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Mixed-media collages by Alejandra Vernon

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See pages 10 and 11 for our Health & Fitness section

VOl. 34 NO. 16

SERVING BIXBY KNOLLS, CALIFORNIA HEIGHTS, LOS CERRITOS, WRIGLEY AND THE CITY OF SIGNAL HILL

Your Weekly Community Newspaper

September 21, 2012

47th District congressional candidates Lowenthal, DeLong talk marriage equality, tax policy and environmental concerns at community forum

Courtesy City of SH

Kids enrolled in the Signal Hill afterschool program power through an obstacle course.

Fees for new SH kindergarten afterschool care program open dialogue on proposed tax measure CJ Dablo Staff Writer

Discussion of new fees for an afterschool care program for Signal Hill kindergarten students presented Councilmember Larry Forester with an opportunity at last Tuesday’s Council meeting to ask about the effects of a proposed tax measure that may someday end up on a cityelection ballot if the measure’s advocates get their way.

The Signal Hill City Council’s decision to approve expansion of the City’s afterschool program to include care for kindergarteners was passed by all four present councilmembers Tuesday night (Vice Mayor Michael Noll was absent). The proposal to expand the afterschool program involves charging a fee to parents of participating kindergarteners, and discussion surrounding that fee opened a dialogue on a controversial measure that a few community advocates hope to place on the election ballot and get ultimately approved by voters.

When Forester inquired about that measure last Tuesday, a legal advisor to the City said that a fee like the one proposed to cover afterschool care for kindergarteners would be subject to the proposed measure that would, if passed, require all taxes,

assessments and fees to be approved by two-thirds of the voters. In addition, the proposed measure would expire taxes and fees within 10 years.

The weekly fee to enroll a kindergarten student in the City-run afterschool program is $30 for Signal Hill residents and $35 for non-residents.

The City has planned to accommodate up to around 15 kindergarten students.

Forester asked at the Council meeting whether these weekly fees for a City-run afterschool program for kindergartners would be affected by the tax measure that proposes to significantly change the process of determining the fee schedule for city services. The councilmember asked for clarity on the measure from attorney Sunny Soltani, who, during the Council meeting, provided legal counsel to the City since City Attorney David Aleshire was absent that night. Soltani is a partner at the city attorney’s law firm, Aleshire and Wynder.

“The way the language was drafted includes such a simple fee as a $30 kindergarten fee,” Soltani told the Council Tuesday night.

Gloria Nava, a Signal Hill resident who is closely tied to the community advocacy group Signal Hill see COUNCIL page 7

Sean Belk Staff Writer

Sometimes appearing as friends and, at other moments, political foes, Democrat State Sen. Alan Lowenthal and Republican Long Beach City Councilmember Gary DeLong took aim at each other’s campaigns in a debate at the Bixby Park Community Center on Sept. 13. The candidates are vying for a seat in Congress to repre-

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sent the newly drawn 47th Congressional District of California, which includes the cities of Long Beach, Signal Hill, Cypress, Rossmoor, Los Alamitos, Stanton, Garden Grove and Westminster.

DeLong, a local businessman who has served as Long Beach’s 3rd District councilmember since 2006, considers himself a “moderate” Republican but “socially liberal”

when it comes to such topics as gay marriage. DeLong said, if elected, he would distance himself from the political standard in Washington, D.C. and bring a bipartisan approach to creating jobs and balancing the federal budget.

DeLong also said he wouldn’t vote to repeal President Barack Obama’s healthcare reform law but would push changes to it instead.

Long Beach Junior Concert Band now needs truck and permanent rehearsal, storage space

see FORUM page 18

Sean Belk Staff Writer

Things aren’t turning around for the Long Beach Junior Concert Band (LBJCB).

Although the nonprofit youth band celebrated its 60th anniversary on June 6, the group has barely been able to make ends meet in the last few months after being moved from their longtime Signal Hill location last year to a new spot, only to be forced out again.

The band still has yet to find a permanent location to perform rehearsals and store band equipment. Making matters worse, a see BAND page 15

Weekly Weather Forecast Friday

Sean Belk/Signal Tribune

47th District Congressional candidates Alan Lowenthal and Gary DeLong during last week’s candidate forum

Saturday

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Sunday

81°

Monday

79°

File photo

Despite celebrating its 60th anniversary last June, the Long Beach Junior Concert Band is struggling to make ends meet after suffering a fire to one of its trucks and losing its rehearsal and storage space.

Sept. 21 – 25, 2012 Tuesday

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Low clouds, then sun

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Community Health Day Saturday, Sept. 29 8am to 11am Discovery Well Park 2200 Temple Ave., SH

Community Walk and Fun Run • 2 mi. Hill Challenge at Hill St/Obispo Avenue • 1.5 mi. Scenic Route at Temple Avenue, North of park driveway Fitness Booths • Demonstrations • Snacks Opportunity Drawings • Kids’ Fun Zone

All ages welcome!

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The City of Signal Hill thanks our sponsors:

For more information, contact City Hall:

2175 Cherry Ave., Signal Hill, CA 90755 (562) 989-7330 cityofsignalhill.org

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NEWS

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String of residential burglaries, theft crimes reported in Bixby Knolls-area neighborhoods Sean Belk

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Tiffany Jarvis, a resident on Locust Avenue in the Virginia Country Club area of Long Beach, said her son spotted two suspicious teenagers coming out of a nearby home and carrying a backpack in the afternoon last Tuesday. After she called the police, the suspects, which Jarvis identified as a juvenile AfricanAmerican and an older AfricanAmerican, were eventually caught and arrested for burglarizing a home on San Antonio Drive the day before, taking a camera and other items.

Police cautioned that it’s typical of perpetrators to check

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doors while holding fliers, Jarvis said. “It could have been a little more organized, but they definitely had a system of checking the door to see if anybody was home,” she said.

The incident is just one of several recent reports of residential burglaries and other theft crimes by suspects targeting the Bixby Knolls, California Heights and Wrigley neighborhoods, according to residents and police officials.

Long Beach Police Commander Galen Carroll, who oversees the North Patrol Division, said, overall, Part 1 crimes in the area were down 2.9 percent in August compared to the same month last year but up 2.1 percent year-to-date over 2011, adding “it’s not like we have this major crime spree.” But in terms of property theft, the North Division has seen a 19-percent increase in residential burglaries so far this year over last year, he said.

“It is something we’re fighting,” Carroll said. “It’s one of those frustrating-type crimes, because, in burglaries, it’s very hard to catch people and make arrests … We really have to rely on the community to call us, because we don’t know necessarily who belongs in the neighborhood and who doesn’t.”

In a police patrol beat that covers mostly the Virginia Country Club area, residential burglaries are up 17 percent over 2011, while, in other areas of Bixby Knolls, residential burglaries are flat compared to last year, he said. Carroll added that there have been close to 50 suspects arrested so far this year for residential burglaries. In fact, just last week, five people were arrested in two days after residents called in about suspicious activity, which he said is critical for apprehending suspects.

“Officers see someone walking down the street, and they’re just walking down the street– burglars don’t typically wear a mask and gloves,” Carroll said.

“I’m actually very happy with the community helping us out when they do … Neighbors are

calling in because they see something suspicious or something happening at their neighbor’s house … Officers get there, and they’re pretty good about actually catching the people.”

Some residents, however, have not been so lucky. One Wrigley-area resident, who declined to be identified, said his home was burglarized just before midnight on Sept. 7, while residents were asleep and while the door was accidentally left unlocked. Suspects took a new Apple computer and a 52-inch flat-screen TV from the Linden Avenue home.

Although police fingerprinted the house, the suspects have yet to be caught, he said. “It was such a violation … it just really blew me away,” the resident said. “These guys are really starting to get brazen … They’ll go in your car, home or garage.

It’s a pretty scary world right now.”

Carroll said more residents may be leaving their windows and doors open due to the recent hot weather, which can sometimes create an “easy target” for burglars. “Historically speaking, at least half of our residential burglaries are from open doors and windows,” he said. “With the extremely hot weather we’ve been having, [residents] are leaving a lot of open doors and windows. They’re leaving the house, and it’s just an open invitation to come on in.”

Commercial theft activity As far as commercial burglaries, which may involve petty theft and shoplifting, Carroll said activity in the North Division is down almost 13 percent so far this year over last year. But there have been a few robberies in recent months, he added.

More than three weeks ago, an incident occurred at a CVS Pharmacy on San Antonio Drive and Atlantic Avenue, where three suspects were involved in a “take-over robbery” that later ended in an officer-involved shooting. Carroll said officers were at the scene in less than two minutes. Two suspects are in custody, and one is deceased, he said.

More recently, a robbery occurred on Sept. 13 at 8:10pm at an electronics store at Pine Street and Willow Avenue, according to a statement provided by Nancy Pratt, Long Beach Police Department spokesperson. She said the incident involved a K-9 unit and “Fox” police helicopter after one suspect fled into the neighborhood and a foot pursuit was initiated. The loss was eventually recovered, and both suspects were booked for robbery.

Blair Cohn, executive director of the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association, said businesses should do everything they can to make sure the corridor is “lit up and safe” with surveillance cameras and lighting, as the community continues to work closely with the police department. “I think everybody is on high alert right now, and they should always be,” he said.

“Never drop your guard, and make your own property safe.”

Safety tips for businesses may be found by visiting bixbyknollsinfo.com .

SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

NEWS

The Campaign Trail

Cal State Long Beach will host a forum featuring candidates for the 47th Congressional District on Friday, Oct. 5 from 5:30pm to 7pm at the Pointe at the Pyramid. Participating will be candidates Gary DeLong and Alan Lowenthal. The forum is jointly sponsored by the League of Women Voters; CSULB; University of California, Los Angeles; and their partners. Community and campus members are invited to attend the forum, which will be run under League of Women Voters forum protocols. Information tables will be available in the lobby of the Pointe, but placards or signs will not be allowed in the audience. Cards and pencils will be provided to members of the audience who wish to pose questions to the candidates. Taping or filming of the event, which must be televised in its entirety, must be approved prior to the event. Parking for the event is free to community attendees in Lot 13. The Pointe at the Pyramid is located on the university campus at Atherton Street and Merriam Way. The entrance to the Pointe is located beneath the yellow entrance of the Walter Pyramid.

Man dies in collision with tree after exiting tunnel

On Sunday, Sept. 16, at approximately 1:25am, officers from the Long Beach Police Department were called to the area of Spring Street just west of Lakewood Boulevard in response to a traffic collision that resulted in the death of an adult male.

When officers arrived at the scene, a 2011 Hyundai Sonata, which had collided with a tree on the center median, was fully engulfed in flames. Witnesses at

the scene and officers were unable to rescue the driver due to the fire.

Long Beach Fire Department personnel responded and extinguished the fire, and the driver of the vehicle was determined to be deceased at the scene.

The preliminary investigation revealed that the vehicle was traveling eastbound on Spring Street toward Lakewood Boulevard. The driver had lost control of the vehicle when exiting the tunnel, drove

up onto the center median and collided with the tree. The vehicle had caught fire immediately upon impact.

No passengers were in the vehicle, and no other vehicles were involved in the collision.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Long Beach Police Department Accident Investigations Detail Detective Sirilo Garcia at (562) 570-7355.

The Long Beach Police Department’s (LBPD) Traffic Division conducted a motorcycle enforcement operation from noon to 5pm on Saturday, Sept. 15 to target areas that are frequented by motorcyclists and where collisions occur.

Five officers assigned to this operation were looking for moving violations as well as equipment and helmet violations in order to enhance motorcycle safety throughout the City of Long Beach. During this operation, the officers produced the following statistics: • 12 helmet citations • four motorcycle moving violations • 11 vehicle moving violations • one vehicle towed

• one felony drug arrest Motorcycle fatalities have been on the rise in California, increasing 175 percent in the last decade, from 204 killed in 1998 to 560 killed in 2008, according to the LBPD. Other factors contributing to motorcycle crashes often include speeding and impairment due to drugs and alcohol. The LBPD issued a press release this week reminding motorists to always be alert and watch out for motorcycles, especially when turning and changing lanes.

