Sports League Champs page 4
Vol. 55, No. 04
Education Chalk Talk, page 2 - 3
Serving the San Gabriel Valley Since 1966
February 21, 2018
El Monte Celebrates Holiday Inn Grand Opening by Staff Writer El Monte
An impressive chandelier adorns the lobby of the Holiday Inn, bringing an enchanting ballroom feel to the newly constructed hotel. Over 130 guests joined the City of El Monte in the grand opening of the Holiday Inn February 8. The celebration featured speeches by project stakeholders, facility tours and a ribbon cutting ceremony. The Holiday Inn is the first hotel to open in the City in the last five years. Council Members expressed their gratitude towards the City staff, project stakeholders and community for investing in El Monte. “We are thrilled with the grand opening of the Holiday Inn,” said El Monte Mayor Andre Quintero. “This hotel will provide much needed revenue to the City and serve as a catalyst for future economic growth.” With 93,200 square-feet of space, the Holiday Inn features 133 rooms that can accommodate nearly 400 guests. The hotel also features an outdoor swimming pool and a fitness center furnished with new equipment, which allows guests to enjoy a vacation experience while staying active.
El Monte’s City Council and Holiday Inn staff commemorate with the ribbon cutting event. Photo courtesy from the City of El Monte.
As part of the tour, guests also viewed the conference room spaces and banquet rooms. The Holiday Inn conference rooms can accommodate up to 150 guests and the banquet
rooms can seat up to 120 patrons. “From the exterior to the interior, the El Monte Holiday Inn represents elegance and a comfortable hotel for people to stay when visiting our
City. We look forward to seeing many community events here,” said Council Member Jerry Velasco. “We thank Holiday Inn continued on page 8
Project Angel Food Delivered Hope and Health on Valentine’s Day by R. Conner, Staff Writer El Monte
Loneliness, isolation, and fear are common to those struggling with devastating diseases, especially among the underserved and disadvantaged. Project Angel Food’s mission is to feed and nourish the sick as they battle critical illness. We believe our clients should not have to choose between purchasing the medicine they so desperately need or suffer the rav-
ages of hunger and malnutrition. For Valentine’s Day, Project Angel Food delivered a delicious and nutritious meal of beef stroganoff with noodles, turmeric rice and zucchini with red bell peppers, fresh baked cookies, tote bags and bracelets made by volunteers to six families throughout the community of El Monte. Councilwoman Vicki Martinez, a volunteer in delivering meals and companionship, said “It is my hope that by introducing Project Angel Food to the El Monte community and hopefully the San Gabriel Valley region, more critically ill people will take utilize this FREE resource.” Upon medical verification, meal service is initiated, sometimes within 24 hours of the first contact. Project Angel Food keeps tabs on each client’s nutritional intake, health issues, complications, personal challenges and other developments. On an annual basis, Project Angel Food cooks and delivers over
One of the kitchens that helps cook the for the Project Angel Food. Courtesy Photo
560,000 meals to residents throughout the 4,000 square miles of Los Angeles County, using more than 90 routes from Long Beach in the south, Lancaster in the north, Santa Monica in the west to Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley. Serious illness can be very isolating, and drivers are often the only human interaction a client may have during their day.
Through savory meals, Project Angel Food fosters a culture of love and support that extends beyond Valentine’s Day. As Councilwoman Martinez said it best “At Project Angel Food, the food is great, the people are great, and it is all done with one mission in mind: FOOD IS LOVE.” Project Angel Food continued on page 8
Mid Valley News
Page 2
February 21, 2018
EL MONTE UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
Chalk Talk
Mt. View High School Hosts Monthly Workshop on Anti-Bullying by Staff Writer El Monte
El Monte Union High School District and Foothill Family Service have partnered to host informative workshops for parents that touch on challenging issues their children may be facing, including bullying and anxiety. The workshops are part of an overall effort to engage parents and increase their involvement. Courtesy photo
El Monte Union is hosting several workshops to provide parents with information, resources and guidance on the challenges their children may be facing as they tackle the rigors of high school, from bullying and goalsetting to drug use and anxiety – part of the District’s overall efforts to engage parents to have a hand in their child’s success. The Spanish-language parent-child workshops are hosted by Foothill Family Service, a District partner that provides a broad range of community-based mental health and social services to students and families. “We are proud to partner with so many amazing organizations that aim to provide all of our students with every opportunity to succeed in school by helping them overcome whatever obstacles they may be facing,” Director of Student Services Alejandro Leon said. “Among them are organi-
