State University)
Trade or Technical Schools
Total: 8
(Los Angeles Technical Trade
College, Lufthansa Flight School,
Universal Technical Institute,
JATC Power Lineman School)
Armed Services Total: 19
United States Air Force, United
States Air Force Academy Prep
School, United States Marine
Corps, United States Navy
Total Known Financial Aid
as Reported by Students:
$566,582
Page 6
La Verne Community News
July 2014
July 2014
La Verne Community News
Page 7
Page 8
La Verne Community News
Walnut Groundbreaking
Ceremony for Pomona Valley
Habitat for Humanity
On Monday, June 11, 2014, Pomona Valley Habitat broke ground
for their next project in Walnut.
After many, many months of planning and preparing, now is the
time for action. This project is in
partnership with PV Habitat and
Peninsula Publishing, Southern
California Edison and the City of
Walnut.
“I can honestly say that these
many months of planning have
July 2014
families currently living in the Pomona Valley Habitat service area
are eligible to apply. Pomona Valley Habitat serves the local cities of,
Chino, Chino Hills, Claremont, Covina, Diamond Bar, Glendora, La
Puente, La Verne, Montclair, Ontario, Pomona, Rancho Cucamonga, San Dimas, Upland, Walnut
and West Covina. Please note, for
the Walnut and La Verne houses,
eligible Veterans living in those cities will be given first consideration.
If we are not able to find eligible
Veteran families currently living in
the cities of Walnut and La Verne,
those two houses will also be avail-
known as ABC 2.0 (meaning the
house will be Affordable, Buildable and Certifiable with all green
agencies) is a Net Zero house; it
will produce the energy it needs,
thereby helping the family keep
their energy costs very low.
The Walnut house will not be
a typical Habitat house, but PV
Habitat did not want to pass on
this extensive learning experience
in green building, as well as the opportunity to serve another family.
Interested Veterans should call Pomona Valley Habitat for Humanity at (909) 596-7098 to be placed on
an orientation waiting list. Veteran
able for Veterans living in our entire 16 city service area.
Habitat for Humanity is a global, nonprofit housing ministry operated on Christian principles that
seeks to put God’s love into action
by building homes, communities
and hope. We build our houses in
partnership with volunteers, faith
groups, service clubs, businesses
and local city governments.
For more
how you can
support this
call our office
information on
be involved or
project, please
at 909-596-7098.
been quite a learning experience
for our small Habitat affiliate” said
Jody Gmeiner, President and CEO
of Pomona Valley Habitat for Humanity. “All three groups joined
forces to break ground on this, our
first home for a military or veteran
family”. With about 80 people
in attendance, it was a great opportunity for the partners to meet
with all of the extremely generous
donors to the project. This project,
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July 2014
La Verne Community News
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Page 10
La Verne Community News
July 2014
Classroom is More Daunting Than Jail for Mt.
SAC Grad
Walnut — All together, Joe
Louis spent a year in jail. As a
gangbanger, he had been shot at,
almost stabbed, and incarcerated
with killers and gangsters. But
nothing, he says, was scarier than
his English and statistics classes
He was in the 10th grade for three
years, and when he was supposed
to be
graduating from high school in
2004, he was in a hotel room doing
methamphetamine.
He ended up attending 11 dif-
Joe Louis
at Mt. San Antonio College.
“All of that lifestyle paled in
comparison to the fear I had of
coming to school,” said Louis, who
graduated Friday, June 13 as part
of Mt. SAC’s Class of 2014 with an
associate’s degree in social behavioral sciences.
“Everything I knew in gang life
didn’t apply here. It was so scary
because it was completely different from what I was used to,” he
said.
Walking at graduation seemed
worlds away from where Louis
began. He joined a gang in South
Gate when he was 13 years old.
ferent schools during childhood
and adolescence, and would use
the money his mother gave him
for drugs. Within time, he became addicted. He was eventually
incarcerated on gun possession
charges and landed in the L.A.
County Men’s Central Jail for a
total of 12 months.
“Going to jail is easy because
you don’t have to do anything. You
just have to react,” he said. “But in
college you have to perform and do
what is expected of you.”
Finally, he got into a 12-step
addiction program and received
help from a treatment center on
an outpatient basis. Friends told
him that Mt. SAC was a good
school. He enrolled in 2006, but
dropped out after two semesters
only to return in 2012.
“I was afraid of all the math
and English I would have to do. It
seemed so daunting.”
With help from faculty and the
staff of student support programs
at the college, he was able to overcome his fear, acclimate to college
life, and do well in his classes.
“Talking to faculty and staff in
programs like the English department and ACES support program
and hearing their stories encouraged me and made me think this
is possible.”
Now, the 29-year-old La Puente resident is on the fast track
as far as his education is concerned. Less than two weeks after
he graduated from Mt. SAC, Louis began classes at Cal State L.A.
en route to a bachelor’s degree in
rehabilitation services.
But the train doesn’t stop there.
He wants to go on to earn his master’s and doctorate degrees, and
eventually wants to become a
counselor in either an educational
or rehabilitation setting.
“I want to help those who are
where I once was to give them
hope and encouragement,” he
said.
Joe Louis knows the past is the
past. He can’t change it, but he
can change his future.
“Now, I’m doing things that I
can be proud of,” he said.
Visit us on the internet for news
and events happening now
http://www.lavernecommunitynews.com
July 2014
La Verne Community News
Page 11
Bits ‘n’Pieces of History
45th Anniversary 27 Quick and Easy Fix Ups to
A Beautiful Summer Afternoon of the Deputy
Sell Your Home Fast and for Top
-- and Tragedy
Explorer
Dollar
by Galen Beery, Historical Society of La Verne
Program
with
the
A lady in Tennessee recently his friend Robert McLane, also 7,
La Verne - Because your home trol of your situation, and make
contacted us asking about her mounted their bikes and rode south
may well be your largest asset, the best profit possible.
grandparents, who lived in La Verne towards the railroad tracks looking Graduation of
selling it is probably one of the
In this report you’ll discover
in the 1930’s. We found a La Verne for adventure.
most important decisions you will how to avoid financial disappointLeader article about her uncle, who
make in your life. And once you ment or worse, a financial disaster
This day they found a sump, a Explorer Academy
would have been in his 70’s today. concrete-lined reservoir for waste
have made that decision, you’ll when selling your home. Using a
We also located several of his class- water near the Santa Fe tracks, just Class #92
want to sell your home for the common-sense approach, you will
west of the Mutual Orange Distributors packing plant.