Another major factor leading to motorcycle crashes is inexperience, according to the LBPD, which is also encouraging riders, young and old, to seek training

and safety information, as many people are riding motorcycles without the proper motorcycle endorsement and without the necessary skills to ride safely.

Riders can get training through the California Motorcyclist Safety Program. Information and training locations are available at camsp.org or 1-877-RIDE-411.

Funding for the motorcylesafety program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Safety Administration. For further information, contact Traffic Section Sergeant Ernie Kohagura at (562) 5705737.

LBPD’s motorcyle enforcement operation yields felony drug arrest among other traffic citations

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STACK UP ON THE HILL What 3rd Annual Breakfast at the Foothill Club Who Signal Hill Historical Society Where Discovery Well Park, 2200 Temple Ave. When Saturday, Sept. 22 from 9am to 1pm More Info For a small donation, participants will be served a pancake breakfast as they spend time viewing a variety of presentations and displays about the history of the city of Signal Hill and the oil industry, including a collection of photographs and artifacts. Families are encouraged to attend. Kids activities will be available. For more information, call (310) 529-8362 or email EJVillanueva@gmail.com .

READ ALOUD What We Harte B.A.R.K. Who Hosted by 7th District Councilmember James Johnson Where Bret Harte Library, 1595 W. Willow St. When Saturday, Sept. 22 from 11am to 12:30pm More Info We Harte B.A.R.K. is held every fourth Saturday of the month at Bret Harte Library. Children of all ages are welcome. For this date only, children who participate in the program will receive a free ticket to the Aquarium of the Pacific, while supplies last. Attendees should not take their own dogs to the event; B.A.R.K. will have their own trained, certified dogs. For more information, contact the 7th District Council Office at (562) 570-7777 or email district7@longbeach.gov .

MEET THE AUTHORS What Author talk and book signing Who Friends of the Signal Hill Library Where Signal Hill Park Community Center, 1780 East Hill St. When Monday, Sept. 24 from 7pm to 8:30pm More Info The talk will feature Sonia Marsh, who is the author of From Freeways to Flip-Flops: A Family’s Year of Gutsy Living on a Tropical Island, her story about chucking it all and uprooting her family to reconnect on an island in Belize. Jill Fales, author of the soon-to-be-released My Laundry Museum and Other Messy Gifts of Motherhood, will also talk about driving across America and roadschooling her four children on her “great American field trip.” Call (562) 597-0650.

PREP FOR THE VOTING BOOTH What Proposition workshop Who Long Beach Republicans Where The Grand, 4101 East Willow St. When Wednesday, Sept. 26 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm More Info Workshop will include a presentation and recommendations on the November ballot propositions. Guests are requested to donate $5. Light appetizers and refreshments will be available.

RSVP to Michele@LongBeachRepublicans.org or call (562) 4241246.

GARNISHING YOUR GARMENTS What General meeting Who Hosted by the Long Beach Chapter of the Embroiderers Guild of America Where California Heights United Methodist Church, 3759 Orange Ave. When Friday, Sept. 28 beginning at 10:30am More Info The Chapter meets the fourth Friday of every month.

Guests are welcome and requested to donate $2.

FEELING LUCKY? What Diamonds & Hearts Casino Night and Silent Auction Who Operation Jump Start Where Long Beach Marketplace, 6475 E. Pacific Coast Hwy. When Friday, Sept. 28, 7pm to 11pm More Info Operation Jump Start invites the Long Beach community to place their bets on the success of local students at the first-ever Diamond & Hearts casino night. The Vegas-style festivities will include classic Sin City table games like blackjack, poker, craps and roulette, as well as a silent auction featuring exclusive prizes such as a VIP package to the Long Beach Grand Prix and tickets to see the USC Trojans live. Tickets are $75 per person and are on sale now at operationjumpstart.org .

SAFETY FIRST What Car-seat safety check at the 5th District Good Neighbor Festival and Picnic Who Miller’s Children’s Hospital Where El Dorado Branch Library parking lot, 2900 N. Studebaker Rd. When Saturday, Sept. 29 from 10am to 2pm More Info Attendees may have their child’s car seat inspected by certified technicians. Technicians will provide consultations and help ensure children are safe before every trip. Spaces are limited. Call (562) 933-9151 or email dluna2@memorialcare.org to schedule a free consultation.

4 SIGNAL TRIBUNE

Thoughts from the Publisher

OPINION

by Neena Strichart

For the past several months I have had a great deal of pain on the bottom of my right foot. The pain started in the ball of my foot and then traveled to my heel. I blamed it on dancing I had done at a wedding back in June followed by more dancing at a birthday party a month or so later. After several more weeks with no relief whatsoever (time heals all wounds??), I decided to go see a podiatrist.

The reason I waited so long before seeing a foot doctor was a lousy experience I had with one such doc during my high-school years. The guy had diagnosed me with gout, gave me a shot in the most painful part of my foot, and then told me to stop being such a big baby and to stop crying. Talk about a lack of bedside manner!

Nevertheless, this time I asked my wonderful “regular” doctor for a referral to a podiatrist who wouldn’t make me want to smack him or her, and he quickly gave me the contact information for Dr. Pedram Aslmand.

I am happy to report that after just three appointments with Dr. A, my heel feels about 75 percent better. On my first visit in, he gave me a shot in the heel (not as painful as it sounds), wrapped my foot with adhesive tape, suggested I ice it often and wear a boot-like contraption to bed. I did as he requested and felt a bit better. During my second visit, Dr. A once again wrapped my foot, told me to keep icing it, keep wearing the boot, and suggested I stop wearing shoes that were not supportive or flexible. Before I left his office, he told me I should get my husband to rub my foot every night to help with the circulation and stretching of the affected area. I knew getting Steve to even touch my foot would not be an easy task– since he’s not exactly a “foot guy.” So, after telling Dr. A that getting the rub would be nearly impossible, he quickly pulled out a prescription pad and wrote “husband to rub heel for 10 minutes every night,” signed it

and handed it to me. Now that’s what I call having a great bedside manner!

Since that visit, I am getting my foot rubbed regularly and am feeling about 80 percent better. Hmmm; I wonder what other kind of “prescription” I can get. Maybe a back rub or breakfast in bed! I’ll keep you posted on my progress. I have a feeling this won’t be the last of the story! Check out Dr. Aslmand at footadvice.com . His office is over on Long Beach Boulevard near Spring Street.

Cory Bilicko/Signal Tribune

My husband Steve filling the doctor’s prescription to rub my feet for 10 minutes every night

BAs must be D r u o Y t! e g r fo Don’t ears! ss filed every 5 yur fictitious busine

yo ibune help with Let the Signal Tr & publication. statement filing e of too! We have on u, yo r fo ty un We’ll go to the co es in the county the lowest pric t away! t you started righ ge to s rm fo e th and ANGES

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ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS

COLUMNISTS

Jennifer E. Beaver Carol Berg Sloan, RD

TH E

ED I TO R

I signed the Taxpayers’ Right to Know and Vote petition. I like the twothirds voter approval requirement for city revenue proposals on a ballot. We need better cost control in this city. I am a homeowner, and I want to be able to influence the cost of owning property in this city and living in this city. If the Council needs to raise money for a community project and asks me to help pay for it, then I would have the opportunity to vote for it.

I did some research on how the Right to Vote on “fees” would affect yearly fee increases proposed by the Council. The Right to Vote only applies to “fees” that affect my property. That means fees such as library fines and police fees are not affected. State laws already control non-property fees, and they are exempt from voter approval because we voted to make them a State law.

I want better cost control in this city and believe Know and Vote is a good way to get it.

Shelby Brunner Signal Hill

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Leighanna Nierle

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT/WEBSITE MANAGER

STAFF WRITERS

CJ Dablo

TO

The dialogue continues...

Cory Bilicko

Barbie Ellisen Jane Fallon Stephanie Raygoza Sean Belk

LETTER

MANAGING EDITOR

Stephen M. Strichart

Neena R. Strichart

SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

Nick Diamantides

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Matt Sun

CULTURE WRITERS

Tanya Paz

Daniel Adams Vicki Paris Goodman Gregory Spooner EDITORIAL INTERN

Ariana Gastelum

DESIGN INTERN

Kaelyn Bruno

The Signal Tribune welcomes letters to the editor, which should be signed, dated and include a phone number to verify authenticity. Letters are due by noon on the Tuesday before desired publication date. The Signal Tribune reserves the right to edit letters for grammar, language and space requirements. The Signal Tribune does not print letters that refer substantially to articles in other publications and might not print those that have recently been printed in other publications or otherwise presented in a public forum. Letters to the editor and commentaries are the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Signal Tribune or its staff. Although the editorial staff will attempt to verify and/or correct information when possible, letters to the editor and commentaries are opinions, and readers should not assume that they are statements of fact. Letter-writers will be identified by their professional titles or affiliations when, and only when, the editorial staff deems it relevant and/or to provide context to the letter. The Signal Tribune is published each Friday with a circulation of 25,000. Yearly subscriptions are available for $45.

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COMMUNITY

SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

SIGNAL TRIBUNE

At its 35th anniversary of serving the underprivileged, community center celebrates its director’s 60th birthday

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With a twist of humor and a touch of poignancy, Amelia Nieto (third from left) tells her story in song after inviting those in attendance at her 60th birthday celebration to join in. The Centro Shalom director’s special day coincided with the 60th anniversary of the center.

In another dual celebration last week (see page 12 for story on Bixby Knolls Car Wash’s 35th year and its owners’ 34th wedding anniversary), the community center Centro Shalom also celebrated its 35th anniversary by honoring the 60th birthday of its director, Amelia Nieto, on Sept. 15.

Centro Shalom provides support services for new immigrants, serving as a multicultural, multi-ethnic community that also gives assistance to homeless and impoverished people. The center opened its doors in 1977 and traces its genesis to a chance encounter between Nieto’s mother, Olivia Herrera, a Hispanic woman trained as a social worker who was an activist in Cesar Chavez’s farm-worker organizing movement, and Samuel Araya, a Methodist minister who was a refugee from Salvador Allende’s Chile. Araya was a Christian Socialist who had fled Chile in 1972 following the CIAbacked overthrow of the Allende regime.

Araya, who was the pastor for the Latin-American United Methodist Church of Long Beach in the mid-1970s, met Herrera at a Methodist function and challenged her to put her talents to work in Long Beach, which he saw as a city with many people in need.

He provided the place, she provided the expertise, and Centro

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According to information provided in the program for the center’s celebration, “Over its 30 years of service, under the capable and dependable leadership of its founder Olivia and then her daughter Amelia, the current director, and with the help of literally scores of volunteers, Centro Shalom has grown, moved, struggled and groaned with the times, always wondering where its next dollar would come from.”

At last Saturday’s celebration, former 7th District Long Beach Councilmember Tonia ReyesUranga served as mistress and ceremonies. Marc Coleman, who is Centro Shalom’s program board chair, provided the introduction for the event. Thereafter, Dale Whitney, a pastor for a local Presbyterian church who also manages the Uptown Farmers Market, gave the invocation.

For the event’s program, Whitney wrote “Amelia’s Story,” in which he mentioned that Nieto was born in 1952, which made her just a little too young to be involved in the social revolution of the 1960s.

“But even in her childhood, she had many experiences which contributed to her eventual involvement in the struggle for social and economic justice,” Whitney wrote.

“There was a time, before Amelia can even remember, when such an esteemed foreign visitor as Che Guevara would visit their household, at her grandfather’s invitation.”

In the biography, Whitney described Nieto as compassionate, knowledgeable, approachable and dependable. “Her commitment to the Centro and its clients is absolutely tangible, and we are all more than pleased that she is still our executive director after these 19 years. We love you, Amelia!”

During the event, Nieto also shared her story with those in attendance, but she did so through music. Included in the printed program for the celebration were the lyrics to three songs: “De Colores,” “Battle Hymn of the Republic” and “This Land is Your Land,” and Nieto led the group in a sing-along of those selections, cajoling each individual in attendance to participate.

