Sports
Education Chalk Talk, page 2 - 3
MLS page 4
The Community Paper of Record
Vol. 55, No. 08
Serving the San Gabriel Valley Since 1966
April 18, 2018
Payne School 5th Graders Showcase their Robotics Skills by Staff Writer El Monte
Fifth graders at Mountain View School District’s Payne Elementary School eagerly displayed their STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, Mathematics) skills during the school’s 5th Grade Robotics Showcase. The students in Ms. Avina’s class and Mr. Campa’s class learned the fundamentals of robotics over the course of 5 weeks as staff from Windtree Robotics visited their classrooms twice a week teaching hands-on techniques. Practicing teamwork, students worked in teams to build self-driving robot cars using high-quality hardware and Raspberry Pi single board computers. Taking the roles of Project Manager, Engineer, Programmer and Quality Control, the student teams learned the fundamentals of circuitry, as well as computer programming as they nurtured their curiosity and creativity, built logical thinking, engineering and design skills, and had a ton of fun in the process. They also enjoyed an educational field trip to the Columbia Memorial Space Center in Downey. “This is a great program for our students and they absolutely love it,” said Campa. “The hands-on projects have allowed my students to build confidence and demonstrate strengths in different areas which is fantastic.” The Robotics Showcase pitted student teams against each other as they programmed their robot cars to complete the Geometric Circuit and The
Courtesy photo
Dance competitions. The friendly competition, coordinated by Windtree Robotics, is designed not only to measure the effectiveness of each robot car, but to showcase teamwork and determination.
“I love robotics!” said 5th grader, Will Wang. “My team put a lot of extra details into our robot car like super suspension and a large shell for aeroRobotics continued on page 8
Cleminson Earns Distinguished School Award by Staff Writer El Monte
El Monte City School District’s Cleminson School was one of only 287 schools in the state that was honored as a California Distinguished School. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson made the announcement earlier this week. “These schools implement outstanding educational programs and practices that help California students realize their potential, and put them on the path to achieve their dreams,” Torlakson said. “Every day at these schools, teachers, administrators and classified employees, working with parents, apply their dedication, creativity, and talents toward providing a great education for all their students.” Sponsored by California Casualty, the 2018 California Distinguished Schools Program recognizes California elementary schools that have
Courtesy Photo
made exceptional gains in implementing academic content and per-
formance standards adopted by the State Board of Education.
Cleminson continued on page 8
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Mid Valley News
April 18, 2018
EL MONTE UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
Chalk Talk
It Pays to Be A Good Sport for One El Monte Student Athlete by Staff Writer El Monte
Each time El Monte High School hurdler Derek Song steps onto the track, he pushes himself to improve on his momentum and speed; however, it is his kindness toward opponents and genuine care for his teammates that earned him the Positive
Coaching Alliance (PCA) Triple-Impact Competitor award. Song is one of 10 Los Angelesarea high school student-athletes to receive the recognition along with a $3,000 scholarship from PCA, a national nonprofit that works to develop better athletes and individuals by providing character-building sports opportunities.
El Monte High School senior Derek Song was named a Positive Coaching Alliance Triple-Impact Competitor and earned a $3,000 scholarship for his dedication to track and field and commitment to encouraging his teammates and opponents. Photo Courtesy
El Monte Women’s Club Student Art Winners at El Monte Library by Staff Writer El Monte
El Monte Women’s Club and El Monte Library invite the community to view the winning art pieces created by El Monte Union High School District students. El Monte Women’s Club’s Student Art Competition was held on February 27, 2018 at the El Monte Community Center. Nine art pieces with the highest votes from El Monte Women’s Club members were then entered the San Gabriel Valley District Women’s Clubs’ Student Art Competition
“Rocky Surf” by Sally Hall of Arroyo High School.Courtesy Photo
held on March 9, 2018 at the Covina Woman’s Club. The San Gabriel Valley District received 79 entries in total. Of the nine submitted by El Monte Women’s Club, eight received award ribbons from the panel of art judges. In addition, the top four of the nine entered will be presented with a $100 gift certificate at the El Monte Women’s Club Scholarship Luncheon on May 24, 2018 at the El Monte Community Center. Award winners are now displayed in the Children’s Section of El Monte Library until April 30, 2018 and include “Majestic Wolf” by Arroyo High School student Amaya Corral, “Tools” by Rosemead High School student Leonard Gonzales, “Exposed” by Arroyo High School student Kristian Lucy, “Rocky Surf” by Arroyo High School student Sally Hall, “The Mellow” by Arroyo High School student Emily Rodriguez, “Fallen Petals” by Arroyo High School student Jackie Hernandez, “Reflection” by Arroyo High School student Jazlyn Jocobo, and “Mysterious Woodland Woman” by El Monte High School student Amy Luong. Art Winners continued on page 3