The boys didn’t show up for supper that evening, which was unusual, and their worried parents went
looking for them. Others joined in
the search, finally locating two bicycles near the reservoir. Men found
the boys underwater and pulled
them out. Dr. Robert Worth was
called: he knelt over the two small
bodies and found no signs of life. The
Pomona Fire squad arrived with a
resuscitator but the boys could not be
revived.
The tragedy was a great shock to
families and the community.
The family made the necessary
arrangements and in a day or so,
Ola Mae and her sister boarded the
Santa Fe train east, taking Jackie’s
coffin back to Arkansas to bury near
La Verne, 1940 - Mildred, Jackie and Glen Phillips on the steps of
their home on the Evergreen Ranch.
Valentin Peyton before the Great
War and was hailed as being the
most advanced grove of its time.
Hundreds of citrus trees flourished
in green rows which stretched from
the creek under D Street all the way
to Foothill Boulevard. Several barns
and homes stood south of the present
location of the Methodist Church.
A census-taker came to the Phillips home in 1940 and wrote down
that Ola May’s husband was 39,
she was 34, and daughter Mildred
and son Glen were 15. Jackie was 7.
Their modest home was rented for
$20 per month.
Mildred and Glen rode the school
bus to Bonita Union High School. It
stood halfway between San Dimas
and La Verne: the buildings are now
the site of Damien. Jackie walked
only a block or two to Lincoln School
on the east side of D, where Mildred
and Glen had graduated. They can
be seen in high school photos in the
1939 and 1940 yearbooks.
La Verne was hot that July, as
our summers usually are, and it was
a great time for boys to ride their bicycles around the little town to see
what was happening.
Several days after our traditional
July Fourth parade, Jackie and
family members. His father, sister
and brother sadly packed up and
drove back. They never returned to
La Verne.
The reservoir was later filled in
and paved, and is now a university
parking lot.
Mildred’s daughter, Jana James,
grew up never knowing much about
the tragedy until we found the newspaper article and sent her a copy.
She appreciated the help.
“No one would ever talk much
about the years out there and I am
sure Jackie’s death was the reason”
she wrote. “My mother always hated
to celebrate her birthday. I never understood why until I discovered that
it happened the day before her 16th
birthday.”
------------------------------------------------HS/SOLVE is a non-profit group
organized in 1969 dedicated to Lordsburg/La Verne history and saving
our environment. We have several
meetings and a summer picnic each
year. Do you have old photos, letters,
or artifacts from our history? We’d
like to hear from you. www.LaVerneHistoricalSociety.org.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Celebrate the 45th Anniversary of The Deputy Explorer Program
with the Graduation of Explorer Academy Class #92
On Saturday, June 21, 2014, Assistant Sheriff Richard Barrantes
was joined by Department executives,
representatives from several local law
enforcement agencies and Deputy
Explorer Program alumni to celebrate
the 45th anniversary of the Deputy
Explorer Program and the graduation
ceremony for Explorer Academy Class
92.
There were 121 young men, and
56 young women, 14-20 years old, who
graduated from an intensive, 18-week
training program held at the Sheriff’s
academy in Whittier, California, and
two satellite training facilities in Lancaster and Santa Clarita.
The Explorer Academy trains
young adults who have expressed an
interest in pursuing law enforcement
as a future career in a myriad of law
enforcement topics, such as criminal
law, laws of arrest, defensive tactics,
firearm safety, leadership development, team building, physical training, and law enforcement academics.
All recruits must maintain a “C” average throughout the training program.
Graduates are eligible to receive ten
elective high school units for their efforts.
The first Sheriff’s Explorer Academy class graduated in 1969 with 16
explorers from Norwalk Sheriff’s Station and then-known Newhall Sheriff’s Station. Class 92 had Explorers
from 18 Los Angeles County Sheriff’s
stations and 15 local participating police departments.
Thekeynotespeakerwasoneofthe
original 16 graduates from Explorer
Academy Class 1, Darrell Klasey, who
is a latent fingerprint examiner for the
Solano County Sheriff’s Office. Klasey
reminisced about the first explorer
academy class and his experiences
as a Deputy Explorer at the Norwalk
Sheriff’s Station.
As a tribute to the pioneers of the
Deputy Explorer Program, the training staff wore vintage uniforms from
the late 1960’s. The female explorer
staff members wore skirts and heels,
while the male explorer staff members
wore the formerly-traditional eightpoint dress hats, original hat badges
from that era, and the old-style name
plates on their uniforms.
The Deputy Explorer Program
is a career development and education opportunity open to interested
youth, ages 14-21, with an interest in
pursuing a career in the law enforcement field. Its purpose is to provide
training and experiences that assist
young adults in maturing and becoming more responsible, compassionate,
independent, and self-confident. All
Sheriff’s stations in Los Angeles County have Deputy Explorer posts.
For more information please contact Sergeant Kenn Roller Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
Explorer Program Coordinator at 323
526-5100.
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mates, but it’s been a long time and
they can’t recall him.
La Verne seventy years ago was
a great place, as it is now. But then
a few streets were still unpaved, and
traffic was light. Students in Lincoln
School -- now Roynon -- or La Verne
Heights School knew everyone else.
The entire town smelled of orange
blossoms, with a tinge of smudge
smoke in the winters. Many parents
worked in the citrus industry picking
and boxing oranges and lemons.