zations like Foothill Family, which works to educate parents and involve them in their child’s academic and personal success.” Mountain View High School recently hosted the fourth in a series of monthly workshops for about 20 parents, who learned more on online bullying, social media and the challenges of teens living in a technology-rich environment. “I’m interested in understanding what my kids might be going through,” said parent Ofelia Pasillas, whose two 11th-grade children attend the school. “There are many parents who have no idea what their kids are doing or are experiencing because they’re not engaged. Parents need to be more involved and be prepared for what could happen.” El Monte Union schools have hired Anti - Bullying continued on page 3
Mountain View High School Arroyo High Senior Qualifies for Speech and Debate State Competing in 2018 Solar Cup Championship
by F. Merkle, Contributing Writer El Monte
This year, students from Mountain View High School will join hundreds of students from across Southern California will race solar-powered boats that they built themselves around Lake Skinner in the nation’s largest solar-powered boat competition. The Solar Cup is a seven-month educational program, sponsored by The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, in which high school students build and race solarpowered boats, learn about conservation of natural resources, electrical and mechanical engineering, problem solving and much more. Teams are entered and sponsored by Metropolitan member agencies and local water utilities. Metropolitan Water District’s Solar Cup program began in 2002 with just
by Staff Writer El Monte
eight high schools and about 100 students participating. In 2017, 43 high schools and about 900 students are enrolled. Boat speeds in the 200-meter sprint races—in which the solar panels are removed, and power comes from solar-charged batteries—can reach up to 15 miles per hour. Single-seat boats, 16-feet-long, are built from kits of marine-grade plywood provided by Metropolitan. Teams equip the boats with steering, solar panels, batteries and motors
Soar Cup continued on page 3
Landaverry recently participated in two tournaments, Fall Debate which was held at Garfield High School and Spring Debate at Schurr High School. She placed 2nd in Fall Debate and 1st in Spring Debate. According to guidelines, if you get a placing of 1st and 2nd (or 1st and 1st) in two tournaments during League, you immediately qualify for State Finals. “It was so unreal [placing 1st in Spring Debate], I wasn’t expecting it at all. Mr. Colvin had looked at me before awards shaking his head, and I was like ‘Great I didn’t make it’. But he ended up just doing that to mess with me. It was a nice surprise,” said Landaverry. Landaverry is the only debater from Arroyo this year to get an automatic bid to State Finals. However, Amaranta Hernandez,12, placed 6th place, Melanie Nhan, 12, placed 7th and Rose Rosco, 10, reached final round in Spring Debate. These finalists had to compete against about 50 other debaters from schools all around the 626 areas. Savannah, along with the other fi-
nalist participated in a event called Congress. Congress is focused on legislative topics and whether or not the bills should be passed. They are judged based on three categories: content, evidence and public speaking. There are three judges in prelims and five for the final round. Landaverry will be going to State Championships in late April, competing against 15 other students for the event Congress. Finals will be held in the bay area in Tracy California. “I’m really excited because State is such a good experience. It’s a nice excuse to have an overnight trip with your friends and you get to see more of Northern California. Plus, you get to meet new people from all over the state and learn new tricks for debate,” states Landaverry. Pub note: This article originally appeared in the February 8th edition of Knight’s Banner: The Student News Site of Arroyo High School and is reprinted with permission from Arroyo High School and the El Monte Union High School District. This article has been edited due to space restraints.
Scholarships of the Week If you ever wondered why you should have stayed in Boy Scouts and graduated as an Eagle Scout, today is a day for answers. Founded over one hundred years ago, the Eagle Scout is the highest achievement in the scouting program of the Boys Scouts of America. Photo Courtesy of Metropolitan Water District
In the last two years, the Boy Scouts of America have made radical changes to enrollment policies. As of 2018 girls can become Cub Scouts with a separate program available for older girls to earn the rank of Eagle Scout coming in 2019. But this article isn’t about the Boy Scholarships continued on page 3
February 21, 2018
Page 3
Mid Valley News
EL MONTE UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
Chalk Talk
Anti - Bullying Continued from page 2
community liaisons and created opportunities for parent involvement through booster clubs, PTSAs, school site councils, scholarship committees, parent centers, college nights and parent academies. The parent workshops offered also touch on socio-emotional needs, such as community and stress manage-
Parents at Mountain View High School, which hosted a workshop on bullying and social media, ask questions during the event, hosted by Foothill Family Service, a District partner that provides a broad range of community-based mental health and social services to students and families. Courtesy photo
Solar Cup Continued from page 2
producing up to 320 watts. Maximum weight, including skipper, is 450 pounds.