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COMMUNITY 6 SIGNAL TRIBUNE Local self-taught musician who overcame trauma at birth and learning disability now co-composing major Chinese musical in LA Ariana Gastelum Editorial Intern

The chances of becoming a professional musical composer after only experimenting with a music-producing computer application a few years beforehand seem incredibly unlikely.

However, Jennifer Lindsay made this possible. In 2006, she was making songs through Garageband on her Mac computer. Today, she has composed and arranged songs for the musical I, Ching.

Lindsay, who was born in San Diego, Calif., is a violinist, soprano, composer, systems engineer and concertmistress. By 2006, she had just received her master’s of science in computer science from The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. “Maryland is usually very cold in the winter. So, instead of going out and being social, I would just stay home,” she said. “I had bought a new Mac computer, and there was this one program on it called Garageband. So, I started playing around with it, writing cool songs. Eventually, I would finish one, and I would write lyrics and add vocals to it. Then, I’d send it to my parents and my friends.”

Lindsay pursued this hobby for several years until her friends and family suggested that she take this music-producing a step further. “Finally people were like, ‘Why don’t you just put all these songs on a CD because these are really good songs. We are actually listening to them. We aren’t just giving you platitude,’” she said. “So, eventually, I got my act together and put out a CD in 2009.”

Lindsay’s CD was called Songs in the Dark. “She not only sang every song,” her mother Gloria said. “But she wrote all the lyrics. She composed all the music. She did all the mixing, and she did all the orchestrations.”

Mary Au, the producer of I, Ching, was having difficulty finding a composer. “She had already tried out another composer,” Lindsay said. “He wrote some songs for her, and she didn’t like the way it sounded. So, Mary recommended me.” Au had collaborated and performed with Lindsay in the past. She had also listened to Lindsay’s CD before, which triggered her to ask Lindsay to be a part of the performance.

It was about two years ago when Au introduced the script to Lindsay.

Lindsay was not familiar with any of

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Jennifer Lindsay, who lives in the Ridgewood Heights area of Bixby Knolls, is a violinist, soprano, composer, systems engineer and concert mistress. After only practicing music-producing on a music application in 2006, Lindsay was given the opportunity to compose and arrange songs for the musical I, Ching.

Out of five composers, she was the only American.

By the time Lindsay was 8 months old, she could read words. By the age of 3, she could read at a third-grade level. At 13, she was attending Orange Coast College as their top student in biochemistry.

Lindsay now holds: a bachelor’s in mathematics from Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, California; a master’s in operations research from Columbia University in New York; as well as her master’s from the The Johns Hopkins University. She currently works as a software engineer in Long Beach.

In addition, Lindsay is an artist.

“I’ve written five books, and she’s illustrated beautiful sketches for my poetry. She’s even written short stories and poetry,” Gloria added. “She is like that. She’s interested in many things. She used to curl too! She was on a curling team.” Curling is a sport in which players slide stones across a sheet of ice toward four target rings.

However, none of these other hobbies will ever take the place of Lindsay’s number-one passion– music.

“You really have to keep dedicating yourself– producing music– because it could make a difference years from now,” she said. “Back in 2009, when I released the CD, I had no idea it would be this kind of musical opportunity. And back in 2006, when I started playing around with Garageband, I had no idea that would lead me to produce a CD. It’s interesting to see the things I’ve done, several years prior, ended up getting me jobs and opportunities.

The lesson to that is to keep producing music. Five years from now, who knows? This musical may even

Photo by James Mao

Marsha Yuan sings “I, Ching,” the first song Jennifer Lindsay composed and gave to producer Mary Au for the musical I, Ching. She also wrote two other songs titled “New Age Woman” and “Fool Me No More.” “I, Ching” became the signature song of the play. get me a job writing another musical on Broadway.”

I, Ching will be performed on Friday, Sept. 21 at 7:30pm and Saturday, Sept. 22 at 2pm and 7:30pm at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica.

For ticket information, visit ichingthemusical.com .

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the Chinese history behind the play. I, Ching, written by Hong Kong’s first woman director, Cecile Tang Shu Shuen, is about the life if Jiang Ching, wife of Mao Tsedong, a Chinese communist revolutionary, political theorist and politician. Lindsay ended up researching and buying books on Ching to better understand her character.

“So I went off, and a couple weeks later, I came back with the idea of one of the songs that’s also called ‘I, Ching’ and [Au] fell in love with it,” Lindsay said. She also produced “New Age Woman” and “Fool Me No More” in addition to “I, Ching,” which came to be one of the signature songs in the musical. After writing the songs, she performed them on a CD. That way, the cast could hear the way they were supposed to sound.

There are 16 songs in the musical.

Not only did Lindsay compose three songs, but she also arranged 10 of the remaining 13. “That means she worked over the music itself, and a lot of times she enhanced it or turned it into something else,” Gloria said.

“It turned out really well because it was being presented to an American audience.” Lindsay explained that since everyone had different styles in their music, the order of the songs had to be arranged so that they had a better flow. There is a variety of different types of music in the play, such as jazz, ballade, rock and roll, Beijing opera and Chinese symphonic music.

The other composers are Stoa Lau, Lowell Lo, Tin Chee and Zhou Tian.

Lindsay is the only American composer.

“Music is in her heart,” Gloria said about Lindsay. “She just has this ability. She overcame all these obstacles– not just overcame them– she succeeded in life.” Gloria wrote a book titled Triumph Over Trauma about Lindsay’s loss of oxygen at birth, the challenges that followed and how her mother helped her overcome them.

At birth, Lindsay received an abnormal brain scan after swallowing her mother’s meconium. Doing so can block oxygen from entering the lungs and result in severe learning disabilities. “The doctors thought her future looked pretty bleak,” Gloria noted. “I vowed to do whatever I could to help her.” She worked with Lindsay by stimulating her intellectually as well as physically. One of the techniques she used was flashcards.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

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From local festivals like Bixby Knolls’ First Fridays and the Long Beach Zombie Walk to classical symphony performances

and avant-garde theatre, Long Beach will once again celebrate its Arts Month this October.

The Arts Council for Long Beach sponsors the annual program that renews awareness and support for local arts and invites residents to explore hundreds of arts events happening in the city.

“Opportunities to enjoy the arts occur every day,” said John Glaza, interim executive director of the Arts Council for Long Beach. “Long Beach Arts Month makes it even easier to go see a play, or visit a gallery, or listen to live music, or take an art workshop, or attend a book club.

You will enjoy it, and the arts community will deeply appreciate your support.”

Many of the events promoted are free, interactive events, including: performances and exhibitions at local coffee shops and local businesses; exhibitions at the Bungalow Building and Expo Art Center; music and dance lessons at the Homeland Cultural Center; community

drum circle at the ART Center; the Long Beach Open Studio Tour; and the Belmont Shore Art Walk & Sidewalk Chalk Contest.

“An arts experience isn’t just great for your creative spirit. It’s also an investment in Long Beach,” Glaza said. “Dollars spent on local arts and culture are often reinvested into the local economy, where your dollars are needed most. Plus, you invest in a critical economic resource for the city. A vital local arts scene attracts tourism and outside dollars.”

Long Beach Arts Month is the new name for the program formerly called GLOBAL. While GLOBAL promoted “a world of art happening in Long Beach,” Long Beach Arts Month crystallizes the same mission through a Long Beach lens. To learn more about Long Beach Arts Month, visit longbeachartsmonth.org .

Source: LB Arts Council

SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

Council

continued from page 1

Community First, disputed Soltani’s understanding of the proposed measure.

Signal Hill Community First is the primary organization that is promoting the new law to mandate a two-thirds voter approval of taxes, assessments and fees. Nava said that the proposed measure is subject to the state law which does exempt “simple fees” like the one for the kindergarten afterschool program that was approved at Tuesday night’s Council meeting.

“I would just like to say the initiative does follow state law, so that would be exempted,” Nava said in a short statement during a public-comment period Tuesday night.

Members of Signal Hill Community First are currently in the process of gathering the required number of petition signatures to get the measure on the ballot. As the Signal Tribune previously reported in July, the advocacy group will need signatures of at least 10

percent of the voting population before mid-October if the measure’s proponents want the Signal Hill electorate to vote on the measure at the March 2013 city election. The voting population in Signal Hill was reported to be 5,520 according to a May 2012 voter-identification report cited by Becky Burleson, who serves as the deputy city clerk for Signal Hill. Using this number as a guideline, they will likely need to gather over 550 signatures.

Mayor Tina Hansen disputed Nava’s interpretation of the measure’s scope and impact on fees for city services. Hansen acknowledged that the state law is not as restrictive as the proposed measure to change the City’s charter, however the mayor explained that the City couldn’t assume that the state law would apply to simple fees.

The mayor, who works as the deputy district attorney for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office, said that she learned in law school that when a more restrictive law and a less restrictive law conflict, the law that is more restrictive would apply.

NEWS

“So even if the state law is less restrictive,” Hansen said Tuesday, “it would be this charter amendment that would apply because it’s more restrictive.”

Community Services Director Pilar Alcivar-McCoy explained that her staff had been receiving requests from parents of kindergartners to provide care after school. The City did not previously provide care to students who were in kindergarten because the State limited the number of hours that the City could operate an afterschool program, according to Alcivar-McCoy. Now, because of a recent change to state legislation, the State has now expanded the number of hours that an afterschool program could operate from 16 hours to 20 hours a week, the community services director stated in a staff report. She described the unique challenges that come with providing afterschool care for kindergarten students.

“Kindergarteners are released from school earlier than the rest of the students, and providing care to this age

group would have caused the City’s program to exceed the allowable hours of operation,” said Alcivar-McCoy Tuesday night. She also explained why previously, the program only provided afterschool activities for students in grades one through five, stating that “the program was designed to meet the greatest need while staying within the restrictions and the guidelines.”

Prior to the change, the afterschool program only covered the hours of 3pm to 6pm. It’s still free of charge after 3pm, however the community services director acknowledged in her staff report that the fee imposed on parents of kindergarten children would be used to cover the cost of staff time from 1:30pm to 3pm.

With the approval of the City Council’s resolution, the program has now been expanded to include afterschool care for kindergarten students from 1:30pm to 5:30 pm Monday

SIGNAL TRIBUNE

7

through Friday. Kindergarten students would have to be picked up by 5:30pm.

Councilmember Ellen Ward commended Alcivar-McCoy’s role on a legislative committee that pressed for a change in the state legislation to expand afterschool program hours.

According to Alcivar-McCoy, the program promotes exercise and a healthy lifestyle in addition to providing homework assistance. The community services director acknowledged in a follow-up telephone interview Wednesday that the program currently has 63 students plus additional spaces for kindergarten students, which would bring the estimated enrollment up to about 80 total students.

Alcivar-McCoy said Tuesday night that she was coordinating with her staff, and the expanded program could start as early as this Monday.

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Members of the Long Beach Pony League pose with Signal Hill Mayor Tina Hansen (center) at Tuesday night’s Council meeting. The baseball team won the Pony League World Series earlier this summer. Team manager Scot Chamberlain received a certificate of commendation from the mayor.

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A REMINDER FROM THE SIGNAL TRIBUNE

SHPD, DEA to host Drug Take-Back collection

The Signal Hill Police Department (SHPD) and the Drug Administration Enforcement (DEA) will give the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs on Saturday, Sept. 29 from 10am to 2pm during their Drug Take-Back event. The public may take in medications for disposal to the SHPD, 1800 E Hill St., during the service, which is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

During the previous four Drug Take-Back initiatives, more than 774 tons of medications were collected nationwide, of which more than 58,000 pounds were collected in the greater Los Angeles area alone.

According to the SHPD, medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse, and rates of prescription drug abuse in the US are high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including

from the home medicine cabinet.

In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines– flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash– both pose potential safety and health hazards.

Four days after the first event, Congress passed the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010, which amends the Controlled Substances Act to allow an “ultimate user” of controlled-substance medications to dispose of them by delivering them to entities authorized by the attorney general to accept them. The Act also allows the attorney general to authorize long-term care facilities to dispose of their residents’ controlled substances in certain instances. The DEA is drafting regulations to implement the Act, a process that can take as long as 24 months. Until new regulations are in place, local law-enforcement agencies like the Signal Hill Police Department and the DEA will continue to hold prescription drug take-back events every few months.