“I never see my opponents as enemies but as people who have the same goals as me,” Song, a senior, said. “It feels really good to be recognized for my sportsmanship because sports have helped me grow so much – I’m a totally different person from freshman year and I’ve come out of my shell.” Scholarships are awarded to students who demonstrate that they continually work to better themselves, help their teammates and improve the game as a whole – three levels in which a Triple-Impact Competitor works. When I found out that I won the scholarship, it made me realize how much my coaches, family and friends helped shape me into who I am today,” Song said. Song played basketball for his first three years at El Monte High School and started on the varsity track and field team during his sophomore year, competing in jumping events such as long and high jumps. For his senior year, Song transitioned to hurdling, using his adrenaline to launch himself at full speed over obstacles on the track. He trains on the track for over two hours daily, strength trains three days a week and maintains a balanced diet. Once a withdrawn student who
benefited from the support of others, Song understands the importance in encouraging and motivating his teammates and opponents. “The worst feeling is being hopeless and I don’t want anyone to feel that way when I can try and make a difference,” Song said. “It means a lot when you see that others believe in you and want you to be the best you can be.” Aside from being a compassionate athlete, Song holds a 4.2 GPA and keeps a rigorous schedule of Advanced Placement courses. He is a three-year member and current president of the Leo’s Club, a community service club that assists with school events and focuses on local outreach. Song will use the PCA scholarship toward a biology degree from UC Irvine or UC San Diego. After college, Song plans to return to El Monte to give back to the community. “Derek Song started off his high school career as a quiet, shy freshman,” El Monte High School Principal Robin Torres said. “Over the last few years, I have seen him mature into one of the best student leaders I have ever met. As a principal, I admire his willingness to support the entire El Monte community.”
Welcome to the land of the debt free bachelor’s degree. Where nickels and dimes are common sense and the college degree has taken over student debt as the status symbol of higher education. This week we are going to focus on the field of Nursing and Nurse Practitioners. Nurse practitioners are healthcare professionals educated and trained to provide health promotion and maintenance through the diagnosis and treatment of acute illness and chronic conditions. There are several levels of education for being a nurse practitioner, but we are only concerned with inspiring imagination and answering your calling. First up is the Jane Delano Student Nurse Scholarship, established to promote nursing as a career and the involvement of new nurses in the Red Cross. The scholarship is available to nursing students who have contributed volunteer service to - or are employees of - an American Red Cross Unit. A limited number of $3,000 scholarships are awarded each year. Applicants need to have served as a Red Cross volunteer or employee within the past five (5) years, completed the equivalent of at least one year of college/university credits, be currently enrolled in an accredited United States nursing program, and are currently enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student in good
academic standing. For more information, please visit their website at www.redcross.org If you are interested in pursuing a career in the field of being a Nurse Practitioner, take a good look at the National Health Service Scholarship Program. Students pursuing a career in primary health care are eligible to receive funding for their education in exchange for practicing in rural, urban, and frontier communities with limited access to care, upon graduation and licensure. Students need to be enrolled or accepted in a primary health care discipline in a U.S. state or territory and commit to one year of service for each scholarship or partial scholarship year (2-year minimum – 4 year maximum). For more information visit their website at NHSC.hrsa.gov/scholarships Just a quick note before signing off…this column was inspired by, and dedicated to, the men and women who work in the Intensive Care Unit of the Feather River Hospital in Paradise, California. This is not how you “make ends meet” but a true calling to help those in need.
Scholarship of the Week
All I can say is “Thank you”…and it will never be enough.
April 18, 2018
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Your Community Paper of Record
EL MONTE UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
Chalk Talk Art Winners Continued from page 2
“Fallen Petals” by Jacqueline Hernandez of Arroyo High School. Courtesy Photo
“El Monte Library is happy to allow the community to celebrate the achievements of our students,” said El Monte Community Library Manager Cheryl Gilera. “The arts are important to El Monte Women’s Club and to women’s clubs in general. Women’s clubs have a long tradition of promoting the arts among its members and from students,” said co-president Gina Morales. “El Monte students held their own in the San Gabriel Valley District student art competition, and we are just so proud,” stated co-president Jackie Morales.