During the Depression, around
1935, William and Ola May Phillips
and their three children left Arkansas and came to live in a home on the
outskirts of town on the Evergreen
Ranch. William was skilled with his
hands and worked there as a blacksmith.
The ranch had been planted by
Page 12
La Verne Community News
July 2014
City News From The City of La Verne
Historic Kuns House
Receives Renovation and
Re-dedication
market for purchase today.
House at 2449 Magnolia Street
(southwest corner of Magnolia
and Fifth) has recently received a
The University of La Verne
has begun construction of the new
“Leo Park,” at 2015 D Street, just
“Leo Park” Under
Construction in Old Town La
The historic Henry L. Kuns Verne
Verne and the La Verne Police Officers Association will be hosting
a “Movie Night in the Park” for
two fantastic evenings. The first
movie that will be featured is the
LEGO Movie on Sunday, August
10th. The second movie being featured will be Disney’s Frozen on
Sunday, August 31st. Both movies will start at 8:30 p.m. and will
be held at Heritage Park which
is located at 5001 Via De Mansion. Vendors will be on site selling various refreshments. Bring a
blanket, pack a picnic, and join us
for a night under the stars!
Facility Rentals
The historic Henry L. Kuns House at 2449 Magnolia Street
full, historic renovation and was
re-dedicated on June 13th. The
historic 1911 home had fallen
into serious disrepair. The Uni-
north of Arrow Highway, in Old
Town La Verne. The new onehalf acre park will provide needed
recreation and green space in
The City of La Verne Community Services Department is La
Verne’s first choice for events and
rental space in the community.
Whether it is a corporate event,
meeting, or family event we have
a facility to meet your needs. La
Verne’s facilities can accommodate events from 15-300+ people
in two convenient locations, La
Verne Community Center on “D”
Street and Veterans Hall on Bonita Avenue.
We specialize in weddings
and quinceañeras where we offer
special rental packages. Amenities in our facilities include: audio equipment, multiple table &
chair styles, auditorium, raised
platform stage for presentations
and performances, kitchen, dance
floor, and multi-use rooms. Reserve your next event up to a year
in advance today by contacting
the Community Services Department at (909) 596-8700 or by
visiting our website at www.ci.laverne.ca.us.
Garage Sales
versity of La Verne had acquired
the home for renovation, but ultimately sold it to The Spectra
Company. The Spectra Company, from Pomona and headed
by Claremont resident Ray Adamyk, has a stellar reputation for
refurbishing historic structures
to a high level of quality. Today
the Kuns House is a marvelous
example of La Verne’s historic
craftsman architecture.
The
home is also a historic reminder
of Mr. Henry L. Kuns, one of the
La Verne community’s historic
figures. As shared on the home’s
historic bronze plaque- “Henry L.
Kuns was the son of David Kuns,
one of four men who established
Lordsburg College. Kuns was a
rancher, realtor, banker, and first
mayor of Lordsburg. He founded
an orphanage named for his parents, David and Margaret, and
created the park, later named in
his honor”. The home is on the
proximity to the University and
Old Town. The site is the former
location of the now demolished
Fruit Exchange Building (aka Organizational Management Building). Once complete, the park will
include a lawn area, a lighted basketball court, stationary fitness
equipment, park benches, and a
public art display. The public art
display will, utilizing etched zinc
panels, depict a historic panoramic photograph of the La Verne
Orange and Lemon Growers Association Building that once stood
nearby the site. The park will retain three mature Oak trees and
one mature Camphor tree. The
park will be open for use by University students, staff, and will
be open to the public as well. The
park’s construction is expected to
be complete by this August.
Movie Night in the Park
This summer the City of La
The City of La Verne allows
two garage sales per year. Each
permit is valid for ten consecutive
days with the first date beginning
at a date of your choice and expiring ten days later. Each permit is
$10 and can be purchased at City
Hall Monday through Thursday
between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
When City Hall is closed, a permit
can be purchased at the Police Department located on Third Street.
The application may be picked up
at City Hall or can be obtained by
going to the City’s web site www.
ci.la-verne.ca.us and clicking on
“forms” under the Finance heading. All items must be owned by
the resident of the premises and
not include goods purchased to
be resold (i.e. all items are used
goods).
Conserve and Recycle in La
Verne
How do we use our water residentially?
The average household in La
Verne uses approximately 18,500
gallons of water per month. This
sounds like a lot, so where does it
all go? According to the California
Building Industry Association,
the typical household uses approximately 617 gallons of water
a day.
57% on landscaping, 17% for
showering, 9% overwatering, 9%
for kitchen and bathroom faucets, 4% on toilets and another 4%
washing clothes.
This means over 10,000 gallons per month is going outside
alone! 9,250 gallons on landscaping and 1,665 are wasted on the
sidewalks, streets and areas adjacent to landscaping. To give you
an idea, each sprinkler head has
similar flow and water usage to
a shower head. An average front
yard has about 10-20 sprinkler
heads, (often more) that each run
between 15-45 minutes a week,
similar to having 10-20 extra people showering at your home 3-5
times a week. Some would argue
that this isn’t the most efficient
use for so much water.
As our population grows and
dry seasons are continuing, water
managers are looking for newer
ways to conserve. Due to our proactive community in La Verne,
most homes are now equipped
with low flow shower heads, faucets, toilets and efficient washing
machines. One of the underutilized residential water saving
opportunities lies in landscaping
and outdoor use.
If you would like to help cut
down on your outdoor water use
and utilize rebates, we encourage
you to explore more efficient sprinkler heads, drip irrigation systems
and drought tolerant landscaping.
Because of all the great rebates
available, NOW is the time to
retrofit your yard to save money
and our precious limited water resources. Please contact the Public
Works Department at 909-5968741 for more information on how
you can get rebates for the above
listed products.
Recycling Reminders:
Over recent years, the recycling
industry has made great strides
in efficiency and recycling is now
easier than ever before. Waste
Management will pick up a variety of recyclables from your gray
bin, curbside. In fact 63% of paper
products, 50% of aluminum, 28%
of glass and 9% of plastic products
are already being recycled.