Source: SHPD

To register, come to the Signal Hill Community Services Department 2175 Cherry Avenue, Signal Hill, CA 90755 to pick up a form or visit www.cityofsignalhill.org.

Fee may be paid with cash, check or money order.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

Nutrition

Recipe for a healthy kitchen Carol Berg Sloan RD

Staff Writer

I mostly write about nutrition, but another factor for good health is food safety. Here are a few tools for your kitchen to keep it one of the safest places in the house.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that every year about 48 million people in the United States become ill from harmful bacteria in food; of these, about 3,000 die. Uncooked meats, eggs and dairy dishes may be more prone to high levels of bacteria. This is why a pocket thermometer ($5 on amazon.com; $15 at Smart & Final) is a must in every kitchen, although most households don’t have one. For example, beef meatloaf should be cooked to 160 degrees, chicken to 165 degrees, while egg dishes such as quiches and custards should be cooked to 160 degrees. Always put the thermometer into the thickest part of the meat or dish, and clean between uses.

Cutting boards are needed to protect your beautiful countertop but also to protect against cross contamination, which is when bacteria is passed from one food to another such as raw chicken to sliced tomatoes. There are fabulous cutting boards available in plastic, wood and even glass. I have all types of cutting boards, and I do replace them if they get dirty grooves, splinters or chips. Plastic and glass can be put in a dishwasher, but wood needs to be sanitized carefully after using.

Paper towels are a staple in my kitchen, for they are safe and sanitary. Towels end up wiping spills that can include raw meat, dirt, chemicals, blood or other bodily fluids.

Use paper towels that allow you to tear smaller sections and that are 100-percent recyclable.

Proper hand-washing technique includes soap and hot water. Have a soap dispenser at the kitchen sink, and make sure your entire family knows how to wash hands correctly.

According to the National Restaurant Association, here’s the right way in 5 simple steps: • Wet hands with running water as hot as you can comfortably stand • Apply enough soap to build up a good lather • Vigorously scrub hands and arms for at least 10 to 15 seconds, and clean under fingernails and between fingers • Rinse hands and arms thoroughly under running water • Dry hands and arms with a paper towel, and use the paper towel to turn off the faucet.

Enjoy healthy delicious food, and keep your kitchen a safe haven for preparation and eating.

Sloan is a registered dietitian in Long Beach and can be reached at cbsrd@verizon.net .

SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

STAYING HEALTHY

Fall is here– time to plant!

Garden Variety

SIGNAL TRIBUNE

9

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Bok choi is among the cold-season vegetables that ready gardeners can plant now.

Jennifer E. Beaver Columnist

If April is the cruelest month (or so says poet T.S. Eliot), September is certainly the most confusing.

And what of the month following? Surely, Steely Dan had October in mind for the lyric, “Here come those Santa Ana winds again” (from the song “Babylon Sisters”).

Okay, enough with the literary references. Fall is the California gardener’s spring– it’s the best time to plant because at some point the weather grows temperate, and the bugs become less abundant.

Yet the beginning of the season is a peculiar time for southern California gardeners because we don’t know if we’re coming or going. Temperatures (104 degrees in Long Beach!) tell us it’s too hot to plant. The calendar tells us it’s time to start our winter vegetables and set out spring-blooming bulbs.

So, when people ask, “What should I plant now?” the answer isn’t simple. Fortunately, you have this handy-dandy column to use as a reference.

First, if your existing vegetable plants look ratty, yank them out and make room for something else. But if your cukes, tomatoes and squash are still productive, let them do their thing until they slow down– usually by the beginning of November.

Cool-season vegetables to plant now

include lettuce, Asian vegetables like bok choi, Swiss chard, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale, beets, mustard greens, peas, potatoes, and parsley. Wondering how to fit all those in? Remember that leafy veg like lettuce, Swiss chard, kale and Asian greens can get by with less sun. Those that form flowers– broccoli, cauliflower, and so on– should go in your sunniest spots.

Did the recent high temps fry your flowers? For a quick pop of color, put in some vinca. They look a lot like impatiens but can take the heat. Find them in nurseries and big-box stores in shades of pink, orange and white. Your containers and garden beds will thank you.

This is also the time to plant certain spring-blooming bulbs. Drought-tolerant South African bulbs do especially well here and offer a chance to try something new. They include babiana, croscosmia, freesia, watsonia and many others. Oriental lilies can also be planted now for spring.

While I like the idea of bulbs, I usually forget where I put them and am surprised when they pop up. And sometimes I plant things on top of them. Oops. So this year, I’m planting them in containers. When they come up, I’ll whisk the container into the garden and voila– instant beauty!

Jennifer E. Beaver, a Wrigley resident, is a master gardener and author of Container Gardening for California and Edible Gardening for California.

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SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

Signal Hill to host its first Community Health Day The City of Signal Hill will host the inaugural Community Health Day on Saturday, Sept.

29, 8am to 11am at Discovery Well Park, 2200 Temple Ave. Dubbed “Let’s Move, Signal Hill,” the free event will feature a Community Walk and Fun Run, fitness booths and demonstrations, healthy snacks, a kids’ fun zone and prize drawings.

The Community Walk and Fun Run will have two different starting points. The Hill Challenge will start at Hill Street and Obispo Avenue and will begin with a climb up Hill Street. This course will be approximately two miles long and will end at Discovery Well Park. The Scenic Route course will begin on Temple just north of the park entry driveway. It will be approximately 1.5 miles long and will also end at the park.

Free registration will begin at 7:15am at the starting locations.

Both events will begin at 8am, and families and children are welcome.

Adults and children can try a variety of fitness activities at the demonstrations, beginning at 9am. Some will be geared specifically to adults or children, and some will be for families to enjoy together. There will also be several fitness booths offering health and fitness information. For children, there will be an inflatable jumper, a craft activity and samples of healthy energy snacks.

The following street closures will be in effect from 6am to 10am: • Hill Street between Temple Avenue and Obispo Avenue • Temple Avenue between Hill Street and Skyline Drive • E. Panorama Drive between Skyline Drive and Molino Avenue • Skyline Drive between Ohio Avenue and E. Panorama Drive • Ohio Avenue between Skyline Drive and E. Panorama Drive

Parking will be available on the streets surrounding the park.

Source: City of Signal Hill

STAYING HEALTHY

SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

Patients, hospital staff sign steel beam that will complete construction of new cancer pavilion

SIGNAL TRIBUNE

11

Courtesy LB Memorial

Cancer survivor Susie Garrison and MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute Executive Director Cathy Kopy sign the final beam and add well wishes for future patients of the Todd Cancer Pavilion before it is placed.

Long Beach Memorial celebrated a construction milestone– the final piece of structural steel– of the new Todd Cancer Pavilion with a commemorative “Topping Out Ceremony” on Sept. 14. Cancer survivors, current patients, hospital staff, physicians, construction crews and community leaders all gathered to be part of MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute (TCI) history by autographing the building’s final piece of structural steel before watching it raised into place atop the new 64,000-square-foot specialized cancer pavilion.

After receiving hundreds of signatures, the final beam was lifted into place after those in attendance touched by cancer joined in signaling the crane operator to raise the beam. Three-time cancer survivor Susie Garrison, among those to motion the crane, shared her own journey with ovarian cancer. “It will make life much simpler for cancer patients and their families because it will give them the opportunity to find all of these incredible people and services in one location,” she said, speaking to the crowd in front of the new pavilion. “It will be a dream.”

Tamra Kaplan, chief operating officer for Long Beach Memorial, touched on the significance of the new pavilion and how it will benefit the community. “This new

pavilion will not only provide ample space for us to expand our capacity and provide additional patient services, it will offer these services all under one roof,” she said. Kaplan also revered the pavilion as “a place that will provide comfort and quality care for our patients in a warm and healing environment.”

Long Beach Memorial supporters and city leaders also were on hand to celebrate this milestone for the TCI Pavilion that will soon house the many available TCI cancer programs and cancer-support services, giving patients and their families access to all they need under one roof.

Once completed, the new stateof-the-art medical facility will increase the institute’s capacity, allowing medical professionals to serve more patients and to provide leading-edge cancer care and research. McCarthy Building Companies, general contractor for the project, is working to transform the second and third floors of the existing four-level administration building into a dedicated cancer center. The project also includes construction of a two-level, 1,913square-foot lobby addition which will serve as the entrance to the new pavilion.

Source: LB Memorial

Community Health Day Saturday, Sept. 29 8am to 11am Discovery Well Park 2200 Temple Ave., SH

The final structural beam, full of hopeful messages and well wishes, before it was placed into the Todd Cancer Pavilion

SILVER SAGE HEALTH & NUTRITION

Community Walk and Fun Run • 2 mi. Hill Challenge at Hill St/Obispo Avenue • 1.5 mi. Scenic Route at Temple Avenue, North of park driveway Fitness Booths • Demonstrations • Snacks Opportunity Drawings • Kids’ Fun Zone

All ages welcome!

FREE!* *with registration wristband

The City of Signal Hill thanks our sponsors:

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“Life, Health & Nutritional Coaching in the Spirit of the American West for a New Age.”

For more information, contact City Hall:

2175 Cherry Ave., Signal Hill, CA 90755 (562) 989-7330 cityofsignalhill.org

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12 SIGNAL TRIBUNE

COMMUNITY

SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

Bixby Knolls Car Wash hosts 35th anniversary party with free food, prizes and more for the community

Courtesy BK Car Wash

Bixby Knolls Car Wash hosted an anniversary celebration on Sept. 14, with a deejay, free food from local vendors, a balloon artist, prize giveaways, games, massages and a free photo booth.

Celebrating 35 years in business at 577 E. Wardlow Rd., Bixby Knolls Car Wash & Detail Center hosted an anniversary celebration on Sept. 14, with a deejay playing appropriately themed songs (such as Rose Royce’s “Car Wash” and Gary Numan’s “Cars”), free food from local vendors, a balloon artist who offered elaborate creations, prize giveaways, numerous games, massages and a free photo booth.

The occasion was also in honor of the wedding anniversary of the car wash’s owners, Sheldon and Shell Grossman. When they married in 1978, they made a pact that operating a business together would never get in the way of their marriage. For the past 34 years, the couple has kept that promise, while making their full-service car wash a staple in the local community.

The operation was first built by the Exxon Corporation as part of a string of car washes the oil company owned in the greater Los Angeles area during the 1970s. Sheldon, who owned several other car washes at that time, purchased the business after the oil company was running it at a loss, he said.

At their celebration on Sept. 14, the Grossmans sat on the patio of their business and spoke into a microphone to address the crowd and thank the many local businesses who participated. They then mingled with the attendees while posing in photos and playing games with them.

Courtesy BK Car Wash

Shell Grossman, Signal Hill Police Department Sergeant Robert Cravens and Sheldon Grossman at the 35th anniversary celebration of the Grossmans’ car wash on Sept. 14

Parking spaces to undergo one-day transformation for international event The City of Long Beach encourages the community to participate in the annual event called “Park(ing) Day.” In cities around the world on Friday, Sept. 21, participants will temporarily transform parking spaces into public parks and social gathering spaces.

“Park(ing) Day provides the perfect

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opportunity for the many creative minds in Long Beach to invent and display ingenious uses of public space,” Mayor Bob Foster said. “I am confident the community’s contributions will be inspired and cause us to look at our urban landscape in a new way.”

Park(ing) Day is designed to call attention to the need for more alternative transportation and urban open space, to further the debate around how public space is created and allocated, and to improve the quality of the urban environment.

Residents, businesses, groups and individuals are encouraged to utilize public parking spaces for their Park(ing) Day installations.

Park(ing) day was established in 2005 by Rebar, a San Francisco-based art and design studio, by converting a single parking space into an art exhibit.

It has steadily grown since then, blossoming into a global experiment in remixing, reclaiming and reprogramming vehicular space for social exchange, recreation and artistic expression.