EMUHSD Asking for Community Feedback
The El Monte Union High School District annually polls district stakeholders on their level of technology; knowledge, comfort, and integration into our classroom curriculum. The poll also provides feedback on district & school initiatives around the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP). The data collected within this survey provides vital guidance towards district priorities, initiatives, training, staffing, and school funding. In July 2013, Governor Jerry Brown signed a new school funding model into law. This new plan is known as the Local Control Funding Formula, and it requires school districts to develop an LCAP that guides priorities in the budget development process. The LCAP is a three-year plan that describes the goals, actions, services,
and expenditures to support positive student outcomes that address state and local priorities. The LCAP provides an opportunity for local educational agencies (LEAs) to share their stories of how, what, and why programs and services are selected to meet their local needs. In other words, LCAP helps ensure that the El Monte Union High School Disctrict — not Sacramento — will have more authority to spend precious resources in a way that is better aligned with the needs of the El Monte / South El Monte community and our students. Many of the classroom and campus enhancements you have seen over the last few years have come directly from the feedback provided by this data collection. Take the survey now: www.emuhsd.org/survey
Cal Poly to Honor El Monte Superintendent as Distinguished Alumnus El Monte Union Superintendent Dr. Edward Zuniga has been selected for the 2018 College of Education and Integrative Studies Distinguished Alumni Award and will be honored by the Cal Poly Alumni Association as a distinguished alumnus during its 2018 Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner at 6 p.m. Friday, April 27. Dr. Zuniga graduated from the university with a bachelor’s degree in
history and teaching credential in social science. The awards are presented to former students who have achieved success professionally and through involvement within their community and the university.
El Monte Union, Rio Hondo College Creating Opportunity by Staff Writer El Monte
The El Monte Union High School District is teaming up 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 earning college credit and maximize their potential as they pursue higher education. The EMUHSD Board of Trustees last month approved a partnership with Rio Hondo College to create an Early College Academy for a cohort of between 35 and 70 students at South El Monte High School. Rio Hondo College’s Board of Trustees also approved the agreement. The program, which is still in the early stages of design, is expected to launch in fall 2018. A Parent Orientation meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 17 at South El Monte High School, 1001 Durfee Ave., South El Monte. “Early College is a head start to success and we are proud to work in conjunction with our local education partners to promote college readiness and provide our students with resources to achieve their goals,” Superintendent Dr. Edward Zuniga said. Currently, students who are typically high-achievers can earn college credit while in high school by taking rigorous Advanced Placement courses and passing the challenging exams. Under the Early College plan, SEMHS students can earn a high school diploma and up to two years of college credit in four years, or about 40 credits, which are transferable to UCs or CSUs. Students can take the college-level general education courses for free at SEMHS or at the Rio Hondo College campus, reducing the cost of attaining a college degree. “This program is essentially free college for our students, particularly those who may not be top academic scholars or may not see themselves as college-going students,” El Monte Union’s Director of Research and
Curriculum Hillary Wolfe said. “This opportunity allows our students to pursue college while in high school, taking a variety of subjects and setting the foundation for their success.” As part of the partnership, Rio Hondo will provide students with counseling, advisement and matriculation services; work with site administrators to plan, schedule and implement the program; and cover the cost of providing the courses and salary costs for RHC staff members in the program. RHC’s services will be in addition to its Rio Promise, which offers recent EMUHSD high school grads free first-year tuition and priority registration. “We are excited to be working with South El Monte High School on a program that will bring the promise of a college education to a greater number of students in our community,” Rio Hondo College Superintendent/President Teresa Dreyfuss said. “This partnership will not only deliver academic opportunity, but valuable counseling and support services to ensure students receive the maximum benefit.” El Monte Union will be tasked with supporting the recruitment and concurrent enrollment process for SEMHS students and providing academic counseling services to ensure they are on track. The District will also be responsible for covering the cost of textbooks and materials for all courses. The program may expand to other EMUHSD schools should it prove successful. “This program will help prepare our students for success, enhance their high school experience, and provide them the invaluable opportunity to earn college credit and begin building their college transcripts at an accelerated rate,” Zuniga said. For more information, call (626) 444-9005, ext. 9925. More information, including the application, is available at www.emuhsd.org/earlycollege.
