St3643 march 27 layout 1

Community leaders of Long Beach

By Gregory Sabin Oil on canvas See page 8

VOL. 36 NO. 43

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

Your Weekly Community Newspaper

March 27, 2015

No home, no hope?

Local officials, agencies try to find parents for thousands of kids in County’s system

Cory Bilicko

Managing Editor

As the definition of “family” has undergone a shift in recent years, particularly with the legalization of same-sex marriage in California, couples who previously may have only dreamed of being parents are now being afforded that opportunity as a reality. It’s a paradigm change that may be a welcome one to Los Angeles County, which has become overburdened by children in its system who are in dire need of permanent homes.

Matching those prospective parents with the kids in need is a challenge that local elected officials and various organizations are attempting to address.

Eighth District Long Beach Councilmember Al Austin, 4th District L.A. County Supervisor Don Knabe, the L.A. County Department of Children and Cory Bilicko/Signal Tribune Family Services and other local agencies will host the The Rubio-Sparks Family kick a soccer ball together in the park near their Long Beach home. second annual “Share Your Heart...Share Your Home” Wilber Rubio and Scott Sparks adopted their three children shortly after getting married in event on Saturday, March 28 for those interested in 2011. learning more about becoming a foster or adoptive par-

ent. The event will also include information about becoming a weekend host for an older child. The session will last from 11am to 1pm in the Nordic Lounge (Building E) at Long Beach City College, 4901 E. Carson St. The need In Los Angeles County, the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) receives more than 10,000 calls each month about children who may be victims of child abuse and neglect, according to Austin’s office. In the month of February alone, DCFS investigated nearly 12,000 cases. After social workers investigate the calls, they determine that some children cannot safely live at home. If there are no family members who can take them in, the kids need to go into safe and loving foster homes until their parents can resolve their issues.

According to The Alliance for Children’s Rights, an advocacy group that protects the rights of impoversee ADOPTION page 11

LB medical marijuana task force to take on challenges of new ordinance

CJ Dablo Staff Writer

Despite lawsuits and controversy over the years, Long Beach city officials are still pressing forward in a quest to find a way for medical-marijuana dispensaries and cultivation sites to co-exist with residents and businesses. This time, a new community task force will soon take its turn to wade through the logistics of an ordinance that could offer the chance for these marijuana businesses to operate legally in Long Beach.

Back in February, the City Council passed a resolution to establish the Medical Cannabis Task Force, a group of individuals who will provide community input on the latest draft of the ordinance to regulate dispensaries and cultivation sites.

The group is slated to include 18 members, and, provided there is a quorum, they are scheduled to meet at 6pm on April 1 at the City of Long Beach Gas and Oil Department at 2400 E. Spring St. see MARIJUANA page 13

Courtesy City of LB

This updated Long Beach map presents possible areas where medical-marijuana businesses could operate if an ordinance is ever passed by the City Council. The latest ordinance draft to regulate marijuana dispensaries and their corresponding cultivation sites includes restrictions against these businesses from operating near parks and schools. Under the proposed ordinance draft, dispensaries and cultivation sites could be located in areas marked light blue and dark blue (Industrial). Last year, the Long Beach Planning Commission recommended that dispensaries– but not cultivation sites– also be allowed to operate in areas marked red (Community AutomobileOriented Districts and Regional Highway Districts). In addition, although the current ordinance draft does not restrict marijuana businesses from operating near licensed childcare businesses and libraries, this map highlights 1000-foot buffer zones around these particular facilities.

Weekly Weather Forecast Friday

Saturday

92°

87°

Sunday

76°

March 27 through March 31, 2015

Monday

81°

Tuesday

79°

Plenty of sun

Mostly sunny

Partly sunny and not as warm

Warm with clouds and sun

Mostly sunny and pleasant

Lo 59°

Lo 60°

Lo 59°

Lo 61°

Lo 61°

This week’s Weather Forecast sponsored by:

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NEWS

2 SIGNAL TRIBUNE

MARCH 27, 2015

LB’s 9th District conducts first ‘participatory budgeting’ process in Southern California

Sean Belk Staff Writer

While Jordan High School is currently undergoing a major renovation, there is one thing that could benefit both the school and the surrounding community– a new marquee.

A group of students brainstormed the project after canvassing members of the community and students on campus, noting that having a new digital marquee would promote school spirit and community events as well. And, for the first time in Long Beach’s history, students’ voices will be heard as part of the City’s annual budget process this year.

The new marquee, expected to cost $80,000 to $100,000, is one of 11 projects being considered by 9th District residents as part of a new concept, known as “participatory budgeting” (PB), a groundbreaking democratic process that seeks to involve a broader spectrum of residents and stakeholders in allocating government funds.

After nearly nine months of collaborating with volunteers, stakeholders and consultants, the 9th District Council office launched the “Empower Uptown Participatory Budgeting” process on Saturday, March 21, allowing residents age 14 and older to directly vote on how to spend $250,000 in city-infrastructure funds.

According to the 9th District Council office, Long Beach now joins the City of Vallejo as the second city in California to implement PB while Chicago and New York City have already been implementing the process as well. Long Beach

Sean Belk/Signal Tribune

Joni Ricks-Oddie, second from left, a community volunteer who spearheaded a steering committee to organize the “Empower Uptown Participatory Budgeting” process in the 9th Council District, talks with residents during the launch of the voting process at the Houghton Park Community Center on Saturday, March 21.

is the first city in Southern California to implement PB, the 9th District Council office states.

Consultants who worked on the voting methodology in Long Beach point out that the PB process enables residents, who would otherwise not be legally allowed to vote in regular elections, such as ex-convicts and undocumented individuals, to have a

voice in what projects are being funded in their neighborhoods.