Last year alone, Park(ing) Day was celebrated in 162 cities, 35 countries and six continents.

City ordinances and laws are to be followed, and metered parking spaces must be paid for before creating an installation. For more information, visit the official Park(ing) Day web page at parkingday.org .

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SIGNAL TRIBUNE

SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON Thursday, September 27, 2012

13

The Signal Hill Chamber of Commerce’s Monthly Membership Luncheon will be held on Thursday, September 27, 2012 from noon to 1:30pm at the Signal Hill Park Community Center at 1780 East Hill Street, Signal Hill (behind the library). Enjoy lunch while mingling with other members of our business community, local officials, and legislative representatives.

Speaker: Sandra Ruiz Johnson The presentation will focus on credit repair and improving your FICO score.

Luncheon will be catered by Bliss525.

Cost is $25 per person but will be discounted to $15 for members with advance notice (RSVP).

Non-members are welcome at a cost of $25 per person.

Please make your reservations by e-mail to SHCC@verizon.net or by calling (562) 424-6489.

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14 SIGNAL TRIBUNE

SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

PuBLiC inFoRMATion AnnounCeMenT FRoM THe CiTy oF SiGnAL HiLL is letter was sent in response to 2011-2012 Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury Report.

To see this letter and the Grand Jury Report online, visit cityofsignalhill.org.

September 18, 2012 The Honorable Lee Smalley Edmon, Presiding Judge – Los Angeles County Superior Court • 210 West Temple Street, 11th Floor, Room 11-506, Los Angeles, CA 90012 Re: City of Signal Hill Response the Civil Grand Jury Report Dear Presiding Judge Edmon: The City of Signal Hill appreciates the efforts the Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury spent in studying the financial health and practices of 23 of the 25 charter cities in Los Angeles County as reported in the “2011-2012 Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury Final Report – Charter Cities, June 26, 2012” (“the Report”). This letter is sent as the City’s response under California Penal Code Section 933.5 to the Report. The City has previously adopted 19 of the Civil Grand Jury’s 22 recommendations for general best management practices.

This letter provides a detailed response to the three remaining Civil Grand Jury recommendations and for the six Signal Hill findings as found on Pages 91 and 92 of the Report. The main purpose of the Civil Grand Jury was to examine the financial and management abuses from the City of Bell and the City of Vernon. Unfortunately these abuses have harmed the reputation of all cities. The press has widely reported that the abuses stemmed from their status as “charter cities,” as opposed to being “general law cities.” Our City Attorney is the new city attorney for the City of Bell. It is his opinion that the City of Bell’s charter was not at fault, since it contains some very good financial controls. A major problem in Bell appears to be that elected and appointed officials seemed to not understand or comply with their charter. We believe that the pending criminal cases against the Bell City Council and city administration will bear this observation out.

Response to Civil Grand Jury Report • September 18, 2012 We agree with the Civil Grand Jury’s findings that cities should establish rigorous policies and procedures to encourage and facilitate the reporting of fraud, abuse and questionable practices. Signal Hill was one of the charter cities praised by the Civil Grand Jury as having comprehensive and detailed policies and procedures for fraud and abuse, including definitions, clear responsibilities for employee and management personnel, and guidelines and steps for investigating allegations and reporting the results (see Page 91). The newspapers also reported that many of the county’s charter cities “lack strategic planning and have spotty financial controls.” We are pleased to report that Signal Hill performed well in all of these areas. The Civil Grand Jury reported that Signal Hill has a strategic plan and budget performance measures. We noted that the strategic plan needs updating, especially since the State ordered dissolution of redevelopment agencies in California which has adversely impacted our community’s planning. The Civil Grand Jury found that the City’s assets are stable, with only a 1.2% drop during the FY2009-2010 year. The Grand Jury recommended that charter cities have two months of reserve funds and that they should establish “rainy day” reserve accounts. Signal Hill currently has six months of reserve funds and established its Economic Uncertainties Fund in 1998. We believe that the Civil Grand Jury’s report could have been improved if it examined the 65 general law cities in Los Angeles County for their financial health and practices, as compared with the 23 charter cities. We also believe that the Report would have been improved if it studied the financial health and practices of the City of Los Angeles and the City of Long Beach, which are charter cities as well.

One Year Snap Shot – Depth of the Great Recession The City Council reviewed the Report at their August 21, 2012 meeting. They noted that that the Report was only based on one year (the FY2009-2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report). This Report was at the depth of the Great Recession, which began in the fourth quarter of 2008. Signal Hill’s revenues declined 21% that year, with sales tax revenues declining over $1.635 million alone. The international banking crisis and the worldwide financial meltdown lead to a decline in all investments. The City’s investments dropped $1.553 million that year. The Council noted that it would be more appropriate for the Civil Grand Jury to rely on five years of financial reports to get a realistic picture of the city finances, since a longer term study would more reliably illustrate trends. In Signal Hill’s case, our reserve funds have rebounded to pre-Great Recession levels. The Report was prepared with data that is over two years old. The Civil Grand Jury found that 17 of the 23 charter cities expended more than they received in revenues for FY2009-2010.

However, the Report failed to disclose that a major contributor to city deficits was the State’s “raids” on local revenues to balance their chronically deficit-plagued budget. The State “borrowed” over $355,000 from the City’s property taxes under Proposition 1A that year. The State also raided the Signal Hill Redevelopment Agency for over $5.186 million that year, with corresponding impacts on the City’s budget.

Exaggerated Asset to Liability Ratio We believe that the Report mischaracterized Signal Hill’s asset to liability ratio, thereby misrepresenting the City’s financial strength and giving the false impression of financial weakness. The Long Beach Press Telegram relied on the Report in an article entitled “San Bernardino, A City in Crisis – Boom to Bust,” which appeared in the Sunday, July 15, 2012 edition. The reporters relied on the Civil Grand Jury’s recommendations that cities have a ratio of twice as many assets to liabilities (a ratio of 2.0 or better) and the Grand Jury’s Table 5 on assets to liabilities to report financial weakness. The story was widely picked up by papers affiliated with the Press Telegram. The Civil Grand Jury reported in Table 5 that Signal Hill had a 1.52 ratio of assets to liabilities. The problem with the methodology is that the Repot combined SignalHill’s General Fund assets and liabilities, with the assets and liabilities of the Signal Hill Redevelopment Agency. These are two separate legal entities and they are not responsible for each other’s assets or debts. The Signal Hill Redevelopment Agency issued over $89 million in bonds for the cleanup of contaminated properties and the construction of infrastructure over the past two decades. These bonds are paid with future property tax revenues from the project area. The Report did not include any future property tax revenues as assets. This communicated a much worse picture of the asset to liability ratio than exists. In reality the City of Signal Hill has few debts. Segregating the former RDA’s bonded debts or adding in the property tax revenues as an asset, results in an asset to liability ratio of 8.1, which is the healthiest of the 23 cities surveyed in the Report. It is unfortunate that due to limited budget, the Report’s authors did not contact the City with any questions on our Redevelopment Agency.

Civil Grand Jury Findings 1) Governance (Page 91) – The City agrees with the findings of the Civil Grand Jury that we have adopted a Strategic Plan and that City Manager’s goals are outlined for annual review by the City Council. The City’s budget contains historic performance measure information. We agree that Conflict of Interest and Investment policies have been adopted.

2) Audit Committee/Audit Procurement (Page 91) – The City agrees with the findings of the Civil Grand Jury on the competitive bid information on the current auditor. The City will be completing a Request for Proposals for a competitive selection of the auditor at the termination of the existing contract in March of 2013. The City will be establishing an Audit Committee within the next six months as recommended.

3) Accounting Policies and Procedures/Internal Controls (Page 91) As stated by the Civil Grand Jury, the City has comprehensive accounting policies, procedures and internal controls. We agree that the City continuously reviews and adopts these policies according to the latest GASB and GFOA recommended practices. We disagree with the statement in the Report on Page 91 that it was not clear when the policies were adopted or revised. The City provided your reviewer with over 100 policies in a large binder. These policies are dated and contain revisions dates if applicable.

4) Report of Fraud, Abuse and Questionable Practices/Internal Audit (Page 91) The City agrees with the findings of the Civil Grand Jury that the City has adopted “Ethical Work Practices for Employees Conflict of Interest” policy in March 2001. We agree that the City has adopted a “Workplace Integrity and Fraud Prevention” policy in July of 2010. We agree that the internal audit function is part of the job descriptions of the finance staff.

5) Financial and Public Reporting Practices/General Fund Unrestricted Balance The City agrees with the findings of the Civil Grand Jury that the City has established an Economic Uncertainties Reserve Fund and we maintain a combined General Fund reserve and economic uncertainties reserve equal to a minimum of six months operating expenses.

6) Procurement and Contracting – The City agrees with the findings of the Civil Grand Jury that the Municipal Code requires all purchases over $250 to made through bid, with those over $15,000 by formal bid and contract. Exceptions include emergencies, services only available from one vendor, or made under an open purchase order.

Best Management Practices The City has previously adopted 19 of the 22 best management practices recommended by the Civil Grand Jury. The three exceptions include: • Adoption of a Two-Year Budget The City Council discussed this recommendation in detail at their August 21st meeting. The City currently has a five-year budget projection, which examines the major revenues and expenditures. The Council is supportive of the Grand Jury’s recommendation. However, the City is currently recruiting for its Administrative Services Officer/Finance Director. It is anticipated that the new director would start in January of 2013, which coincides with the preparation of the FY2013-2014 budget. Under AB 26 and AB 1484 the City is required to dissolve the RDA. This work is time consuming, labor intensive and complicated. We must complete two audits by the end of the calendar year involving our former RDA. The Council found that the timing was not ideal to make the change to a two-year budget, but that we will review the recommendation in twelve months. The Council also expressed concern over the uncertainties of completing a two-year budget that with the State’s continual “raiding” of local funds and the uncertainties of the RDA dissolution process.

• Formation of an Audit Committee The City Council discussed this recommendation at their August 21st meeting. The City will form an Audit Committee in the next six months.

• Routine Change of Auditors at the End of the Contract The City Council discussed this recommendation at the August 21st meeting. The City is committed to a Request for Proposal at the end of the current auditor’s contract. We understand the Grand Jury’s concern that continuing to use the same auditor has resulted in issues in the City of Bell. The Council also discussed the time and resources devoted by staff and new auditors in building the new audit. There was discussion in favor of having six to seven year contracts, as opposed to the current five year contract.

Conclusion Cities can always improve their practices and the Report’s recommendations are generally well thought out. We have concerns with the methodology the Report’s authors used in assessing supposed financial weakness of our City, which combined RDA debt with City debt, then gave no value to future property taxes legally dedicated to payback the RDA’s debt. The Report could also have been improved by reviewing financial data from more than one year and at the bottom of the Great Recession. The Report could also have been improved by including a survey of general law cities in Los Angeles County. The City of Signal Hill appreciates the efforts of the Civil Grand Jury in attempting to document if the abuses of the City of Bell and the City of Vernon are endemic to charter cities. We don’t believe that this is the case as shown by an objective review of the Report. Bell’s problems seem to point to disregard for financial policies by their elected and appointed officials. Please do not hesitate to contact me if the Civil Grand Jury has any questions or needs additional information. I can be reached at (562) 989-7302 or at kfarfsing@cityofsignalhill.org.

Sincerely, Kenneth C. Farfsing, City Manager Reviewed by: Maida Alcantara, Administrative Services Officer/Finance Director cc: Mayor and Members of the City Council • City Attorney • Department Heads • Signal Tribune Newspaper

– This is public information paid for by the City of Signal Hill –

SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

Band

continued from page 1

truck the band used to store uniforms and equipment was engulfed in flames due to an engine fire on the way to the Wilmington Labor Day Parade, said Carrie Daquiado, the band’s treasurer and former band member.

Band equipment and uniforms were salvaged, and nobody was injured during the fire, but the group still needs a small, 12-to-14foot, band-type truck since squeezing all of the equipment into the group’s remaining truck can be difficult, she said. “We don’t have a whole lot of room in there … It’s really put a damper on us,” Daquiado said, adding that any

COMMUNITY

donation would be tax-deductible since the organization is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit.