Which High School Should I Attend by Staff Writer El Monte
Parents, students, and community members who are new to the area and are not sure which high school to attend should try the new school lookup tool provided by the app schoolsitelocator. Users simply enter an address in the search box at the top to find your
schools of attendance. If a student does not know the specific address, or if it cannot be found, just click anywhere on the map to find schools for that neighborhood. For more information, or a direct link to the school district maps of the El Monte Union High School District, readers are encouraged to visit www.emuhsd.org/domain/375
South El Monte High School and Rio Hondo College are teaming up to launch an Early College Academy in Fall 2018, enabling high school freshmen the opportunity to earn free college credits while in high school. The school is currently accepting application.Courtesy Photo
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Mid Valley News
April 18, 2018
Mid Valley Sports
LA Galaxy Put the Fire Out
by Mike Nelson, Contributing Sports Writer National / Los Angeles
Courtesy photos from MLS.com
This past Saturday afternoon the LA Galaxy defeated the Chicago Fire 1-0. The game was played in front of a record crowd of 21, 915 at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois. It was a very cold and rainy day with temperatures in the high 30s at kickoff. That record crowd was partly because of Zlatan Ibrahimović’s first appearance in that stadium. Ibrahimović has become nothing short of a celebrity after his legendary performance against LAFC in his first MLS game. Ibrahimović got his first start of the season in this game and he didn’t disappoint. The Galaxy despite the poor weather conditions took control of this game very early and never let go. The Fire were never in this game and could never even get a clear-cut scoring opportunity in the 90 minutes. The Galaxy had many chances to score right from the onset of the game so Fire Goalkeeper Richard Sanchez had to make many saves. In the 33rd minute Ibrahimović stole the ball in midfield and he took off at full speed which led to a breakaway opportunity that Sanchez stopped. The Fire couldn’t contain Ibrahimović for long, in the 46th minute he scored on a header after a perfect cross from Ashley Cole. The Galaxy took the 1-0 lead right before halftime and never
looked back. The 2nd half was more of the same of the 1st half with the Galaxy dominating from top to bottom. Ibrahimović had the best chance to double the lead in the 74th minute on another breakaway but Sanchez made another big save. The Fire owe it to their Goalkeeper Richard Sanchez because he kept them from getting destroyed by the Galaxy. Zlatan Ibrahimović is quickly becoming a sports celebrity in Los Angeles and is making the Galaxy relevant again. The LA Galaxy now have 10 points (32-1) and are in 2nd place in the Western Conference. They will now play at home against Atlanta United this Saturday (7:30 PM, Spectrum Sportsnet).
important player on this team. Diego Rossi doubled the lead for LAFC in the 70th minute after the Whitecaps couldn’t clear the ball out the penalty box. Rossi was standing the perfect place right in front of the net as the ball came to him after a frenzied attack from LAFC. It was Rossi’s 4th goal of the season as well. LAFC now have 9 points (3-2) and are sitting in 4th place in the Western Conference. They are doing very well as an expansion franchise and with the young team they have. LAFC will now travel north of the border again with their next game at the Montreal
Impact on Saturday (10 AM, YouTube TV, UniMas).
Courtesy photo from LA Galaxy Facebook
Los Angeles Football Club Wins Big on the Road by Mike Nelson, Contributing Sports Writer National / Los Angeles
This past Friday LAFC played for the first time ever north of the border against the Vancouver Whitecaps earning a huge 2-0 win. LAFC was coming off a terrible 5-0 loss against Atlanta United. It was a great bounce back effort where LAFC clearly was the better team throughout the entire 90 minutes. The game was played in BC Place in front of a sold-out crowd of over 20,000 very loud fans. It is a tough place to play, the Whitecaps had an 11-game unbeaten streak at home that dates back to last year going into this game. LAFC took over the ball possession battle early in this game. They played the game at a very high pace which has been the blueprint of this team in the first 5 games of the year. LAFC Defender Walker Zimmerman had a header in the 27th minute that hit the post and almost gave them the lead. The scoring chance was created by Midfielder Benny Feilhaber’s cross into the box. Feilhaber had a great game, playing his best game of the season so far. It was scoreless at half but it was only matter of time before LAFC took the lead. In the 59th minute Carlos Vela curved a shot into the right corner to give LAFC a 1-0 lead. It was a shot from the left side of the penalty box that was perfectly executed. It was Vela’s 4th goal of the young season and he is clearly becoming the most