ment, and college and career readiness. The District is exploring a strategic plan for parent engagement, focusing on parenting skills that emphasize student achievement; learning athome strategies to help students with homework and academic decisions; shared decision-making in schools through diverse advisory committees; and volunteering as mentor parents to build partnerships between schools and families. “El Monte Union is committed to working together as a community to provide our students with the support system they need to achieve in the future – but the seed to that success is planted and nurtured at home,” Superintendent Dr. Edward Zuniga said. “Parent engagement is critical to our students becoming thriving members of society and we will continue to explore new ways in which to collaborate for the shared goal of empowering our students.” The Foothill Family Service workshops will be held Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. They include a goal- setting workshop on Feb. 21 at Arroyo High School; a workshop on bullying and social media on March 14 at Rosemead High School; a workshop on teen depression and anxiety on April 18 at El Monte High School; and a workshop on healthy adolescent-parent relationships on May 9 at South El Monte High School. Qualifying events are on Friday, May 19. Endurance races using solar energy collection panels are on Saturday, May 20. Sprint races, using energy stored in batteries, and an awards ceremony are on Sunday, May 21.
MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT’S OFFICE Dear El Monte Union Community, On behalf of the El Monte Union High School District Board of Trustees and school community, I want to express my deep sadness over this week's tragic school shooting in Parkland, Florida, which emphasizes our need as a nation to ensure schools provide children with safe, secure learning environments. As educators, our primary focus is to help students achieve their academic goals. A significant element of that responsibility is our unwavering commitment to their safety and security. Our District has an excellent relationship with our first responders and local law enforcement agencies, working collaboratively to safeguard our campuses, address any concerns, and ensure the safety of our students and community. We run regular safety and lock-down drills, as well as hold active shooter trainings for our staff in conjunction with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and El Monte Police Department, both of which have used our campuses to train their officers in such scenarios. We also limit access to our campuses and assign staff to monitor for possible threats. The District administration, teachers and staff have access to our emergency management system, which allows us to thoroughly investigate any suspicious activity or threat made to our campuses. We have also recently completed the installation of newly upgraded surveillance cameras across the District and each of our schools has a full-time school resource officer to monitor campus safety. In the aftermath of the Florida tragedy, we want to reassure our families that we do everything we can as a District to cultivate not only robust learning environments, but also foster welcoming and safe campuses for our students and staff. These instances of uncertainty may be alarming to some of our students, who may be feeling anxious or unsure of how to cope. As such, teams of school counselors are available to offer support during this difficult time. We encourage everyone to remain vigilant, report suspicious activity and work together to keep our campuses and students safe. Thank you for your commitment to the El Monte Union community. Sincerely, Dr. Edward Zuniga Superintendent
El Monte Union and Rio Hondo to Launch Early College Academy by S. Jackson El Monte
El Monte Union High School District is teaming with Rio Hondo College to provide free college courses to South El Monte High School students, paving the way for the teens to get a jumpstart on college credits and maximize their potential as they pursue higher education. The EMUHSD Board of Trustees on February 7 approved an agreement with Rio Hondo College to create an Early College Academy for a cohort of 35 to 70 students at South El Monte High School. Under the plan, which is still being designed, SEMHS students can concurrently earn up to two years of college credit. Students can take the college-level courses at SEMHS or at the Rio Hondo College campus. The Rio Hondo College Early College Academy program allows high school students to begin earning college credit while they are in high school. Students can earn units to help full fill transfer curriculum to the University. Rio Hondo College is offering to provide students of South El Monte High School who are directly participating in the project college level courses onsite at the South El Monte High School Campus, counseling and matriculation services, and one year of priority registration through the College Promise to incoming first year college students from EMUHSD and have taken necessary steps to enter Rio Hondo College. College Promise offers graduates from El Monte Union High School District free first year tuition and priority registration at Rio Hondo College.
Scholarships Continued from page 2
Scouts of America. This article is about the money they are willing to give young men and women for college. Before we begin, it should go without saying that applicants must have been granted Eagle Scout rank or have verified that their application for Eagle Scout has been received at the national office. Mable and Lawrence S. Cooke Scholarship NESA academic scholarship applicants must be Eagle Scouts applying during their senior year of high school. These include a varying number of $5,000 NESA scholarships and a varying number of $5,000 Mabel and Lawrence S. Cooke scholarships. Award money: $5,000 Eligibility Students: Be Eagle Scouts applying during their senior year of high school.