Overall, we’re doing well, but
there is always room for mprovement…especially when it comes
to plastics. Plastic is not only filling our landfills and depleting
natural resources, but our reliance on it is emptying our pockets
as well. Production of one year’s
supply of water bottles consumes
more than 1.5 million barrels of
oil, enough to power 100,000 cars
for a whole year! Additionally,
the cost of a plastic bottle filled
with water is around $.17 per ½
liter bottle compared to a refillable and reusable cup filled with
tap water, which would cost less
than a penny per gallon, in addition to the one-time cost of the cup.
Next time you reach for that plastic bottle, please rethink whether
it’s necessary or if a reusable cup
would be a better choice.
What to throw in your gray
recycling bin:
Aluminum Cans (do not crush)
Aerosol cans (must be completely
empty)
Aluminum foil (Residue free)
Steel or “tin cans”
Cardboard-tissue boxes and shipping boxes
Clothes hangers
Magazines/catalogs
(including
glossy paper)
Paper-news, brochures, office,
computer, ledger, colored, junk
mail, coupons, phone books, envelopes (including window envelopes), tubes and wrapping paper
Paperboard (commonly used for
cereal boxes)
Paper cardboard (commonly used
for pizza boxes, dairy and juice
cartons)
Glass (clear, brown and green)cosmetic bottles, jars,
Plastic (with codes 1-7 on the
back)-milk jugs
Polystyrene-cd cases, license plate
frames and computer cases
What needs to head to the
black bin:
Any materials with food residue
Glass contaminated with stones
or dirt
Ceramics (dishware, ovenware or
decorative)
Heat resistant glass
Mixed colored broken glass
Mirror or window glass
Metal or plastic lids and caps
Crystal
Miscellaneous items:
Used household batteries-La
Verne City Hall, Community
Center or Hazardous Waste
Most electronics & light bulbsHazardous Waste (visit www.
lacsd.org for upcoming events)
Large items (furniture, mattresses, etc.)-Waste Management
Large Item Pick Up-909-599-1274
(Residents get 4 large item pickups per year for FREE)
City of La
Verne Annual
Water Quality
Report
La Verne — The City of La
Verne has released its annual
water quality report for 2013. The
report was mailed to residents the
week of June 9th and is also available on the City’s website at www.
ci.la-verne.ca.us.
Water quality reports are
available in person at La Verne
City Hall, the La Verne Library,
the La Verne Community Center
or in the City Council Chambers.
For more information or if you
would like a copy of the report
mailed to you, please contact the
water customer service department at (909) 596-8744.
Therapy Dogs
Needed
Do you have a friendly dog who
LOVES meeting people young
and elderly. Gets along great
with dogs outside of their own
family dog. Sharing your time
volunteering with a Therapy Dog
on visits is a wonderful rewarding
time. Come One, Come All, Lend
A Paw! Contact Kelly K-9 to see
how you and your dog can possibly become Therapy Certified.
909-599-8844 kellysk9college@
aol.com www.kellysk9college.com
July 2014
La Verne Community News
Page 13
La
Verne Chamber of Commerce Chair’s Message Villa’s Market Now Offers U.S.
By Nikki Hoar
I am truly honored to be named the Chairman of the Board of the La Verne Chamber of Commerce for the Postal Services
2014-2015 fiscal year, and would like to thank outgoing Chair Micky Rehm of Micky’s Jewelry Studio for her
leadership, friendship and guidance during this past year. Her drive and determination were inspiring, as
was her commitment to both the Chamber of Commerce and the city of La Verne.
On June 12,, the La Verne Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Installation and Awards Dinner at
Hillcrest. Please join us in acknowledging our award recipients:
Non-Profit of the Year Pomona Valley Habitat for Humanity
Apreciation of Service
Jersey Mike’s
Green Business of the Year
Waste Management
Chamber Spirit
Bhavini Feldman, Express Cash
Chamber Champion
Michael Mergil , Modern Mayhem Sweets
Chamber Support
Michael Costuma, Coastal Valley Publications
Chamber Partnership
Southern California Edison
What Would We Do Without You Marianne Stark, M.K. Stark Co.
Volunteer of the Year
Julie Griffith, David and Margaret Youth & Family Services
Young Professional of the Year
Amie Boersma, San Dimas Community Hospital
Ambassador of the Year
Melinda Dilwicius, Foothill Federal Credit Union
New Business of the Year
Atlas Spinal Care, Dr. Timothy Flory
Chamber Member of the Year
Nikki Hoar, MTOClean
Business of the Year
San Dimas Community Hospital
I would like to personally congratulate each recipient for their remarkable achievements over the past
year. They are all a tribute to the La Verne Chamber of Commerce and the city alike. DPI
and Giving
Despite a rebounding economy,
charitable giving by America’s
largest and most lucrative corporations is not on the rise. According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy and other such publications,
corporations are actually giving
a smaller percentage of their pretax profits – around .8% as compared to 2.1% in 1986.
But maybe small businesses
can step up in a big way and help
fill the gap.
One such small business that
has done just that is DPI Labs,
an aerospace manufacturing company in La Verne that specializes
in making parts such as cockpit
switches, cabin management systems and high definite entertainment for the cabins of private, corporate, military and heads of state
aircraft.
Since 2007, DPI Labs has
backed an offshoot non-profit,
Sowing Seeds for Life, which started out as a regional food bank. It
has steadily grown over the past
seven years, mainly because of an
annual celebrity golf tournament
and other fundraising ventures.
The tournament has drawn
such people as former Lakers
Jerry West, James Worthy, Elgin
Baylor and former Laker coach
Bill Sharman, Kings announcer
Bob Miller, former Dodgers Ron
Cey, Bill Russell, Steve Garvey,
Al Downing and Tommy Davis,
broadcaster and entertainer Roy
Firestone, horse racing announcer
Trevor Denman, retired jockey
Laffit Pincay and many more.