Courtesy photo from USA Today Images
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April 18, 2018
“Working Overtime”
“TIME JOCKEY” – Twohey’s –
by Joe Castillo
Closing its Doors..... It’s happened to all of us at one time or another and if you’re an older person it’s probably happened more than once. We tend to remember things as they were and try to recall our memories associated with a place, date or person. It’s a natural thing to do and with the rapid development and changes in the San Gabriel Valley, more and more of our memories are disappearing or changing. There are some places which will probably stay long after we’re gone, places like the San Gabriel Mission, Huntington Library and the Rose Bowl, but most other places will eventually be lost to father time. In 1943, Jack Twohey opened up a small 37-seat diner in Pasadena which served tasty hamburgers, tastier onion rings and specialty fountain treats that you couldn’t find anywhere else. The trademark menu item became the Little Stink-O Burger, the name applied when a female customer exclaimed ‘Oh stinko!’ when the person seating next to her received his hamburger order loaded with sliced onions and pickles giving off a strong odor. In 1951, the restaurant moved to Alhambra at the corner of Huntington and Atlantic, and became a drivein, dine-in, car-hop eatery. As times changed so did its style of business and eventually it focused on being a restaurant-diner only. It was a popular spot for high school students especially after a Friday night football game and was one of the few diners in the area which was opened late at night. My family
by Dick James El Monte made it a frequent stop after any local event and it was always a great place just to meet someone and share a tasty meal. Besides a full breakfast, lunch and dinner menu, Twohey’s served a wide selection of old-fashioned handdipped soda fountain treats. Sundaes were their specialty including hot fudge sundaes with bittersweet, milk chocolate and caramel ice cream and deluxe sundaes served with strawberry, raspberry, pineapple, marshmallow, blueberry, apple and cherry. I don’t want to brag or anything, but I once ate three - that’s right three - large sundaes at one sitting on a dare. Of course, I paid the price afterwards but it’s a memory I’ll always have of Twohey’s. In the early 2000’s, the property was reconfigured to build an In ‘N Out Restaurant on the same lot. Eventually the young crowd moved to the popular drive-in and Twohey’s business declined as well as parking for its customers. This year the restaurant celebrated its 75th anniversary but the owner of the property wanted to increase the lease amount, leaving the owners of Twohey’s no choice but to seek another location. Beginning February 1, Twohey’s will no longer be open for business putting their Little Stink-O Burger and famous Hot Fudge Sundaes on furlough until another opportunity arises. After 75 years of always being in the same location and serving the people of the San Gabriel Valley, Twohey’s will soon become a part of Working Overtime continued on page 8
Webb’s Rule POSSUM by Eugene R. Webb
Here’s an animal that you might fear; A Possum with a large head and hairless ears. He has a long pointed snout and resembles a rat; The scary looking Possum is as large as any cat. Like the Kangaroo, she carries the young in a pouch; They crawl all over her body while travelling about. The female also brings forth 7 to 13 young at a time; This thing about the Possum will blow your mind. A Possum has a very strong hairless tail over its back; It seems there is nothing that this animal does lack. Uses its tail and thumb-like big toe to climb a tree; They are very interesting and as smart as they can be.
Cracker Barrel
“The Masons, a Ph.D. & a Young Girl Named Mariah” By: Mike McClure El Monte
(01/20/18) Guest Columnist: Some of you will remember Joe Castillo who had a regular column in the Mid Valley News, I have asked him to submit a column from time to time and I think you will enjoy his unique take on the history of the area.
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Your Community Paper of Record
The Possum on a branch he’ll wrap his tail around; He likes eating mice, birds, while hanging upside down. Here’s something that should take away your breath; Their trick to play possum, means to pretend death. My son opened a chest drawer on our porch one day; He thought he saw a skunk in it and quickly ran away. He thought it’s a white streak on its back, he had seen; So later he looked and it was gone, just like a dream.