Presented by Dr. Mike Munoz, Executive Dean, Counseling and Student Equity and Dr. Melba Castro, Dean, Student Success from Rio Hondo Community College and Hillary Wolfe, Director of Research & Curriculum, CTE of the El Monte Union High School District, the program will address several needs of the community. The transition from high school to college is a challenge for many — especially those whose parents don’t know how to negotiate college or never thought college an option. The early college high school helps ease this transition by providing support and assistance. Spending every day in a college setting encourages kids to value college and to continue once they graduate from an early college high school. By enrolling in the Rio Hondo Community College Early College Program, students enjoy the benefits of “free” college education (up to 40 units) that is transferrable to all UC/ CSU campuses. The Early College Program is valuable for students who might have few opportunities to continue with higher education. While an entire community benefits from an educated population, underprivileged students who are first-generation college goers, as well as English language learners are encouraged to learn more and take advantage of the Rio Hondo program. Students must apply for the program in order to be admitted into the Early College Academy. Upon completing the Early College Academy, some students will be prepared to go onto a 4-year University or transfer within two years of graduation from High School. Application Deadline: October 31of their senior year. More Information: http://www. nesa.org/scholarships.html Girl Scouts Nation’s Capital Gold Award Scholarship Girl Scouts Nation’s Capital is delighted to publicize Girl Scouts Nation’s Capital Gold Award Scholarship. High school seniors who have earned their Girl Scout Gold Award are eligible for $1,000 educational scholarships awarded by Girl Scouts Nation’s Capital. Award Money: $1,000. Eligibility Students: High school seniors Application Deadline: March 15th For More Information: http://www. gscnc.org/en/about-girl-scouts/ourprogram/highest-awards/Scholarships.html More Scholarships will provide in the next edition on the Mid Valley News
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Mid Valley News
February 21, 2018
Mid Valley Sports
League Champion Mountain View Out of Playoffs by Mike Nelson, Contributing Sports Writer El Monte / San Gabriel Valley
The Monrovia Wildcats defeated the Mountain View Vikings 1-0 last Friday in a CIF Southern Section Division 5 1st Round game. There are seven 32-team brackets in the CIF Southern Section Boys’ Soccer playoffs, so teams must win 5 games to win the title. The Wildcats took a small step in achieving that goal with this win at home. The Vikings’ season essentially ended with loss, but they can keep their heads held up high because they put up a battle in this tight match. It was a very defensive 1st half with neither team getting into a rhythm. Wildcats Midfielder Justin Albert led the way for his team as he seemed the only player in the 1st half that was really engaged. The Vikings didn’t really seem in sync all night long and the 1st half was not an exception as they sat back and waited for the Wildcats to make the first move. The Vikings tried a few counter attacks, but they didn’t really lead to much and at half it was scoreless. The 2nd half started off well for the Wildcats again as they continued to dominate the ball possession as they did the entire game. Justin Albert had a few opportunities to give the Wild-
Courtesy Photo from Mt. View High School.
cats the lead, but they were saved by Vikings Goalkeeper Thomas Garcia who had a strong performance. Wildcats Forward Jonathan Cervantes won a free kick outside of the box that led to goal in the 68th minute. Justin Albert took the free kick from the right side of the box and he crossed it perfectly into the penalty area where Wildcats Defender Gordon Sheppard deflected the ball with his shin and it got past Garcia for a
2018 NBA All Star Game
by Mike Nelson, Contributing Sports Writer National / Los Angeles
Team LeBron defeated Team Stephen 148-145 in a very competitive NBA All Star Game. It was the first year of the new format with two captains picking the players. LeBron James and Stephen Curry had the honors and it worked out great. The game had a very high level of intensity especially in the 4th quarter. In recent years the NBA All Star Game had been marred by blowouts and “zero” defense. Sunday’s game from the Staples Center still was an exhibition but it had a competitive feel. Team Stephen took control of the game early with Team LeBron having a poor shooting start. Joel Embiid in his first ever All-Star Game dazzled the crowd with dunks and his physical play. Embiid ended up with 19 points and two memorable blocks. Team LeBron fought back in the 2nd quarter and the score was 7876 in favor of Team Stephen at half. LeBron James won the MVP in this
game, he had 29 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists. James really kept his team in the game in the 1st half. The rest of this game was very close with both teams starting to pick up the speed. There was less of the open “3”s and more team play. Stephen Curry was seen on the TNT Broadcast eating a box of popcorn so that was a funny moment. Late in the 4th Quarter there was a replay review on an out-of-bounds play that the officials clearly got wrong and James was infuriated. It was the first time I had ever seen a player so upset over a call at an All-Star Game. With Team LeBron up 148-145 with 10 seconds to go, it came down to James and Kevin Durant double-teaming Curry and not allowing him to take the three-point shot. A defensive play won them the AllStar Game, not something anybody predicted. Courtesy Photos from NBA Facebook.
huge goal. With just 12 minutes left in the game and Monrovia leading 1-0 the Vikings just didn’t have enough time to tie it up. They tried to push players forward and even had Thomas Garcia come up on a couple corner kicks, but they couldn’t create pressure. Their best opportunity to tie it came in the final play of the game off an ensuing corner, Luis Manriquez headed the ball just wide as it grazed the
outside the net. The Centre referee promptly ended the game right after that play with the final whistle and it put the Wildcats in the 2nd round, the Round of 16. They will play Wednesday February 21st at Oak Hills High School near Hesperia, CA where the weather is expected to be low 40s high 30s at kickoff!