As far as finding a permanent rehearsal and storage space, efforts so far have “not panned out,” she said. LBJCB had originally leased a 10,000-square-foot facility the band shared with the Long Beach Gas & Oil Department at 3221 Industry Dr. in Signal Hill for 20 years. But the band was moved in April of last year to a location at 231 South St., where they shared space with the Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine Department’s afterschool program and the Long Beach Heritage Museum.

However, Long Beach officials terminated the band’s lease on July

16 due to budget cuts. The organization has been in search of a 4,000-square-foot space to accommodate an indoor rehearsal area, music library, one desk, three containers and a truck. But Daquiado said the band would try to work with any available space. “We’re so desperate,” she said. “Call me, and we’ll try to make...do.”

Though the City had previously provided the band with $30,000 per year in the 1990s, those funds were cut as well. As of late, Daquiado said the City has not offered any financial assistance.

Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster’s office had worked to find a temporary storage facility at Price Transfer, a trucking company located near Santa Fe Avenue and Del

Amo Boulevard, but that plan fell through as well. “As far as our office goes, we haven’t had any success in finding space for them,” said Stacey Toda, the mayor’s deputy chief of staff.

The Salvation Army had recently come forward to provide space for the band but informed the group last week that the property is to be leased to someone else, Daquiado said. On the bright side, EDCO, a recycling and waste-collection services company in Signal Hill, has offered the use of an enclosed parking lot at 2755 California Ave. for drum rehearsals. “[EDCO] is allowing us to use it free of charge,” she said. “We can’t

SIGNAL TRIBUNE

15

thank them enough.”

Daquiado said the youth band continues to survive off of fees from band members and donor contributions. The concert band is made up of members age 13 to 21 from Long Beach and cities as far away as El Monte. “A lot of kids are from underprivileged homes, and we give them a place they can come to and where they learn respect and community spirit,” she said. “They learn basic values that they just don’t get, and it’s keeping the kids out of the streets and out of gangs.”

To lend assistance or make a donation to the LBJCB, email lbjcb@aol.com or call Daquiado at (310) 698-9815.

Courtesy Carrie Daquiado

A truck the Long Beach Junior Concert Band used to store uniforms and equipment was engulfed in flames because of an engine fire on the way to the Wilmington Labor Day Parade

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TST4187 NOTICE OF TRUSTEE'S SALE Trustee Sale No. 12012385 Loan No: 0155243348 APN 7217006071 YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST DATED September 11, 2006. UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDINGS AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER. On October 4, 2012, at 11:00 AM, By the fountain located at 400 Civic Center Plaza, Pomona, CA 91766, FIDELITY NATIONAL TITLE COMPANY, as the duly appointed Trustee, under and pursuant to the power of sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust Recorded on September 19, 2006, as Instrument No. 06 2076597 of Official Records in the office of the Recorder of Los Angeles County, CA, executed by: PETER A. DAVIS, A SINGLE MAN, as Trustor, in favor of MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS INC., AS NOMINEE FOR METROCITIES MORTGAGE, LLC, as Beneficiary, WILL SELL AT PUBLIC AUCTION TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER, in lawful money of the United States, all payable at the time of sale, that certain property situated in said County, California describing the land therein as: AS MORE FULLY DESCRIBED IN SAID DEED OF TRUST The property heretofore described is being sold "as is". The street address and other common designation, if any, of the real property described above is purported to be: 2145 CRESCENT DRIVE, SIGNAL HILL, CA 90755 The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the street address and other common designation, if any, shown herein. Said sale will be made without covenant or warranty, express or implied, regarding title, possession, or encumbrances, to pay the remaining unpaid balance of the obligations secured by and pursuant to the power of sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust (together with any modifications thereto). NOTICE TO POTENTIAL BIDDERS: If you are considering bidding on this property lien, you should understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a trustee auction. You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property itself. Placing the highest bid at a trustee

562.997.4111

www.kathyalford.com auction does not automatically entitle you to free and clear ownership of the property. You should also be aware that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior lien. If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the property. You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority, and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder`s office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a fee for this information. If you consult either of these resources, you should be aware that the same lender may hold more than one mortgage or deed of trust on the property. NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: The sale date shown on this notice of sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about trustee sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and, if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property, you may call 714.730.2727 or visit this Internet Web site www.lpsasap.com, using the file number assigned to this case 12012385. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the Internet Web site. The best way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale. The total amount of the unpaid balance of the obligations secured by the property to be sold and reasonable estimated costs, expenses and advances at the time of the initial publication of this Notice of Trustee`s Sale is estimated to be $700,498.59 (Estimated), provided, however, prepayment premiums, accrued interest and advances will increase this figure prior to sale. Beneficiary`s bid at said sale may include all or part of said amount. In addition to cash, the Trustee will accept a cashier`s check drawn on a state or national bank, a check drawn by a state or federal credit union or a check drawn by a state or federal savings and loan association, savings association or savings bank specified in Section 5102 of the California Financial Code and authorized to do business in California, or other such funds as may be acceptable to the trustee. In the event tender other than cash is accepted, the

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Trustee may withhold the issuance of the Trustee`s Deed Upon Sale until funds become available to the payee or endorsee as a matter of right. The property offered for sale excludes all funds held on account by the property receiver, if applicable. DATE: 09/11/2012 FIDELITY NATIONAL TITLE COMPANY, TRUSTEE 11000 Olson Drive Ste 101 Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 9166360114 Tracye Prescott Authorized Signature SALE INFORMATION CAN BE OBTAINED ON LINE AT www.lpsasap.com AUTOMATED SALES INFORMATION PLEASE CALL 714.730.2727 A-4299687 09/14/2012, 09/21/2012, 09/28/2012

TST4188 TSG No.: 6673159 TS No.: CA1200244243 FHA/VA/PMI No.: APN: 7217-015-077 Property Address: 2075 FREEMAN AVENUE SIGNAL HILL, CA 90755 NOTICE OF TRUSTEE'S SALE YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST, DATED 10/07/2005.

UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER. On 10/04/2012 at 11:00 A.M., First American Title Insurance Company, as duly appointed Trustee under and pursuant to Deed of Trust recorded 10/19/2005, as Instrument No. 05 2516418, in book , page , , of Official Records in the office of the County Recorder of LOS ANGELES County, State of California. Executed by: ANDREW MAGGIOTTO AND JANINE MAGGIOTTO, HUSBAND AND WIFE, WILL SELL AT PUBLIC AUCTION TO HIGHEST BIDDER FOR CASH, CASHIER'S CHECK/CASH EQUIVALENT or other form of payment authorized by 2924h(b), (Payable at time of sale in lawful money of the United States) Inside the lobby of the building located at 628 North Diamond Bar Blvd., Suite B, Diamond Bar, CA All right, title and interest conveyed to and now held by it under said Deed of Trust in the property situated in said County and State described as: AS MORE FULLY DESCRIBED IN THE ABOVE MENTIONED DEED OF TRUST APN# 7217-015-077 The street address and other common designation, if any, of the real property described above is purported to be: 2075 FREEMAN AVENUE, SIGNAL HILL, CA 90755 The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the street address and other common designation,

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if any, shown herein. Said sale will be made, but without covenant or warranty, expressed or implied, regarding title, possession, or encumbrances, to pay the remaining principal sum of the note(s) secured by said Deed of Trust, with interest thereon, as provided in said note(s), advances, under the terms of said Deed of Trust, fees, charges and expenses of the Trustee and of the trusts created by said Deed of Trust. The total amount of the unpaid balance of the obligation secured by the property to be sold and reasonable estimated costs, expenses and advances at the time of the initial publication of the Notice of Sale is $969,284.98. The beneficiary under said Deed of Trust has deposited all documents evidencing the obligations secured by the Deed of Trust and has declared all sums secured thereby immediately due and payable, and has caused a written Notice of Default and Election to Sell to be executed. The undersigned caused said Notice of Default and Election to Sell to be recorded in the County where the real property is located. NOTICE TO POTENTIAL BIDDERS: If you are considering bidding on this property lien, you should understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a trustee auction. You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property itself. Placing the highest bid at a trustee auction does not automatically entitle you to free and clear ownership of the property. You should also be aware that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior lien. If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the property. You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority, and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder’s office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a fee for this information. If you consult either of these resources, you should be aware that the same lender may hold more than one mortgage or deed of trust on the property.

NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: The sale date shown on this notice of sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about trustee sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property, you may

• Includes portable booth, props, and one staff member CALL FOR DETAILS

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call (916)939-0772 or visit this Internet Web http://search.nationwideposting.com/propertySearchTerms.aspx, using the file number assigned to this case CA1200244243 Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the Internet Web site. The best way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse. First American Title Insurance Company First American Title Insurance Company 3 FIRST AMERICAN WAY SANTA ANA, CA 92707 Date: FOR TRUSTEE'S SALE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL (916)939-0772 First American Title Insurance Company MAY BE ACTING AS A DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED MAY BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. NPP0207138 SIGNAL TRIBUNE 09/14/2012, 09/21/2012, 09/28/2012 TST4191 T.S. No.: 2012-00148 Loan No.: 4000396368 NOTICE OF TRUSTEE'S SALE YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST DATED 8/23/2003. UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER. A public auction sale to the highest bidder for cash, cashier's check drawn on a state or national bank, check drawn by a state or federal credit union, or a check drawn by a state or federal savings and loan association, or savings association, or savings bank specified in Section 5102 of the Financial Code and authorized to do business in this state will be held by the duly appointed trustee as shown below, of all right, title, and interest conveyed to and now held by the trustee in the hereinafter described property under and pursuant to a Deed of Trust described below. The sale will be made, but without covenant or warranty, expressed or implied, regarding title, possession, or encumbrances, to pay the remaining principal sum of the note(s) secured by the Deed of Trust, with interest and late charges thereon, as provided in the note(s), advances, under the terms of the Deed of Trust, interest thereon, fees, charges and

EYE ON CRIME Crimes reported by LBPD Council Districts 6, 7 & 8

Thursday, Sept. 13 Battery on person causing serious injury 8am– Pine Avenue and Eagle Street

Robbery 2:10pm– 1100 block of E. Pacific Coast Highway

Commercial burglary/shoplifting 5pm– 1200 block of E. Pacific Coast Highway.

Auto burglary 6pm– 3700 block of Countryside Lane

Commercial robbery 8:11pm– 100 block of W. Willow Street

Assault with a firearm 8:21pm– 1900 Oregon Avenue

Auto burglary 11pm– 3500 block of Gaviota Avenue

Friday, Sept. 14 Auto burglary 4am– 3900 block of Gaviota Avenue

Residential burglary 9:40am– 3900 block of Virginia Road

Crimes reported by SHPD Citywide

Thursday, Sept. 13 Stolen vehicle recovered 12:50am– 3300 block of Lime Avenue

Sunday, Sept. 16 Assault (not with firearm) 12:18am– E. 28th Street/Walnut Avenue Named suspect.

Stolen vehicle recovered 2:31am–1900 block of Orizaba Avenue

Battery 2:27am– 3300 block of E. Pacific Coast Highway

Residential burglary 11:40am– 1800 block of Dawson Avenue

Identity theft 1:26pm– 1900 block of Stanley Avenue

Non-injury hit-and-run 8:56am– 3200 block of E. Pacific Coast Hwy.

Auto burglary 11pm– 3500 block of Gaviota Avenue

Friday, Sept. 14 Auto burglary 4am– 3900 block of Gaviota Avenue

Residential burglary 9:40am– 3900 block of Virginia Road Friday, Sept. 14 DUI (alcohol) 2:27am– E. Patterson Street/Atlantic Avenue

Giving false information to peace officer 8:02am– 3300 block of Lewis Avenue

Petty theft 11am– 700 block of E. Spring Street Named suspect.