…so the other day I had the opportunity to attend a ceremony at Potrero Elementary School where the Masons of California Public Schools Advisory Council presented the award winning “Raising A Reader” literacy and family engagement program to the youngsters at Potrero Elementary School which is one of the fine schools in the El Monte City School District. The Masons already support several of our local schools with literacy programs and they are a great bunch. While at the school I had a chance to meet Dr. Teresa Pinedo whose youthful appearance and energy compliment this veteran educator. Dr. Pinedo has served as principal at Rio Vista Elementary prior to her current position as the principal at Potrero Elementary and has been a board member of the Promises Foundation for several years where she has been a champion for the students in the El Monte/ South El Monte area. With her Ph.D. she is a role model for her students, especially for the little girls, to see that they can achieve great
things in life through education. During the program we got to hear from two of the parents whose kindergarten kids were part of the “Raise A Reader” program. First Mrs. Jennifer Moya who has two children at Potrero Elementary (nine year old Nathan and six year old Mariah who is in kindergarten and delivered the keynote speech), Mrs. Moya talked about how the program taught the kids responsibility and also about the shortage of educational themed books that are available in Spanish. In this day and age it is shocking that we don’t have more books available in other languages than English, particularly in Spanish (the “Raise A Reader” program is doing that, all of the books that they are providing are in English & Spanish, thank you!). The second parent to speak, Norma Velasquez, told a wonderful story about how her son Sam, sits down each night with his father who doesn’t read English and they read together. Sam, who already knows how to read English, is learning to read in Spanish and at the same time his dad is learning to read English. …and then there was Mariah, who
Cracker Barrel continued on page 8
The History of ChapCare by ChapCare, SGV
In the 1990s, the residents of northwest Pasadena desperately needed access to primary health care services. Many residents were priced out of the insurance market. Lack of insurance and access to basic health care meant that residents’ curable health problems would go untreated and would easily lead to a health and financial crisis for them and their families. In 1995, grassroots pressure from organizations like the Black Males Forum and Pasadena Unified School District, combined with institutional support from Huntington Hospital, Kaiser Permanente, the City of Pasadena and its Health Department, Pacific Clinics, Planned Parenthood of Pasadena, and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, led to ChapCare’s founding as a nonprofit public benefit corporation. The myriad of organizations and individuals that helped start ChapCare tasked the organization with providing primary health care services to low-income, uninsured residents in Pasadena. ChapCare launched medical services in 1998 and dental services in 2001. Today, ChapCare is a Federally
Qualified Health Center (FQHC), with a mission to provide excellent, comprehensive, and innovative healthcare that is accessible to the residents of the San Gabriel Valley. The organization is one of the leading safety-net provider in the areas it serves. ChapCare operates 8 health centers across the San Gabriel Valley, and provides over 66,000 primary healthcare visits annually to over 15,400 unduplicated patients. ChapCare began providing highquality primary health care services in the underserved El Monte/South El Monte region in 2013. ChapCare now operates 3 state-of-the-art health centers in the area, which provide a vast array of services including family medicine, pediatrics, OB/GYN, dental services, and behavioral health counseling. The health centers are open Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm. All services are provided in a culturally and linguistically competent manner. Many of ChapCare’s staff are bilingual (English-Spanish). For more information on ChapCare and its health center locations, please call (626) 398-6300 or visit www. chapcare.org.
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Now he did take the drawer out for he was not afraid; And down in the next drawer there a Possum laid. It’s a real smart animal to figure out how to get in; Soon it left and we don’t know if it was a her or a him.
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Mid Valley News
Metro News
Metro Begins Small Business Bonding Pilot Program By Metro, California / SGV
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) has implemented a one-year pilot program to assist Metro-certified Small Business Enterprise (SBE), Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) firms secure sufficient bonding to work on Metro construction projects. Metro will provide a bonding guarantee to qualified SBE, DBE, and DVBE firms to expand their bonding capacity on Metro construction contracts as a prime contractor or sub-
contractors. The bonding program is applicable to all Metro construction contracts that require bonding. The $1.3 million Contractor Development and Bonding Program (CDBP) will enable qualified entrepreneurs to successfully compete for construction-related contracts. Metro is responding to concerns expressed by small business communities, who have noted that obtaining bonding for small contractors is deemed a barrier to participate in the agency’s construction contracts. “Measure M is creating opportunities, and we want everyone to access them at this time of extraordinary growth,” said Los Angeles Mayor
April 18, 2018
and Metro Board Chair Eric Garcetti. “This program helps us make sure that all businesses --- especially those that may have previously been overlooked --- are part of the historic expansion of our transportation network.” The CDBP will be managed by Metro’s Diversity and Economic Opportunity Department and will be administered by Merriwether & Williams Insurance Services (MWIS). Some of the firms that apply for Metro construction contracts are willing to and able to bid, compete for, work and complete public works
construction contracts but are unable to do so due to the inability to secure the required bonding or because they cannot meet the strict financial requirements demanded by financial institutions. This new initiative is the latest effort by Metro to increase small business participation on Metro projects. “The adoption of the pilot Metro Contractor Development and Bonding Program is yet another effort to create economic opportunities for small businesses,” said Metro CEO Phillip A. Washington. “Building loMetro News continued on page 7
Community Corner
Community Emergency Response Team
South El Monte
CLASSES BEGIN JUNE 2, 2019 C.E.R.T. TRAINING IS COMING TO SOUTH EL MONTE—ENROLL NOW! The County of Los Angeles Fire Department is proud to present this training to the public. Following a major disaster, police, fire and medical professionals may not be able to fully meet the demand. People will have to rely on each other to meet the immediate life saving and life sustaining needs, particularly in isolated neighborhoods that may be cut off from the main roads for a period of time. The County of Los Angeles Fire Department’s Community Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.) program was developed to provide basic training in safety and life saving skills for the general public. The course curriculum covers the following modules: Emergency Preparedness, Fire Safety, Emergency Medical Operations Part 1 and 2, Light Search and Rescue Operations, CERT Organization, Disaster Psychology, Terrorism and CERT, Course Review and Disaster Simulation
The training course will be presented as a series of three Saturday classes: June 2, 16, and June 23, 2018 9:00 am-5:30 p.m. South El Monte Senior Center 1556 Central Avenue South El Monte, CA 91733 C.E.R.T. training is free of charge To enroll, contact: Dianna Gomez City Council Assistant dgomez@soelmonte.org (626) 652-3117 Class size is limited, so enroll today to reserve your seat. *Students must complete all twenty hours of the course to receive a certificate of completion. Note: All students must be at least eighteen years of age. Visit http://fire.lacounty.gov/ProgramsEvents/Cert_schedule.asp to view the complete schedule of classes.