Mountain View School District Students Express Their Creativity by M.Earle, Mountain View School District El Monte
Mountain View School District’s (MVSD) Visual and Performing Arts program provides students the opportunity to explore the arts and develop their creativity all while having a lot of fun. Through the District’s partnership with L.A. Arts Group, the Artist in Residency Program provides a 10week, high quality, standards-based visual and performing arts education program for students including puppetry for 2nd graders, dance for 3rd graders, music for 4th graders and theater for 5th graders. The workshops are led by trained and experienced professional artists who share their expertise and passion for the arts with students. Aligned with the Visual and Performing Arts Standards, the program is designed to integrate the arts with other subject areas. In addition to having fun, students learn arts content, vocabulary and skills, and have opportunities to develop self-expres-
sion, communication, and collaboration. MVSD’s first 10-week session of the 2017-18 school year recently concluded with culminating performances where students showcased their newfound skills in shadow puppetry, dance, music and theater. Performances featured 2nd graders presenting puppetry and poetry shows, 3rd graders showing off their Flamenco and Break dancing routines, 4th graders singing songs from the hit Broadway show Hamilton and showing off their percussion skills in a Caribbean Drum Circle. “My students did an awesome job over the 10-week program and in their performance,” said Gloria Sanchez, Baker 2nd grade teacher. “They worked hard and really wowed the crowd with their poetry, props, narration, background music and puppeteering.” The students looked forward to each session and were very excited to perform and show off what they learned for their families. Mt. View continued on page 8
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February 21, 2018
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Mid Valley News
“Working Overtime” “A Career in Service to El Monte City School District Youth and Their Education” School Safety News by. Dr. Maribel Garcia, Superintendent, El Monte City School District San Gabriel Valley
Our district is committed to the safety of our students and staff. We have provided significant resources in the past few years to improve communication and preparedness in the event of an emergency. We will continue to take the necessary steps
to ensure the utmost safety and wellbeing of everyone. District resources include a sophisticated communication software system that provides detailed information to the district and first responders. Monthly safety committee meetings are held to discuss and evaluate safety and emergency procedures. Schools continue to conduct monthly evacuation drills, as well as monthly radio checks with ongoing staff training in first aid and search and rescue.
Valle Lindo School District by Dr. Mary Louise Labrucherie, Superintendent San Gabriel Valley
During our annual safety walkthrough with the Temple Sheriff’s Department last October, we received high praise for our security practices, procedures and security of facilities. The safety of our students is of primary importance to the members of our Board of Education, employees, students and their parents. The following are just some of the plans, procedures, activities, and events that are in place at the Valle Lindo School District Office, Dean L. Shively Middle School and New Temple Elementary School: - The District has a School Safety Plan which is reviewed, updated and approved annually. - The District has a Comprehensive Emergency Procedure Guide that details practices and protocols for each specific type of emergency, includ-
ing personnel responsibilities during emergency situations. - Plans are developed in conjunction with the sheriff’s department, fire department and our School Site Council. - The students and staff have regularly scheduled safety drills. - Staff received active shooter training from the Temple Sheriff’s Department in September 2017. - The District has safety fencing around all school campuses, alarm systems and security cameras. - All buildings have identification numbers on the buildings and on the rooftops to help first responders on the ground and in helicopters identify site locations. In the event of a school emergency or lockdown, the District has a webbased communication software program called Blackboard that can automatically call all parents in a matter of 15 minutes. The District is always thinking “safety” and ways to improve in this area. We realize that any improvements that we make can literally be a life-saving exercise.