Failure to present evidence of registration 3am– 2600 block of Cherry Avenue

Monday, Sept. 17 DUI (alcohol) 12:17am– Walnut Avenue/E. Pacific Coast Highway DUI (alcohol) 4:48am– Orange Avenue/E. 23rd Street Trespass; vandalism 9:03am– 700 block of E. Spring Street Counterfeiting 12:30pm– 3200 block of E. Hill Street Named suspect.

Terrorist threats 1:20pm- 1900 block of Junipero Avenue Stolen vehicle 1:25pm– 2700 block of Signal Parkway

Battery 2:49pm– 1600 block of E. Willow Street

Stolen vehicle 3:04pm– 2600 block of Cherry Avenue

Forgery 6:14pm– 3200 block of E. Hill Street

Tuesday, Sept. 18 Reckless driving 2:47am- 2200 block of Cerritos Avenue

Assault (not with firearm) 7:40am– 2300 block of Lewis Avenue

Petty theft 2:33pm– 700 block of E. Spring Street

Non-injury hit-and-run 5:22pm– E. Burnett Street/Cherry Avenue

Battery 9:21pm- 2300 block of Lewis Avenue

Wednesday, Sept. 19 Contempt of court (disobeying court order) 10:37am– 2400 block of Cherry Avenue

Stolen vehicle 11:57am– 2200 block of E. 21st Street

Petty theft (bike) 7:50pm– 1800 block of Molino Avenue Named suspect.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

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208-1853

Call for a free estimate Recommended by many local music teachers Associate Member of the Piano Technicians Guild expenses of the Trustee for the total amount (at the time of the initial publication of the Notice of Sale) reasonably estimated to be set forth below. The amount may be greater on the day of sale. Trustor: TRACI N. MORALES, A MARRIED WOMAN, AS HER SOLE AND SEPARATE PROPERTY Duly Appointed Trustee: Power Default Services, Inc. Recorded 9/3/2003 as Instrument No. 03 2555943 in book , page of Official Records in the office of the Recorder of Los Angeles County, California. The subject Deed of Trust was modified

by Loan Modification effective on 11/1/2009. Date of Sale: 10/18/2012 at 9:00 AM Place of Sale: Doubletree Hotel Los Angeles-Norwalk, 13111 Sycamore Drive, Norwalk, CA 90650, Vineyard Ballroom Amount of unpaid balance and other charges: $188,032.30 Street Address or other common designation of real property: 2254 Gaviota Avenue Apt./Unit10 Signal Hill, California 90755 A.P.N.: 7215-007-028 The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the street address or other common designation, if any, shown above. If no street address or other common designation is shown, directions to the location of the property may be obtained by sending a written request to the beneficiary within 10 days of the date of first publication of this Notice of Sale. NOTICE TO POTENTIAL BIDDERS: If you are considering bidding on this property lien, you should understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a trustee auction. You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property itself. Placing the highest bid at a trustee auction does not automatically entitle you to free and clear ownership of the property. You should also be aware that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior lien. If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the property. You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority, and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder's office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a fee for this information. If you consult either of these resources, you should be aware that the same lender may hold more than one mortgage or deed of trust on the property. NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: The sale date shown on this notice of sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about trustee sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and, if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property, you may call (800)-280-2832 or visit this Internet Web site www.auction.com using the file number assigned to this case 201200148. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the Internet Web site. The best way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale. Date: 9/14/2012 Power Default Services, Inc. 1525 South Beltline Coppell, Texas 75019 Sale Line: (800)-2802832 Website: www.auction.com LaTricia Hemphill, Trustee Sales Officer P984615 9/21, 9/28, 10/05/2012

TST4190 NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF DANIEL PATRICK O'GARA, AKA DANIEL P. OGARA, AKA DANIEL P. O'GARA, AKA DANIEL O'GARA

Case No. NP015114 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of DANIEL PATRICK O'GARA, AKA DANIEL P. OGARA, AKA DANIEL P. O'GARA, AKA DANIEL O'GARA A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by Bonnie Phelps in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that Bonnie Phelps be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests the decedent's will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court.

THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant

the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held on Oct. 11, 2012 at 1:30 PM in Dept. No. 4 located at 415 W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90802.

IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the deceased, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within four months from the date of first issuance of letters as provided in Probate Code section 9100.

The time for filing claims will not expire before four months from the hearing date noticed above.

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for petitioner: JOHN T. ANDERSON, ESQ. SBN 65050 LAW OFFICE OF JOHN T ANDERSON 1741 E WARDLOW RD LONG BEACH CA 90807

TST4176 / 2012 169457 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: MR. B'S BOX, 2059 W. Jefferson Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90018. Registrant: MARK E. GALLOWAY, 2933 Eucalyptus Ave., Long Beach, CA 90806. This business is conducted by: an Individual. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Mark E. Galloway. The registrant has not begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on August 22, 2012. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code). Pub. The Signal Tribune: August 31, & September 7, 14, 21, 2012.

TST4175 / Case No. NS025773 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, 415 W. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90802.

PETITION OF Svapnaben Trivedi For Change of Name.

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1. Petitioner SVAPNABEN TRIVEDI, filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present Name: SVAPNABEN TRIVEDI to Proposed Name: SVAPNA ALAN TRIVEDI. 2. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, shy the petition for change of name should not be granted.

NOTICE OF HEARING: Date: October 5, 2012; Time: 8:30 A.M.; Dept. 11, Room 31. The address of the court is the same as above. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county, THE SIGNAL TRIBUNE, 939 E. 27th. Street, Signal Hill, CA 90755: August 31, & September 7, 14, 21, 2012. ___//ss//___ Ross M. Klein, Judge of the Superior Court Dated: August 28, 2012 TST4181 / 2012 167273 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: BOARD & BARKFEST, 8116 Byron Road, Unit D, Whittier, CA 90606. Registrant: DANIEL L. GUESS, 5418 Premiere Ave., Lakewood, CA 90712. This business is conducted by: an Individual. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct.

Signed: Daniel L. Guess. The registrant has begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. The registrant began using this fictitious business name on August 1, 2012. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on August 20, 2012.

NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk.

A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code). Pub. The Signal Tribune: September 7, 14, 21, 28, 2012.

TST4182 / 2012 175413 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following persons are doing business as: 1. POWERFLEX LICENSING, 2. POWERFLEX SOFTWARE SYSTEMS, 2420 E. 28th St. #11, Signal Hill, CA 90755. Registrant: 1. ROBERT E. SCHAUER, 2. PATRICIAA. SCHAUER, 3508 Maple Ave., Manhattan Beach, CA 90266. This business is conducted by: a Husband and Wife. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct.

Signed: Robert E. Schauer. The registrants have not begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein.

This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on August 30, 2012. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code). Pub. The Signal Tribune: September 7, 14, 21, 28, 2012.

TST4183 / 2012 177197 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: "IN GOOD HANDS" QUALITY HOME HEALTH CARE, 17439 Virginia Ave. Unit U, Bellflower, CA 90706. Registrant: DANIELLE SNEED, 17439 Virginia Ave. Unit U, Bellflower, CA 90706. This business is conducted by: an Individual. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct.

Signed: Danielle Sneed. The registrant has not begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on September 4, 2012. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code). Pub. The Signal Tribune: September 7, 14, 21, 28, 2012.

TST4184 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: CIRCLE OASIS ASSISTED LIVING, 119 Termino Ave., Long Beach, CA 90803. Registrant: SHORE LIVING LLOC, 119 Termino Ave., Long Beach, CA 90803. This business is conducted by: a Limited Liability Company. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Eric Schriver, Manager. The registrant has not begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on August 29, 2012. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code). Pub. The Signal Tribune: September 7, 14, 21, 28, 2012.

TST4189 / 2012 180723 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following persons are doing business as: SPARKICREATIVE, 3553 Atlantic Ave. Ste. 149, Long Beach, CA 90807. Registrants: 1. JULIE FOGG, 2. DAVE ORTEGA, 3640 Myrtle Ave., Long Beach, CA 90807. This business is conducted by: a General Partnership. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Julie Fogg. The registrants have begun to trans-

TST4177 / 2012 171758 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: SOMETHINGTURQUOISE.COM, 5293 E. Anaheim Rd., Long Beach, CA 90815. Registrant: JENNIFER RACHEL CARREIRO, 5293 E. Anaheim Rd., Long Beach, CA 90815. This business is conducted by: an Individual. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Jennifer Rachel Carreiro. The registrant has not begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on August 27, 2012. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code).

Pub. The Signal Tribune: August 31, & September 7, 14, 21, 2012.

TST4178 / 2012 171848 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: 1. SUNBELT REALTY, 2.

SUNBELT ASSOCIATES, 4429 Village Rd., Long Beach, CA 90808.

Registrant: INTERNATIONAL SUNBELT PROPERTIES, INC., 4429 Village Rd., Long Beach, CA 90808. This business is conducted by: a Corporation. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Joan McCormick, Vice-President. The registrant has not begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on August 27, 2012. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code). Pub. The Signal Tribune: August 31, & September 7, 14, 21, 2012.

To read or download full issues of the Signal Tribune, visit

w w w. s i g n a l tr i b un e . c o m

act business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. The registrants began using this fictitious business name on August 1, 2012. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on September 7, 2012. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code). Pub. The Signal Tribune: September 14, 21, 28, & October 5, 2012.

TST4192 / 2012 183936 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: ENTERPRISE ELECTRONICS, 22826 Mariposa Ave., Torrance, CA 90502. Registrant: ROBERT BURCHETT, 22826 Mariposa Ave., Torrance, CA 90502. This business is conducted by: an Individual. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Robert Lee Burchett. The registrant has not begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on September 13, 2012. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code). Pub. The Signal Tribune: September 21, 28, & October 5, 12, 2012.

TST4193 / 2012 183942 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: SB AUTO, 2109 E. Artesia Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90805. Registrant: HOWARD MONTES DE OCA, 1110 S. Fresno St., Los Angeles, CA 90023. This business is conducted by: an Individual.

I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Howard Montes De Oca. The registrant has not begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on September 13, 2012. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code). Pub. The Signal Tribune: September 21, 28, & October 5, 12, 2012.

18 SIGNAL TRIBUNE

County of los Angeles Department of the Treasurer and Tax Collector Notice of Divided Publication

Pursuant to Sections 3702, 3381, and 3382, Revenue and Taxation Code, the Notice of Sale of Tax Defaulted Property Subject to the Power of Sale in and for the County of Los Angeles, State of California has been divided and distributed to various newspapers of general circulation published in said County for publication of a portion thereof, in each of the said newspapers.

Public Auction Notice (R&TC 3702) Of Sale Of Tax-Defaulted Property Subject To The Power Of Sale (Sale No. 2012A)

Whereas, on June 19, 2012, I, MARK J. SALADINO, Treasurer and Tax Collector was directed by the Board of Supervisors of Los Angeles County, State of California to sell at public auction certain tax-defaulted properties which are Subject to the Power of Sale.

Public notice is hereby given that unless said properties are redeemed prior thereto, I will, on October 22 and 23, 2012, at the hour of 9:00 a.m. at the Fairplex Los Angeles County Fairgrounds, 1101 W. McKinley Avenue, Building 6, Pomona, California, offer for sale and sell said properties at public auction to the highest bidder for cash or cashier's check in lawful money of the United States for not less than theminimum bid. If no bids are received on a parcel, it will be re-offered at the end of the auction at a reduced minimum price.

The minimum bid for each parcel is the total amount necessary to redeem, plus costs, as required by Section 3698.5 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.

Prospective bidders should obtain detailed information of this sale from the County Treasurer and Tax Collector. Pre-registration and a $5,000 deposit in the form of cash, cashier's check or bank issued money order is required at the time of registration. No personal checks, twoparty checks or business checks will be accepted for registration.

Registration will be from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., starting Monday, September 24, 2012, at the Treasurer and Tax Collector's Office located at 225 North Hill Street, Room 130, Los Angeles, California, and will end on Friday, October 5, 2012, at 5:00 p.m.