Sowing Seeds for Life is announcing that it is expanding its
services. Besides feeding people in
need it will also do more in helping
them get back into the work force.
The plan calls for a consorted effort with LA Works, a government
job placement agency that DPI
Labs has been involved with for
years.
“The food we give away will get
them here, and then we can offer
them training and counseling and
even get them a job,” said Sowing
Seeds for Life’s founder and CEO,
Vicki Brown.
Brown is also the CEO and
president of DPI Labs.
In 2007, the pastor at Brown’s
church gave her and several other
members of the congregation $100
each and asked them to use that
money to do something to serve
their communities.
Brown used the $100 to plant
a garden on top of the hill behind
her Glendora home. Her plan was
to take produce from the garden
and give it away to people in need.
Year award, which is given out by
state assemblyman Chris Holden
of the 41st District. The award
nomination was mainly due to
DPI Labs’ involvement with LA
Works and its Transitional Sub-
She soon learned from the
seeds she had sown that there
were hungry people in her community and others in the area.
She went to business partner
Greg DeSmet with the idea of using DPI Labs money to start a regional food bank. She solicited the
aid of the L.A Regional Food Bank
and Feeding America, and from
there came the creation of Sowing Seeds for Life, which provides
food, clothing and various services
to people in the East San Gabriel
Valley.
These days hundreds of people
line up in the DPI Labs parking
lot at 1350 Arrow Highway for
the twice-a-month food pantries
on the first and third Wednesday
of every month. Some food banks
just hand pre-selected items, but
at Sowing Seeds for Life food
pantries people get their choice of
produce, nonperishable food, frozen meats, plus bottled water and
various beverages.
The charity also provides food
to churches and other charities in
the area, and it has been steadily
growing over the past seven years.
Business students from nearby
University of La Verne come to
the food pantries to offer job counseling on a limited basis, and students from the Ontario campus
of the West Coast Ultrasound
Institute recently began offering
free screenings for potential blood
stoppages and blood pressure
tests.
DPI Labs recently was nominated for a Small Business of the
sidized Employment Program,
more commonly known as TSE.
“We have had at least 50 employees at DPI that came through
the TSE program,” Brown said.
In conjunction with award
nomination and a certificate presentation from Holden representative Matt Lyons, Brown held
an informal news conference to
announce Sowing Seeds for Life’s
expanded services, highlighted by
job counseling and job placement.
Those attending the news conference besides Lyons included La
Verne resident David McElwain,
who submitted DPI Labs for consideration as a nominee, La Verne
Mayor Don Kendrick, La Verne
Chamber of Commerce CEO Brian McNerney, and Mario Rodriguez, client services coordinator at
the Irwindale office of LA Works.
The Small Business of the
Year award nomination is one of a
number of honors for DPI, Sowing
Seeds and Brown in recent years.
In April, Brown was among 24
women from the East San Gabriel
Valley honored by Congresswoman Grace Napolitano as “unsung
heroines” for their roles as volunteers for various charitable organizations and agencies.
In February, Brown received
an award from LA Works for her
active support of vocational training and the hiring of clients of the
agency.
In April of 2013, Brown was
honored by the University of La
Verne’s ENACTUS team of business students for her community
The La Verne Chamber of
Commerce has welcomed a new
member that is also part of the
United States Postal Service family: The Village Post Office in Villa’s Market, located at 1912 Arrow
Hwy., La Verne.
“The Village Post Office (VPO)
is a terrific way for businesses in
rural - and suburban - America
to provide their customers with
convenient access to postal products and services, becoming the
ultimate convenience store,” says
owner Tarlochan “Tar” Singh
Randhono. “VPOs have become a
way to extend postal access while
supporting local businesses. VPOs
offer a range of popular products
and services, including P.O. boxes,
‘forever’ stamps, Prepaid Priority
Mail Flat Rate envelopes, and a
mail collection box.”
Located inside established
businesses and other places consumers already frequent, VPOs
offer Postal Service customers
time-saving convenience, and in
most cases, longer hours than
regular Post Offices. The hours for
the Post Office in Villa’s Market
are 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. daily, with
a convenient collection box located
in front of the business.
Other services offered by Villa’s
Market are California Lottery,
Check cashing, Western Union,
money orders, and authorized
point-of-pay for Southern California Edison, The Gas Company ,
Verizon, and many others. The
store has almost anything you
can think of in a friendly, homey
atmosphere. Owner Tar and
Manager Malik “ Mike” Awan
are helpful and always greet you
with a warm welcome. You can
purchase Indian snacks and groceries, as well as cleaning items,
household goods, cosmetics, beer,
wine and cigarettes, a smoke
shop and many more items. Store
hours are 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. daily.
LeRoy Haynes Host of
Multi- Chamber Mixer
LA VERNE CHAMBER’S
BRIAN
MCNERNEY
ANNOUNCES RAFFLE WINNERS
– Brian McNerney, second from
left, President and CEO of the La
Verne Chamber of Commerce,
calls the winners of a table full
of raffle prizes at the eight-city
multi-chamber mixer hosted annually by LeRoy Haynes Center
in La Verne. Several hundred
chamber members pack the room
each year. Pictured, from left, are
LeRoy Haynes Center President
and CEO Dan Maydeck; McNerney; LeRoy Haynes Center Program Director Derrick Perry; and,
claiming his prize, Mark Levy, of
Palace Pet Salon in La Verne.
The LeRoy Haynes Center
provides specialized treatment
and educational services to children with special needs relating to
emotional development, autism,
Asperger’s Disorder, learning disabilities, neglect and abandonment.
The group home facility has
grown from its initial 10 residents
to six cottages, each housing 12
children. Mental health treatment services are provided to every resident.
The Haynes Education Center,
a non-public school founded in
1989 as a companion to the group
home facility, initially provided
schooling to the children of what
was formerly LeRoy Boys Home.