Mountain View School District by Lillian Maldonado French, Superintendent, Mountain View School District San Gabriel Valley
Our hearts go out to the families and staff involved in yesterday’s tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida. We hope and pray that nothing like that ever happens in our schools or community. However, if it does, in the Mountain View School District we continue to work hard to ensure that our district and schools are prepared. The Mountain View School District takes student, staff and school safety very seriously and practices emergency response plans frequently. Our schools and the District have safety plans which are reviewed every year and we schools and District have safety plans in place continue to build and strengthen those plans. We are fortunate to have a collaborative
relationship the El Monte Police Department that includes daily interaction and communication, and we also work with the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department regarding school safety and security. The District’s training in the Incident Command System (ICS) includes working directly with professional fire and police officials who use ICS for emergency response and communications. Additionally, staff members are trained in First Aid/CPR and search and rescue. Drills on evacuation, fire, earthquake, and criminal activity incidents are held regularly to ensure the best is done to protect students and staff during any emergency or crisis that occurs on school campuses. We encourage staff members, students, parents, and volunteers, on our campuses to report any unusual and suspicious activity. Communication is key, and we want everyone on our campuses to be empowered to speak up about anything that looks out of place.
I have written before about how long I have followed Supervisor Hilda Solis’s career. One of the advantages of being a “seasoned citizen” is the opportunities to watch as people like Hilda Solis mature and grow with each position that they take in Service to the Community. I first met her when she served on the Rio Hondo Board more year’s ago than either of us wants to admit. I followed her as she was elected to the State Legislation and then to the State Senate. She was always passionate about Education, I remember when she was elected to Congress I was working with the Hispanic Engineers National Achievement Awards Conference (HENAAC) and the first thing that she requested was to be on the powerful House Education Committee, so I wasn’t surprised at the statement she gave when she heard about this latest school shooting that happened in Florida. Supervisor Hilda Solis stated, “Our schools should be safe spaces for our children to grow, learn and play. But for 46 days into this new year, there have already been 18 school shootings and 30 mass shooting incidents around the country. This needs to stop! We must not become normalized to mass shootings: they are not normal. Shootings are not what
America is or should be. Thoughts and prayers are not nearly enough. Instead, we need new policies and change”. In conclusion Supervisor Solis said, “I continue to call upon our
By: Mike McClure El Monte
litical leaders of South El Monte in attendance, one of my favorite moments was when the three girls from Brownie Troop #7701 (Nicole Naranjo, Valerie Torres & Deborah Romo) led the Pledge of Allegiance (later when everyone was crowding in for the big photo at the end of the program I heard a concerned Hilda Solis demand,” where are the Brownies? Why aren’t they up hear in this picture?” The Supervisor never forgets who this is for). Another great moment was when all of the kids sang a special rendition of “California Here I Come”, led by Bandleader Janet Lindsey accompanied by Gavin Spillard on piano. Gavin attended school in the VLSD and currently is a senior at South El Monte H.S. and still finds time to give back to the community, great job Gavin. …Congrats to Gerardo Cortez, Gerardo is in the 7th grade at Foshay Learning Center in Los Angeles and he just made the Dean’s Honor Roll with the N.A.I. Program. His mother, Griselda Contreras (El Monte’s Deputy City Clerk/Records Mgr.), is bursting with pride. Good going Gerardo! ONE LAST THING: The El Monte Historical Society Museum, at 3150 Tyler Ave., is holding their Quarterly Tea & Meeting on Sunday February 25. The Program will be “Westward Ho, making their way west and who is Olive Oatman and what happened
by Dick James El Monte federal representatives to implement responsible gun safety laws that protect people instead of putting them in danger. No parent should ever have to fear sending their child to school. It’s far past time for Congress to pass responsible gun safety laws”. These are not the subjects that I like to write about in “Working Overtime” but we all need to work together to stop this madness!