If the property is sold, parties of interest, as defined by Section 4675 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, have a right to file a claim with the County for any proceeds from the sale, which are in excess of the liens and costs required to be paid from the proceeds. If excess proceeds result from the sale, notice will be given to parties of interest, pursuant to law.

All information concerning redemption, provided the right to redeem has not previously been terminated, will upon request be furnished by MARK J. SALADINO, Treasurer and Tax Collector.

If redemption of the property is not made according to the law before 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 19, 2012, which is the last business day prior to the first day of auction, the right of redemption will cease.

The Assessor's Identification Number (AIN) in this publication refers to the Assessor's Map Book, the Map Page, and the individual Parcel Number on the Map Page. If a change in the Assessor's Identification Number occurred, both prior and current Assessor's Identification Numbers are shown. An explanation of the parcel numbering system and the maps referred to are available from the Office of the Assessor located at 500 West Temple Street, Room 225, Los Angeles, California 90012.

A list explaining the abbreviations used in this publication is on file in the Office of the Treasurer and Tax Collector, 225 North Hill Street, Room 130, Los Angeles, California 90012, or telephone 1(213) 974-2045.

I certify under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed at Los Angeles, California, on August 22, 2012.

NEWS

Forum

continued from page 1

“Regardless if you’re a Republican or a Democrat, you’d be better off with me as your representative…

I’m going to follow where you think we need to go,” DeLong told an overflowing crowd of more than 100 people at the event organized by the Alamitos Beach Neighborhood Association. “Instead of having one more Democrat following the leadership, I’m going to be the guy that brings them to the middle.”

However, Lowenthal, who said he was a “community activist” and an environmentalist before becoming a Long Beach city councilmember in 1992 and then winning a seat in the California State Assembly six years later, described himself as having a record as an “independent” and “problem solver” in Sacramento.

Although the candidates agree on some topics, particularly marriage equality, Lowenthal said a vote for DeLong would ultimately give more power to the Republican party that believes in a “trickle down” theory of economics rather than a “balanced approach” to tax policy.

“I understand where Gary is coming from, but he is still running as a Republican and will be one more vote for the Republican leadership,” Lowenthal asserted. “I’m a person who has a record … You know, [with me], what you see is what you get.”

Still, DeLong maintained he is a “maverick” and said he will lead a movement to political change across party lines, adding that both parties aren’t “doing a good enough job on voting consensus, compromising and collaborating.”

DeLong called a federal budget proposed by Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin)– running mate to Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney– a “fiscally conservative” budget, but added, “Is there room for improvement? Absolutely … We don’t need a Republican budget or a Democrat budget. We need a budget that both parties can work together on.”

Lowenthal, on the other hand, called Ryan’s budget “extremist,” saying it would cut taxes on the richest income earners and would do away with environmental regulations in order to placate to corporate interests. “It’s a social Darwinian budget … It says the strongest shall survive and the rest are at risk,” he said.

Instead, Lowenthal praised President Obama’s budget strategies, such as the American Jobs Act, for investing billions of dollars in infrastructure and helping to hire more teachers, firefighters and police officers. Lowenthal pointed to his own accomplishments, such as authoring an infrastructure bond act, supporting a public-private partnership to build the George Deukmejian Courthouse in downtown Long Beach and helping to secure state funding for the nearly $1-billion Gerald

Desmond Bridge replacement project.

DeLong, however, criticized Lowenthal’s vote to dismantle redevelopment agencies in California in order to fix the state’s budget deficit.

The councilmember said redevelopment “was the largest economic development tool the city of Long Beach and other cities had in the state of California.” At the same time, however, DeLong said he doesn’t support another federal stimulus package– since the country is already trillions of dollars in debt– and the government must find new ways to generate revenue and provide services more efficiently rather than impose more taxes.

“I think we need to get our economy going again with investments in infrastructure and education, but I do think we need a balanced budget,” he said. “I don’t think we should spend more than we make, and we need to provide more economic opportunities for everybody … If we do that, it’s going to provide more tax revenue for the government …

We can do these great projects, but let’s fix the core problem.”

On the environment, DeLong, who said he has installed solar panels on his roof, composts waste and owns a hybrid vehicle, admits he’s not as “green” as Lowenthal when it

SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

comes to policy but acknowledged that he did vote to ban plastic bags in Long Beach, a move that he said brought criticism. “I think we all want to be greener, but how many jobs are we willing to lose?”

DeLong asked. “Our economy is stagnant here in the state.”

Lowenthal argued that the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles continue to thrive despite passing the most progressive environmental policies in the country. “Everybody said it was going to be the end of the world, and now we’ve had more jobs at the ports than we’ve ever had before,” he said.

“You can have both– and that’s the future.”

In closing remarks, DeLong said both political parties must come together to “grow the economy,” which would help provide a “level playing field” for everybody. “We may have some disagreements on how to get there, but we do want the same thing,” he said.

Lowenthal, however, said voters will ultimately decide which party they stand for on Nov. 6. “Obviously we have to talk to each other … obviously we have to work together, but there are clear differences between the two parties,” he said. “It is your responsibility to study the issues and figure out where you are.”

Democrat 47th District Congressional candidate Alan Lowenthal addresses the capacity crowd at the Bixby Park Community Center last week during a political forum where he debated issues such as environmental regulations, tax policy and job creation.

Republican 47th District Congressional candidate Gary DeLong converses with members of the public during a community forum organized at the Bixby Park Community Center by Alamitos Beach Neighborhood Association last week.

MARK J. SALADINO Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector State of California

The real property that is subject to this notice is situated in the County of Los Angeles, State of California, and is described as follows:

PUBLIC AUCTION NOTICE OF SALE OF TAX-DEFAULTED PROPERTY SUBJECT TO THE POWER OF SALE (SALE NO. 2012A) 4417 AIN 7211-008-009 KATZ,MARIE J LOCATION COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES $27,195.00 4420 AIN 7212-007-056 2800 WALNUT LLC C/O C/O CHARLES G WESTLUND JR LOCATION COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES $139,056.00 4422 AIN 7212-009-017 COVENANT CONNECTION MINISTRIES INC LOCATION COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES $44,652.00

TST4186

An audience of more than 100 people pack the Bixby Park Community Center on Sept. 13 for a Congressional debate between 47th District Congressional candidates Gary DeLong and Alan Lowenthal.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

History rhymes in Garage Theatre’s Trojan Barbie Gregory Spooner Culture Writer

While driving to the Garage Theatre in Long Beach, I had an undeniable sense of déjà vu... hadn’t I been here before? As it turns out, I had... a very long time ago. In the late 1980s, I had attended a play in this very space. At that time it was known as The Found Theatre (which, I’m happy to report, has outgrown its old diggs and now has a larger and more modern space nearby).

The play I viewed that night was a very spartan production of Alice In Wonderland; to say I was disappointed in that production is an understatement. So when I entered the same building 25 years later, I came in holding the baggage of low expectations. The theatre was still modest, seating only about 40 attendees. Patrons, staff and the cast all share the same bathroom (and one must traverse across the edge of the performance area to use it!). There is no proscenium or barrier of any kind between the audience and actors. It is indeed a “black box” theatre. “Wow... Cory (my editor) really picked a winner for me this week!” I thought to myself. I had a feeling that history was going to repeat itself. As it turns out, my prediction was very, very wrong. From the opening scene, I was captivated.

“History doesn’t repeat itself, but it does rhyme,” said that greatest of American philosophers, Mark Twain. His pithy maxim perhaps best sums up one of the underlying themes of Trojan Barbie. The setting is the city of Troy. The time, however, is a mash-up of mythic Troy, modern Troy, and a doll-repair shop in modern England. Our modern-day protagonist, Lotte, decides to take a break from her doll-repair factory by taking a singles tour of Troy. Upon her arrival, time runs amuck, and Lotte finds herself in the company of the principal characters of Euripides’ Trojan Women (a play that could aptly be described as the mother of all tragedies): mother Hecuba and her children Polly X and Cassandra. Their city has been conquered and ransacked by the invading Greek empire; after all material goods have been plundered, all these women and children have left to give is their lives, and the Greeks are still hungry.

Central to our time-fractured universe is Polly X, played by the talented Bri Price. Polly X’s brilliant opening soliloquy introduces us to Troy, the ransacked city which “stinks of gasoline.” She plays the part of the adolescent, sure of her own immortality and oblivious to her precarious existence until the penultimate moment... a punk-rock Polyxena. When she is left guarded by soldiers (awaiting her sacrifice to Achilles), she gets drunk with them, alternately flirting and engaging them with talk of her newfound interest in modern sculpture. “I LOVE BEER!” she exclaims with youthful abandon. Ah, youth... never have I seen it played so well.

Michelle Michau’s Cassandra has a strong, lyrical voice and pres-

ence. Her Dionysian undulations are so out of place amongst the death and destruction that surround her.

She is strangely delighted by the tragic events surrounding her and takes morbid pleasure in her approaching doom.

Their mother, Hecuba (wonderfully played by Amy Louise Sebelius– you can taste her grief for days afterward), is the character most faithful to Euripides’s tragic archetype. She and her relations, despite their royal lineage, are the people in between the lines of history. They are statistics made real. Their story is played out in the timeless canvas of refugee camps. Director Olivia Trevino dedicates her show to the 40 million refugees in the world today, most of whom are women and children. Set designer Naomi Kasahara uses stained and soiled canvas to envelope the characters.

As Trevino says, “Canvas is what refugee camps were made of in the time of mythic Troy... and still to this day.” The set is spot-on.

Parallels to modern times are undeniable.

Lotte, played by Rebecca Cherkoss, shepherds us to and from the many layers of time that are folded into Christine Evans’s play. As an unwitting time-traveller, she provides much needed comic relief to a play that could otherwise be too overbearing and, well... tragic! Her stiff-upper-lip, British spirit is both her savior and, at times, a potential downfall.

The play is also lightened and enlivened by Helen (of Troy), played– to the nines– by Emma Fyffe. Finally, I must commend Craig Johnson for his portrayal of Talthybius, the hapless herald of the empire who has the unenviable job of having to inform Hecuba of the misfortunes awaiting her family.

As I was lucky enough to see Trojan Barbie on opening night, I had the pleasant surprise of staying for an after-show Q & A session with the playwright, actors

Nala

To anyone who says that you can’t find purebreds in shelters because no one would give up an expensive pet, meet Nala. Nala and her twin, Simba, are Bengal kittens who wound up at ACS. OK, Bengals are tigers, and the twins have Lion King-inspired names, but in the end, does it matter? Adopt one or both not for their breeding but for their loving, lionly hearts. Meet them on the shelter side of Companion Animal Village at 7700 East Spring St., (562) 570PETS. Ask for ID#A475008 (Nala) and A475009 (Simba).

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CULTURE

SIGNAL TRIBUNE

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Courtesy Garage Theatre

Bri Price is Polly X in the Garage Theatre’s Trojan Barbie

and director, all of whom had some very interesting insights.

And who could argue with sticking around for an afterparty catered (very appropriately!) by George’s Greek Cafe?!

There are many plays one can see in the Southland over the next couple of months. Most will be in a larger, more modern venue. Many will be filled with dazzling special effects or catchy show tunes. But none will have a better cast or smarter script than Trojan Barbie.

You will not find a better play.

Anywhere. Anytime.

Trojan Barbie will play at the Garage Theatre through Saturday, Oct. 13. The venue is located at 251 E. 7th St. Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 8pm. Tickets are $18 general admission, $15 for students, seniors and teachers; a promotion on their website currently offers two-for-one admission on Thursdays. For tickets and more information, call (866) 811-4111 or visit thegaragetheatre.org .

Come for the WALK! Stay for the FUN! October 13, 9am-3pm

Food Trucks, Pet Contests, Exhibitors, Vendors, Surf City Flyball, Disc Dogs in So Cal, Raffles, Ask the Trainer, Ask the Vet, Children’s Activities and More!

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Register, Donate, Volunteer, Sponsorship, Vendor, Exhibitor spaces still available!

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First 300 registrants receive $500 gif t card to RedStarWorldWear.com!

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SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

SIGNAL TRIBUNE

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