It has grown to serve not only the
children who live on campus but
the community as a whole, accepting children (boys and girls) from
14 school districts throughout
Southern California.
The entire facility serves 350 to
400 children annually through its
four basic programs – therapeutic residential treatment, transitional housing, Haynes Education
Center and mental health.
services.
In 2011, Brown was presented with the L.A. Regional Food
Bank’s Tony Collier Award for
her dedicated commitment in the
fight again hunger. She is a past
finalist for the Lewis A. Shattuck
Small Business Advocate of the
Year Award.
“All I am doing is what I view
as a greater good for the community by using my simple gifts of
encouragement,” Brown said. “It
just takes a gentle nudge from
your heart. It is not about me; it is
a gift from God.”
For more information, contact
the LeRoy Haynes Center at 233
West Baseline Road, La Verne,
CA 91750, (909) 593-2581, or visit
the web site at www.leroyhaynes.
org.
Page 14
La Verne Community News
July 2014
City of La Verne’s Military Members
Is a Reverse Mortgage Right for
Who are Currently Serving as of June 12, 2014 You? Top Ten Reasons…
ARMY
**In Memory of
Cory F. Hiltz-Army**
**In Memory of
Jose O. Belmontes-Army**
Steve P. Acuff Jr.
Christopher T. Allan
Brent Apodaca
Dennis M. Ascencio
Brett E. Babb
Michael C. Badet
Jared A. Behounek
Andrew D. Bissell
Joseph R. Bock
Daniel Bout
Cody A. Boardman
James Bunsold
David M. Cabot
Aaron B. Castro
Jason Cheney
Donovan Coble
Logan Coble
Michael Cross
Francisco Cruz
Allen T. Dade Jr.
Stephanie Daly Long
Joseph C. Dunken
Sean M. Ellingson
Jordan Fankhauser
Brandon T. Flores
Luis M. Gamboa Jr.
Leonard Garcia
Nick J. Garry
Ian T. Goetz
Remberto Gutierrez
Luke F. Hall
Jennifer Haskell
Daniel J. Head
Patrick J. Heskett
Alan J. Hoffman
Alex I. Jamsa
Christen H. Jamsa
Scott P. Jefferson
Jake S. Kausen
Alexander Kurdoghlian
Karl Kurtz
Michael Liscano
Jordan J. Long
Christopher R. Lopez
Thomas Madrid
Michael Magdaleno
Loran McClung
Andrew McKindley
Charlene M. Morales
Brent R. Moreno
Michael S. Moreno
Jared S. Nelson
Trisha M. Newton
John A. Oliver
Erik R. Pereyra
Robert Perez
Michael Porras
Robert Quinn
Ricky Rickords
Kelly R. Rojas
Mariah M. Rojas
Ernie Sanchez
Alexander B. Sandona
Ryan Sinclair
Nicholas A. Soza
Marco Stogsdill
David A. Taylor
Timothy P. Timmins
Benjamin A. Tirado
Julian J. Torres-Palomino
Joshua M. Trout
Mark A. Vinci
Louis N. Werrick
Joe Williams
Stephen V. Williams II
Brent A. Wilson
Christopher A. Woods
MARINES
Ronald M. Alberca
Joshua M. Albert
Michael Arballo Jr.
John Beaucar
Robert Belleville
Mario Blancas
Ryan J. Burkovich
Steven Bustillos Jr.
Jonathon Cardinal
Christopher Cassinelli
Joshua Castaneda
Ryon J. Clark
Jeremy D. Delgadillo
Brian Drechsler
Gerard M. Fillion
David R. Flickinger
Kevin R. Flickinger
George L. Frey Jr.
Kenneth V. Fuqua
Daniel D. Gabaldon
Anthony M. Godinez
Frank P. Gonzales
Daniel J. Grant
Justin W. Grimm
Donald J. Hadden
Amede Hanson
Dane Hanson
Diana M. Hernandez
Brian Higeons Dewhurst
Michael R. Jacobellis
Jason Lau
Brian Link
Michael Lopez
Anthony J. Magallanes
Isaac T. Martinez
Fernando E. Miranda
Andrew Morales
Michael D. Morales
Jered M. Mundt
Christopher L. Negrette
Dennis M. Parker Jr.
Justin J. Pelot
Brandon M. Peralta
Alfred Perchez
Xavier C. Ries
Patrick A. Romero
Ryann Sartor
Aaron Joseph Serna
Andrew D. Serrano
Matt Shaupp
Isaiah M. Telnas
Ryan M. Torrez
Alexander W. Vance
Daniel D. Vargas
Darin H. West
Michael L. Yslas
AIR FORCE
Brent A. Baker
Jeffrey W. Baker
Eric R. Barrios
Philip Bartoo
Laural E. Bernard
Bradford C. Brooks
Christopher Buckley
Joel Carrera
Gustavo F. Castillo
Scott Chalmers
Cole M. Connors
Derek Dreyfuss
Eric C. Fleury
Anthony L. Fox II
Edmundo Gamiao Pena
Scott Garcia
Michael A. Gomez
Maria Gomez-McKinney
Courtney X. Hawkins
Samantha Hegg
Olivia Latham-McMahon
Michelle C. Layman
Brian A. Leon
Robert A. Leyba
Jimmy Lopez
Ryan P. McKee
Wesley J. Moore
Kassidy Morikawa
Michael L. Narmore
Sean V. Orme
Dylan M. Ornelas
Desiree R. Patterson
Brian Peters
Joshua S. Pettus
Ardi B. Pribadi
Earle L. Rojas
Jacquelyn Ruffino
Chad J. Ryan
Andrew J. Saldana
Branden N. Shepperd
Heath L. Shepperd
Daniel J. Sullivan
Garrett R. Tolle
Allison N. Ziolkowski
NAVY
Joseph A. Aldana
Christian A. Arteaga
Brett A. Augarten
Ronald D. Ballenger II
Luz C. Bautista
Ray A. Bernal
Tiana Browner
Michael S. Buckhannon
Venessa V. Burgos
Kristopher E. Cervantes
Steven I. Davis
Marquis K. Dawson
Gary L. Deal
Scott D. Dennis
Christy A. Dismukes
Matthew F. Espina
Paul A. Espinoza
Robert R. Espinoza
Dan Farnsworth
Christopher J. Finch
Travis M. Garcia
Kimberley Glaeser
David C. Halberg
Shawn Harden
Mark D. Heller
Wesley T. Knudson
Curtis L. Lacey
Cameron Link
Jesse Loera III
Christopher D. Lucero
Christopher C. Lupton
David A. Manuel
Renee M. Martinez
Samuel A. Martinez
Shelby A. McWilliams
Ariana J. Medina
Dominic A. Morales
Dean Nusbaum
Michael J. Ortega
David E. Palfrey
Bruce Peterson
Ethan M. Reifer
Nathan S. Rhodes
Peter Rodriguez
Cameron Rosen
Qasim Shakir
Sam Shwetz
Derek Stogsdill
Jonathan L. Stremel
James L. Tiffie
Julie R. Torres
Andrew Touche
John V. Trapani
Erik N. Ursulo
Kenneth Valmonte
Louis O. Velarde III
COAST GUARD
Daniel R. Almada
Nathaniel M. Batoon
Sean T. Dawson
Austin M. King
Aaron M. Lee
Kevin A. Morris
Dan E. Miller
La Verne – A Reverse Mortgage is
an effective finance tool allowing
Seniors additional cash by converting a portion of their home equity into loan proceeds which can
supplement their retirement. Unlike a traditional mortgage, there
are no monthly loan payments to
a bank.