Cracker Barrel California Here I Come …so the other day I attended the ribbon cutting for the County’s “Natural History Museum, Archaeology Experience Mobile Museum” that will be at the New Temple Elementary School in South El Monte for a week. New Temple Elementary School is part of the Valle Lindo School District (VLSD) which is the 3rd oldest districts in the State. The District began in 1863 as the Temple School District in the one school on land donated by F.P.F. Temple. All of the building material was contributed by James Durfee, one of the local pioneering families in this area, on land a bit farther East which was where the original San Gabriel Mission was located. In 1954 the names were changed to Valle Lindo School District and Valle Lindo School. Recently I had a chance to sit down and talk with Superintendent Labrucherie and Dr.Labrucherie shared some of the fascinating history of the District and the surrounding area so I wasn’t surprised when I learned that the County had selected New Temple Elementary to be the first site to host one of the mobile museums outside of LAUSD. A big thank you for the efforts of our Board of Supervisor Hilda Solis and her staff for their recognition of the hard work of Dr Labrucherie and her team with the VLSD in providing learning experiences for the students. …It was great to see all of the po-
Cracker Barrel continued on page 8
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Mid Valley News
February 21, 2018
El Monte Police Department and Mountain View School District Address Bullying By R. Conner, Staff Writer El Monte
With the rise of rise of social media and risk of cyberbullying, nearly 200 parents joined the El Monte Police Department (EMPD), Mountain View School District (MVSD), and guest speaker Opal Singleton from Million Kids, in a workshop to learn about bullying, and methods to address and prevent it. “Education should always be a component of public safety. I am glad were able to provide parents with
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tools to educated themselves and the risk associated with cyberbullying,” said Police Chief David Reynoso. Parents learned about the various forms of bullying, including physical, verbal and emotional. The workshop also provided families information on cyberbullying, which can appear on text messages, emails and social media platforms. Interest for an anti-bullying workshop rose after a former El Monte middle school student, who transitioned to an Inland Empire school, took her life after being a victim of bullying. “What happened to this young girl was tragic and it is grief no parent should have to go through. This is why these anti-bullying efforts are so important to our community,” Reynoso said. Parents also heard from notable speaker and author Opal Singleton. As President and Chief Executive Of-
The El Monte Police Department and Mountain View School District collaborate to host anti-bullying workshop on Friday, January 26, 2018. Photos courtesy of City of El Monte, City of El Monte Police Department, and Mountain View School District.
ficer of Million Kids, Singleton is an expert on the dangers of social media and child trafficking. Singleton discussed how predators are now posing as children online to lure young kids and exploit them.
The EMPD and MVSD provided parents tips to prevent online exploitation, such as turning off the internet and monitoring applications and cell
Community Corner
El Monte Union High School District Community Committed to College and Career
We are proud to present the inaugural
STATE of the DISTRICT With Superintendent Dr. Edward Zuniga Learn about our new District vision, mission and goals, Measure D Bond construction projects, award-winning educational programs, and our collective accomplishments to ensure student success for a prosperous future.
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2018 10:00 a.m.
E L M ON TE H I GH SCH OOL AU DI TOR I U M 3048 Tyler Ave. • El Monte, CA 91731 The program will feature student performances. Refreshments will be served.
For more information, call the District Office at (626) 444-9005, ext. 9804.
Anti - Bullying continued on page 8
February 21, 2018
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Mid Valley News
into Winter Fun O SS S W CCRRO WO O RRDD
Sudoku
Crossword Puzzle solution in issue 3.07.18
Solution for Sudoku in issue 3.07.18
U.S. PRESIDENTS
ACROSS 1. Little rascal 6. 6th sense? 9. Cell status 13. Pentateuch 14. “To Kill a Mockingbird” recluse 15. Most famous hobbit 16. Enlighten 17. ____-Wan 18. Willow tree 19. *Smallest President 21. *”Oh Captain, My Captain” 23. Prepare to shoot 24. Tulip’s early stage 25. Geological Society of America 28. Symphony member 30. Hank Williams’ “Hey Good ____” 35. *Pre-election commotion 37. Unpleasant road display 39. Actress Watts 40. Full of enthusiasm 41. Musician’s exercise 43. Seedy source of Omega3s 44. Nine musicians 46. What those on the lam do 47. Kind of palm 48. Threefold 50. Accepted behavior 52. *Barack Obama’s former title 53. Toothy tool 55. H+, e.g. 57. *Lincoln follower 61. First book of Old Testament 65. Bye to Emmanuel Macron 66. It doesn’t mix with water 68. French wine region 69. Battery units 70. Spy org. 71. Emulate Demosthenes 72. Liberal pursuits 73. Baby goat 74. Continental money
DOWN 1. Education acronym 2. Musical finale 3. Extra dry 4. Godfather’s family 5. ____gnomy or ____logy 6. Jet black 7. Have a bawl 8. Southern chicken stew 9. CISC alternative 10. Hodgepodge 11. Cain’s brother 12. Between dawn and noon 15. Candy in Paris 20. Spaniard without “h” 22. The Jackson 5’s “____ Be There” 24. Cole Porter’s “Begin the ____” 25. *He commanded the Union army 26. Enjoy yumminess 27. Raspberry drupelets 29. *____ of office 31. Stumblebums 32. Caffeine-containing nut tree, pl. 33. *Candidate’s concern 34. *First US president to resign 36. She played a TV genie 38. Cocoyam 42. Chill-inducing 45. Group of foot bones 49. One from Laos 51. *Inspiration for Liberia’s capital 54. Beginning of a joke 56. India’s first P.M. 57. Cup of Joe 58. Detected by olfactory 59. Sword handle 60. Brooklyn players 61. Happy 62. Fly like an eagle 63. A fan of 64. Gets the picture 67. Roman three