April 18, 2018
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Your Community Paper of Record
into Winter Fun O SS S W O CC RR O O RR D D
Sudoku
Crossword Puzzle solution in issue 5.02.18
Solution for Sudoku in issue 5.02.18
SPRING BREAK
ACROSS 1. Out of whack 6. Greek H 9. Goodness gracious! 13. Swahili or Zulu 14. “Was ist ____?” 15. *What speakers do 16. Concluded 17. Chain letters 18. “A Doll’s House” playwright 19. *____ Beach 21. Take advantage of an opportunity 23. *Spring Break beach alternative 24. *Resort island in Indonesia 25. Web robot 28. Tangerine plus grapefruit 30. Canine’s coat 35. “The Three Faces of ____,” pl. 37. Mound 39. Idealized image 40. Polly to Tom Sawyer 41. *South Padre Island, ____ 43. Jason’s vessel 44. Intangible storage 46. Jamie Fraser’s tartan 47. Hurries 48. Heavy lifting injury 50. “In your dreams!” 52. *”Where the Boys ____,” movie 53. Perfect houseplant spot 55. Clinton ____ Rodham 57. *Tough to raise? 61. *Like typical Spring Break traveler 65. *Desired forecast 66. Sylvester to Tweety 68. Show opposition 69. Smoke detector, e.g. 70. Flying saucer acronym 71. Make laugh 72. Same as island 73. School org. 74. Everyone but clergy
DOWN 1. Tucked in 2. Supernatural life force 3. Indiana Jones 4. Cancel an edit, pl. 5. Logic-based puzzle 6. Icelandic epic 7. *Sign of a Spring Break trip 8. Volcano near Nagano 9. Major European river 10. Knife wound 11. Domain 12. Say you didn’t do it 15. *In two pieces 20. *____ life 22. *In high demand during Spring Break 24. With two axes 25. *Top destination 26. Immature ovum 27. Pavarotti, e.g. 29. Potato’s soup mate 31. Wet nurse 32. Shriver or Sharapova 33. Leaf-eating moth 34. ____ tooth 36. Render speechless 38. Buddies 42. Time on the job 45. Take weapon away 49. Lungful 51. Like medieval European society 54. Reduce pressure 56. Possible allergic reaction 57. Antioxidant-rich berry 58. Misfortunes 59. ____ Madrid 60. Taxi payment 61. Roofed colonnade 62. Red carpet purse 63. What birds do 64. Three pointer 67. Away from the bow
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It’s Lights, Camera, Action at El Monte City School District! by A. Bury, El Monte City School District, Contributor El Monte
Last week there was a professional film crew and photographer on site at both Cherrylee and Shirpser. They were visiting with nonprofit No Kid Hungry, to produce a video that will showcase successful Breakfast-Afterthe-Bell programs across the country. EMCSD uses a Breakfast-After-the-Bell model with both its Breakfast in the Classroom program for grades K-6 and its Grab N’Go program for grades 7-8. The visitors were up bright and early to watch as EMCSD Child Nutrition employees Arcelia Velasquez, Rosa Cervantes, Maria Valdez,
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cal contracting capacity is critical to enabling robust competition on Metro’s contracts.” The program will require that participants be assessed and put through a strict evaluation process to determine
and Maria Celina Galindo prepared breakfast for students at Cherrylee and Shirpser. Then the crew visited classrooms to see the breakfast program in action. At Cherrylee, they were welcomed by Art Arias and his 4th grade students. They were able to see how students in El Monte use the first 10 minutes of their day to have a healthy meal, while also preparing for their academic lessons. At Shirpser, they visited Juan Flores’ 6th grade classroom, where the students recited their class mission statement and taught the crew about the Wildly Important Goals (WIGs)
the contractor’s credit worthiness. MWIS will assess the contractors. The program will be available to all SBE/DBE/DVBE contractors and subcontractors and is applicable to all Metro construction contracts that require bonding. In addition, the pilot program will convene a series of in-depth clinics and contractor train-