Top Ten Reasons a Reverse Mortgage may be right for you:
1. Refinance your current mortgage and no payments!
2. Supplement your retirement
income.
3. Buy a home and have no monthly payment. Called a Reverse
Purchase. Downsize – Empty
Nesters sell your large home and
buy a smaller single story home.
*Transfer your low property tax
rate to your new home! See below
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4. Insurance in case of reduced income, credit line option to be used
only when needed by you.
5. Unexpected expenses: home
repairs, car replacement, medical
bills – money is yours to use as you
wish.
6. Retire early and postpone social
security benefits until age 67 to receive larger benefits.
7. Offers both Fixed and Adjustable rate options, your choice.
Rates are low – a good reason to
do it now.
8. Flexibility, receive your Reverse
Mortgage proceeds by cash, credit
line or monthly income to you.
9. Keep your retirement accounts
longer by using the reverse mortgage proceeds instead.
10. Peace of mind, insured by
FHA with safeguards in place.
You retain full ownership of your
home.
The FHA Reverse Mortgage is
one of the most flexible and valuable assets a retiree may utilize.
You owe it to yourself to learn how
these important benefits can help
you.
Get more Reverse Mortgage Information today, visit us at: www.
ReverseMortgageGuideCA.com
Free Online Info with No obligation! This website is simple to use
and full of useful information including: How it works, Most asked
Top 10 Questions, even a Reverse
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much you qualify for.
Go online today! Find out if it’s
Right for You.
*To hear a brief recorded message
about how to order your FREE
copy of “California Property Tax
Secrets” call toll-free 1-800-5544294 and enter 3088 . You can call
any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days
a week.
This report is courtesy of California NMLS 252371. Copyright © 2014
A HANDYMAN
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July 2014
La Verne Community News
Travel Story
Story & Photos By Stan Wawer
Welcome to Kuala Lumpur,
where everything is the best, the
tallest or biggest in the
world. Whether that is true
or not is up to
interpretation.
One thing is
Stan Wawer
certain; KL (as
it is known) may be the cleanest city
in the world.
Kuala Lumpur, a federal territory, directly under the control of
the Malaysian federal government,
easily outdistances any other large
city for the title of Mr. Clean. Graffiti? You will not find it here. Those
well beyond the boundaries of the
territory into surrounding Selangor
state, particularly along the Klang
Valley — the powerhouse of the
Malaysian economy, where much
of the city’s workforce and industry
reside.
On my first day in KL, I took a
group tour of the city with Rosli as
our guide. He took us to the King’s
Palace first, about a 20-minute drive
from our hotel, the Ritz-Carlton.
We arrived at the official residence of the king greeted by a ceremonial guard on Horseback. Malaysia is a positional monarchy. A
king holds a five-year term. There
are nine royal families in the coun-
The 88-story, 1,483-foot-high Petronas Towers.
who are caught defacing public
property are punished with the loss
of a hand. A little harsh perhaps,
but it works as a salient deterrent.
I traveled to Kuala Lumpur
with great trepidation. Friends and
family reminded me that Malaysia
was a Muslim country and as an
American, it might be wise to find
someplace “safer” to travel. I’m glad
that I did not take their advice. I
found KL safe, squeaky clean and
friendly — and English is the language of choice.
I walked the streets alone at
night without incident and was
greeted time and time again by
smiling faces. The young crowd
starts partying after midnight and
continues until the sun comes up
over this city of more than 1.3 million people.
KL is a modern Asian city of
beautiful skyscrapers, including
the Petronas twin towers (once the
tallest building in the world), but it
retains much of its local flavor that
has disappeared in other Asian
boom cities such as neighboring
Singapore. KL is a mix of Moorish
and modern design.
KL has a plethora of colonial
buildings in its center; a vibrant and
historical Chinatown with street
vendors and night markets, a bustling Little India and in the middle
of the city, the oldest rain forest in
the world.
The city’s urban sprawl extends
try and they rotate the ceremonial
position. Yellow is the official color
of royalty. The palace is almost 50
acres and has its own golf course.
The king serves as chief of police
and head of the military police. The
changing of the guard takes place
every four hours.