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Lessons in a Lunch Box Comes to Cortada School
by A. Bury, El Monte City School District, Contributor El Monte
Second and third graders at Cortada School in El Monte City School District were treated to Lessons in a Lunch Box presented by Western University Dental Program students. The Lessons in a Lunch Box program is sponsored by the Children’s Oral Health Institute was created to combat dental neglect among children. The Children’s Oral Health Institute (COHI) is a 501(c)3 organization created to combat dental neglect and oral abuse among children. Their goal is to improve the attitudes and behavior of children and families on a variety of oral health issues through early health promotion and disease prevention education. During the assembly students viewed instructional Charlie Brown videos on how to brush and floss their teeth. Two Western University dental students answered questions and demonstrated how to use a toothbrush using a large stuffed kangaroo. The greatest impact on the Cortada students was the one-on-one instruction from
Save the Date
the Western University dental students. The Cortada students were presented with bright yellow lunch boxes that contained a toothbrush, floss, mirror and a carrot shaped carrying case. The dental students instructed the Cortada students on how to properly care for their teeth and the importance of healthy eating. Cortada Principal Brenda Ruiz remarked, “It is so great to see our students Lunch Box continued on page 8
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Mid Valley News
Holiday Inn continued from page 1
the community, staff and hotel representatives for working to make this project possible.” In addition to viewing the four-story hotel, guests had an opportunity to view the hotel grounds, which features water-efficient plants. The hotel is also equipped with 16 electric vehicle-charging stations located in the parking lot. “The Holiday Inn’s hotel grounds, structure and water-friendly landscaping capture the City’s vision for quality architecture,” said Council Member Norma Macias. “We are working towards beautifying the City and the Holiday Inn aligns with our efforts.” Guests who missed the tour can still experience the hotel without an overnight stay by dining in the Asian and Western cuisine restaurants. “The Holiday Inn represents the City’s ongoing efforts to expand business opportunities in our community,” said Mayor Pro Tem Juventino “J” Gomez. “We will continue to work with the community, investors and business partners to bring more
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businesses that will help increase our revenue.” Located on Valley Boulevard between Baldwin Avenue and Temple City Boulevard, Holiday Inn is open and business is flowing. The City of El Monte will continue to expand business opportunities for the community. “The City of El Monte is experiencing exciting growth, with national brands coming to our City,” said Council Member Victoria Martinez. “From Norms to our Holiday Inn, these are important economic factors that will not only benefit El Monte but the San Gabriel Valley region.”
An impressive chandelier hangs on hotel lobby. Courtesy photo from the City of El Monte.
Project Angel Food continued from page 1
For more information on food deliveries and services, contact Project Angel Food Executive Director Richard Ayoub, at 323-845-1832 or rayoub@angelfood.org
Mt. View Continued from page 4
“I loved learning how to play the drums,” said a 4th grader from Parkview. “Mr. Peck is a great teacher. He taught us about the different types of music from the Caribbean. We got to play Salsa, Reggae and Calypso music, it was a lot of fun.”
Media Relations Specialist: Staff Editor: Staff
Adjudicated as a paper of general circulation in the City of El Monte, County of Los Angeles Superior Court, Nov. 7 1973. No. C68383 official paper for the County of Los Angeles, Adjudicated on general circulation Los Angeles July 18, 1992, No. BS016380
Anti - Bullying
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interact with the dental students. I think this is something our second and third graders will remember for a long time.” A complete summary of resource documents supporting the Lessons in a Lunch Box Program is available on The Children’s Oral Health Institute website at http://mycohi.org/lunchbox.html.
Cracker Barrel
Contributing Writers
Mid Valley Media Center, LLC, all contents here in are copyrighted and may not be reproduce in any manner, either in whole or in part, without the expressed written consent of the publisher. The views and opinions expressed in this paper are not necessarily that of the management and staff of Mid Valley Media Center, LLC.
Lunch Box
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Glen Maldonado Dick James Devette Johnson Michael McClure Mike Nelson
February 21, 2018
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to her? “I know do you? It is a fasciSudoku Solution for 2.07.18
phones. For bullying, the EMPD and MVSD advised parents to implement Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports, which provide children examples of respectful, inclusive expected behavior in home and school. The El Monte Police Department will continue to work with schools in the area to hold additional anti-bullying workshops. The City of El Monte will also be hosting a citywide antibullying event late summer. nating story and this Tea will be hosted by the Directors of the El Monte Historical Society so come on out and spend an interesting afternoon and learn some of the history of our community. Crossword Solution for 2.07.18
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