used in the 7 Habits of Leader in Me program. After the classroom visits, they recorded on-camera interviews from principals, teachers, students, and cafeteria employees to learn about what makes El Monte City School District special. Cherrylee Principal Doris Tran and Shirpser Principal Lorraine Torres set an example for their students with their interviews. Student leaders from the Lighthouse Leader in Me program led the charge for the study body. Students Aden Barcelo, Axcel Garcia, Aura Gallardo, Travis Tran, Aiden Marquez, and Junior Palencia were all naturals on camera! Teachers Art Arias, Juan Flores, Nadine Villa, Geri Varela, and Lisa Evans very generously shared their experiences with Breakfast in the Classroom on camera. The crew even got to talk to parents, thanks to help from Community Liaisons Ashley Arellano and Rosa Gutierrez. It was a nice reminder that breakfast in El Monte is a team effort. We’re all excited to see the final video and watch EMCSD shine as leaders for other schools in the country to follow! ing programs tailored to Metro’s unique construction program. Small businesses interested to obtaining bonding for a construction contract with Metro should contact Merriwether & Williams Insurance Services’ program administrator at (213) 258-3000 or visit www.imwis.com.
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dynamics. I really enjoyed the robotics program and building our car, especially when the robotic wheel spun for the first time.” Mountain View School District
and Payne School are grateful for the partnership of Windtree Robotics (formerly knowns as Bradley Robotics) whose mission is to encourage innovation, build confidence, promote teamwork, and inspire students to become science and technology leaders.
April 18, 2018
CHAPCARE HEALTH CENTERS
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The Mid Valley News is published Bi - weekly on Thursday by Mid Valley Media Center, LLC Business and Editorial Offices are located at: 11401 E. Valley Blvd.
Masterson Building, Suite 208
El Monte, California 91731 (626) 443-1753 FAX (626) 443-2245 Display Advertising: midvalleynewssgv@gmail.com Publisher/ Mid Valley Media Center Editor/ Feature Writer: Staff Asst. Editor/Graphic Designer/Social Media / Photographer: Devette Johnson Community Development Liaison: Mike McClure Media Relations Specialist: Staff
Sports Editor: Staff
Contributing Writers Glen Maldonado Dick James Devette Johnson Michael McClure Mike Nelson 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. 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
Cleminson was eligible based on their performance and progress on the state indicators as described on the California School Dashboard. Indicators include test scores, suspension rates, and English learner progress. Cleminson School represents an example of not just excellent teaching, learning, and collaborating, but also highly successful school climate efforts, ranging from real time conflict resolution to positive behavior intervention. Cleminson Principal Carlos Salcedo said, “We are honored to receive the Distinguished School Award. It is definitely a collaborative effort on the part of our incredible staff, parents and students.” EMCSD Superintendent Dr. Maribel Garcia said she was thrilled to hear of the announcement and went on to say, “The success of Cleminson is a direct result of the dedicated and talented staff as well as the supportive Cleminson School community. We look forward to seeing many of our other deserving schools achieve this award.” Salcedo plans to have a schoolwide barbeque celebration to honor their achievement and Cleminson School will be honored at the California School Recognition Programs Awards on May 3, 2018, at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim.
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our memories, riding into the sunset like other past establishments in our history.....
Joe Castillo is a freelance historical writer who has been covering Southern California history for 10 years and has written3 books on the topic. He can be reached at joeacastillo@ aol.com.
Mid Valley Media Center Have a Public Notice To Be Published? Call Us at 626.888.1493 or Email Us at info@midvalleymedia.net
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is my “One Last Thing” for this issue. Six years old, Mariah Moya gave a speech that could/should be the model for many of our politicians to follow. Short and to the point young Mariah talked about how the “Raise A Reader” allowed her to “have time
Sudoku Solution for 4.04.18
together with her family”. At Potrero Elementary School the students are taught from kindergarten on that they have a leader inside of themselves, Mariah’s speech is proof that she believes that. Thank you Mariah for representing all of your fellow students, your family and your teachers so well! And thank you to the Masons, California, Regional and local for this wonderful program.
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