Malaysia uses the British system of government — Lower House
and the Sultan Abdul Samad Building — the Big Ben of KL. There is
a 305-foot-high flagpole where the
Malaysia flag hangs. “It’s the highest flagpole in the world,” Rosli said
proudly. “We like to show the world
we have the tallest everything.”
In the same vicinity lies the old
cricket club, Selangor Club, with
its mock-Tudor architecture, plus
Cathedral of Virgin St. Mary, one of
Malaysia’s oldest Anglican churches. Stroll around the area to appreciate the other old colonial buildings
with their captivating Moorish designs.
When Malaysia was a British
colony, England had its information
office in Independence Square. Malaysia was given its independence
from England in 1957. In 1974, it
became a federal territory. Close by
is a building that once was a British
prison but is now a police station.
The British built the city’s old train
station. For obvious reasons, there
is still a strong English influence in
Malaysia.
Melaka was Malaysia’s name
before independence. Overlooking
Independence Square is the Bukit
Aman (peace mountain) building. The Malaysian flag has 15 red
and white stripes, representing the
country’s 15 states. The blue field
represents harmony, yellow is royal
and the star and moon represents
Islam. A memorial to Malaysia’s
independence opened in August of
2002 in KL. Malaysia’s independence day is Aug. 31.
As we drove toward Modern
Chinatown, we passed a cemetery
where World War II Japanese
soldiers are buried. The Modern
Chinatown area is called River of
Money because of the business that
takes place in the area. The RitzCarlton is in the River of Money.
This is KL’s Golden Triangle. The
city is in the middle of a confluence
of two river mouths (Kuala Lumpur means “muddy convergence”).
The Petronas is the landmark in
this area.
KL has a park where Asians
had their first meeting in the city
and where the Chinese go for Tai
Chi exercise. The park is more than
222 acres. In the park there are 260
species of birds — the largest number in the world, according to Rosli.
The Islamic Heritage Museum
has artifacts from all over the world.
At this site is the Malaysian national mosque. It was completed in
1986 for 10 million Ringetts. It holds
Sri Maha Mariaman Temple in Chinatown is the oldest Hindu temple
in KL.
(senate) and Upper House (representatives) of Parliament.
In Jalan Raja Chulan, you can
explore the city’s colonial core where
even more structural marvels await
you. These include the National
History Museum, Independence
Square (where the Union Jack flag
was lowered and the Malayan flag
was first raised after independence)
up to 10,000 people and is generally
filled on Friday.
The two rivers, the Kelang and
Gombak, head straight for the
Melaka Sea. Where the two rivers join is the oldest mosque in KL,
built by the British.
Old Chinatown is in the old part
of KL. It was once the trading post
for Chinese who came to KL dur-
Page 15
ing British rule. It’s always been
Chinatown. They have a night
market that is a beehive of activity.
You can purchase knockoffs of topname brands here. Copyright laws
have become an issue, according to
Rosli — especially with CDs. These
knockoffs are openly sold here, not
like in the states.
The Sri Maha Mariaman Temple is the oldest Hindu Temple in
KL. It’s in the heart of Old Chinatown. You have to leave your shoes
asked us if we got two pair free for
the purchase of two pair. Everyone
enjoyed a nice laugh at our expense.
I learned quickly that the scooter
is KL’s favorite mode of transportation. They are everywhere, scooting
in and out of traffic.
Malaysia has one of the most
beautiful and modern airports in
the world. A clean, high-speed train
zips you along the countryside into
Kuala Lumpur. Sunday on the way
in by train, we passed some low-in-
The Malaysian flag flies atop the tallest flagpole in the world.
outside. There is a nominal fee (20
cents when I was there) to hold
your shoes. The temple is free. The
Indian population in KL is about 7
percent.
We visited Royal Selangor
Pewter Factory, the largest pewter factory in the world, situated at
Setapak, north of Kuala Lumpur.
The combinations of 97 percent tin
and 3 percent copper and antimony
makes pewter. Young Peng Kai
founded the factory. He developed
pewter industry in KL in the 1930s
and ’40s. There is still tin mining in
Malaysia, but it’s no longer as profitable. The famous Royal Selangor
pewter, hand-made to its perfection, is known worldwide. The
factory has more than 700 skilled
craftsmen producing pewter ranging from cutlery, jugs, souvenirs,
goblets and more.
Part of the process is hammering. It takes six months to learn to
hammer and the lady we watched
can do 50 a day. The girl doing the
hammering has been an employee
for more than 35 years.
The Petronas Towers are open
Tuesday through Sunday. You can
go up to the observation deck or to
the skybridge, which is 558 feet
up. Above that point are offices.
The twin towers are 1,483 feet high
and 88 stories. We had lunch at KL
Tower (one of the world’s tallest
towers at 1,403 feet), which overlooks the city. Four of us were wearing shorts, which is a no-no in the
restaurant. They had drawstring,
baggy, flowery pants for us to wear.
High fashion. A KL gentleman, who
does business in Allentown, PA,
come housing. People had laundry
hanging from their balconies, but
almost every balcony had a satellite
dish. Welcome to the 21st century.
If You Go
The rate of exchange is 3.22 Ringetts to the US dollar.
Malaysia Airlines flies from LAX
to Kuala Lumpur, with a stopover
in Taipei, Taiwan. Check flights
and prices on www.malaysiaairlines.com.
Where to Stay
The Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur. It is the first all-butler hotel in
Malaysia and includes complimentary continental breakfast served in
your room. For more information,
go online at www.ritzcarlton.com.
The JW Marriott is on Bintang
Walk in the heart of the “Golden
Triangle.” Go online at www.marriott.com.
All information is accurate at the
time of publication but prices, dates
and other details are all subject to
change. Confirm all information
before making any travel arrangements.
Travel Editor Stan Wawer is a
La Verne resident, a member of the
Society of American Travel Writers
and editor of his own travel blog,
www.travelwithstan.blogspot.com.
Address all travel related questions
to his blog. His travel Facebook page
is www.facebook.com/TravelWithStan.
Page 16
La Verne Community News
July 2014