May is National Bike Month
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Photo by Jennifer Harding
Serving BixBy KnollS, California HeigHtS, loS CerritoS, Wrigley and tHe City of Signal Hill Vol. 33 No. 48
Your Weekly Community Newspaper
Hitting the ground riding
Two years after his leukemia diagnosis, teen patient to ride in Tour of LB bike ride
May 4, 2012
SH Council supports initiative proposing new property-owner fees to cover growing costs of improving quality of surface water
CJ Dablo/Signal Tribune
Signal Hill City Council members gather with a number of police volunteers at Tuesday night’s Council meeting. CJ Dablo Staff Writer
Courtesy Sweeney Family
Danny Sweeney, 19, who was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia two years ago, has been training to participate in this weekend’s Tour of Long Beach bike ride
Two years ago, Danny Sweeney never thought he’d see the day when he’d be able to join the Rossmoor Pastries cycling team in the Tour of Long Beach. When he was 17, he began experiencing extreme exhaustion and was looking very pale. After having a series of blood tests in the pediatric emergency department at Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach, he and his family got the devastating news that he had
AML, acute myeloid leukemia– a form of cancer of the myeloid line of blood cells. At first, Sweeney was very scared about his diagnosis and what lay ahead for him. He had no idea what AML was and at first thought he was going to die. “I didn’t know anything about cancer,” he said. “I had very little hope after my diagnosis.” Within the first few hours of his see sWeeNey page 8
Courtesy Miller Children’s
Robin Sweeney, 20, (left) and Ryan Sweeney, 15, (center) pictured with their brother Danny Sweeney (far right) when he was undergoing treatment for leukemia at Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach two years ago
The Signal Hill City Council unanimously voted on May 1 to support an LA County initiative that proposes to fund efforts to comply with mandates to fight pollution of surface-water runoff by levying another fee on property owners. If the initiative moves forward, property owners will be given the opportunity to vote on the new fee. City Attorney David Aleshire explained the need to pass a resolution in favor of the initiative, indicating
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A heavily traveled section of Willow Street between Redondo and Grand avenues has been rehabilitated, and more than 3,500 tons of materials are being recycled as part of the project, according to a press release issued this week by the City of Long Beach. “This project is yet another example of how we’re improving our infrastructure and investing in our future,” said Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster. The work consisted of resurfacing the pavement; replacing damaged curbs and gutters, driveways, alley entrances and sidewalks; reconstructing areas of deteriorated pavement; installing pavement markers, markings, traffic striping, signing and curb paint; and trimming trees and shaving roots. “Repairing this important road is great for the community,” said Fifth District Councilmember Gerrie Schipske. “Now we can all enjoy a smoother ride, wherever we are headed.”
Now until 5/31/2012
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see COUNCIL page 14
The $760,910 project was financed with Proposition C funds and created 10 jobs. Construction began in January and was completed in April.
May 4-8, 2012
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Cory Bilicko/Signal Tribune
Construction on the $760,910 Willow Street improvement project began last January and was recently completed.
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Myrter’s projections, the City’s proposed environmental program expenditures will total approximately $920,000 for the FY 2012-13. The cost to comply with the regulations takes up a significant chunk of the City’s budget, but the City may have help covering these costs if property owners eventually approve new fees from the county-sponsored initiative. Los Angeles County has offered the Water Quality Funding Initiative (WQFI) as a means to provide a dedi-
Willow Street asphalt-resurfacing project completed
Weekly Weather Forecast Friday
that the City will be saddled with high costs to comply with environmental standards. “If you don’t [support the initiative], and this doesn’t pass, you’re still going to have the regulatory ball rolling toward you with no way to pay for it,” Aleshire told the Council Tuesday night. Director of Public Works Steve Myrter on Tuesday night described just how big that “regulatory ball” will be and how much it will cost the City to comply with surface-water runoff quality standards. According to
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This week’s Weekly Weather Forecast sponsored by:
Bixby Knolls Car Wash & Detail Center
577 E. Wardlow Rd. @ Atlantic Avenue • 562-595-6666
The street was resurfaced with asphalt containing up to 15 percent see WILLOW page 6