Residents selected four projects during the voting launch at the Houghton Park Community Center, where different poster boards displayed details of each proposal.

Voting also took place this week at various parks in the 9th District and at the Council District’s field office through Friday, March 27.

Residents were also able to vote by mail.

Ninth District Councilmember

Rex Richardson said at the event last Saturday that the new budgeting concept will give residents in the 9th District a “larger voice” when it comes time for the City Council to approve the budget before the next fiscal year, which starts on Oct. 1.

“For a long time, squeaky wheels have always been in certain areas of the town– east side [and] the downtown,” Richardson said. “As it related to allocation of resources, [the 9th District] never really received [its] slice of the pie,

because folks didn’t see us as a community that spoke up and advo

cated on behalf of itself. That’s changed.”

The PB budgeting process in the 9th District was funded through a grant from the California Endowment, a private, health-based foundation. The process started through the creation of the Empower Uptown Steering Committee that consisted of community members see BUDGETING page 12

MARCH 27, 2015

NEWS

SIGNAL TRIBUNE

Councilmember Uranga appointed SHPD to conduct to California Coastal Commission DUI checkpoint

The Signal Hill Police DepartThe State Senate Rules ment (SHPD) Traffic Unit will conCommittee on March 19 duct a DUI/driver license checkpoint announced the appointment on Tuesday, March 31 at an undisof 7th District Long Beach closed location within the city limits Councilmember City between the hours of 8pm and Roberto Uranga to the Cali2:30am. fornia Coastal Commission Officers will be looking for signs as a voting member, accordof alcohol and/or drug impairment ing to Michael Varela, comwhile checking drivers for proper munications director for licensing, according to SHPD. When Uranga’s office. possible, specially trained officers “As a former Coastal will be available to evaluate those Commissioner, I could not suspected of drug-impaired driving. be more proud of CounFunding for the checkpoint is cilmember Uranga and our provided by grants from the Califorcity,” said Long Beach nia Office of Traffic Safety, through Mayor Garcia. “Long Beach the National Highway Traffic Safety deserves a representative on Administration. this incredibly important File photo body, and I want to thank 7th District Long Beach City Councilmember Source: SHPD President Pro Tem DeLeon Roberto Uranga for supporting Roberto and and three ex officio (non-voting) our city.”

Uranga gained the support of members. Its mission is to protect, state legislators Senate Pro Tem conserve, restore and enhance envihuman-based Kevin de Leon and Sen. Ricardo ronmental and resources of the California coast Lara, according to Varela.

“I cannot express the full extent and ocean for environmentally susof gratitude to my colleagues for tainable and prudent use by current having placed their trust and confi- and future generations, according to dence in me,” Uranga said. “Long Uranga’s office.

Beach is extremely fortunate to Source: Uranga’s office have such great leadership at all levels of government, and I am honored to complement the work of all those looking to improve the great state of California for all its residents.” now now – Service Ser vice from Union Station The Coastal Commission is an and Harbor Gateway Transit Transit C enter.. enter Center. independent, quasi-judicial state agency, with 12 voting members

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I-5/Florence Avenue Interchange Projec t Ground was recently broken on the $215 million I-5/Florence Avenue Interchange Project in Downey.

The project will add a carpool lane and a regular lane in each direction of the Santa Ana Freeway (I-5), as well as increase vehicle capacity on Florence Avenue. Metro is providing nearly $128 million for the project.

Blue Line Upgrades Project Continues Work is wrapping up on the Compton station, which is par t of Metro’s $1.2 billion Blue Line overhaul.

The station received new tile, new audio/visual enhancements, fresh paint and more. Willowbrook/ Rosa Parks and 103rd St/Watts Towers stations are nex t up to go under construction. Check ser vice advisories at metro.net/bluelineupgr grad ades.

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3

AROUND TOWN

GARNISHING GARMENTS What General meeting Who Long Beach Chapter of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America When Friday, March 27, with social hour at 10:30am and meeting thereafter Where California Heights United Methodist Church, 3759 Orange Ave. More Info Guests are always welcome. Call (714) 345-2338.

RUMMAGING ALLOWED What Parking-lot rummage sale and free e-waste drop-off Who Hosted by Boy Scout Troop 212 When Saturday, March 28 from 8am to 2pm Where Grace First Presbyterian Church, 3955 Studebaker Rd. More Info TVs, computers, printers and loose electrical cords will be accepted, but not batteries or light bulbs. Call (562) 799-4009.

CALLING ALL GREEN THUMBS! What Long Beach City College’s annual plant sale Who Hosted by the LBCC Horticulture Club When From 9am to 4pm on: Saturday, March 28; Sunday, March 29; Saturday, April 4; and Sunday, April 5 Where 1305 E. Pacific Coast Highway More Info Thousands of plants including house plants, cacti, succulents, vegetables, herbs, shrubs and drought-tolerant varieties will be available for purchase. Only cash or check payments can be accepted. Free parking is available in all Pacific coast campus lots during the plant sale dates. Call (562) 938-3092.

EGGS WITH THE ELKS What Monthly breakfast Who Bellflower/Long Beach Elks Lodge 888 When Sunday, March 29 from 8am to noon Where 16426 Bellflower Blvd.

More Info Breakfast will be open to the public at $6.50 per person. The meal includes eggs as you like them, bacon, sausage, hash browns, biscuits with gravy, orange juice, assorted fruit, Belgian waffles and coffee. Call (562) 426-2478.

ANXIOUS? DEPRESSED? ANGRY? What Meeting Who Sponsored by Recovery International When Every Tuesday at 1:30pm Where Burns Community Center, 5510 Clark St., 2nd Floor, in Lakewood More Info The group offers self-help tools that allow personal control over anxiety, depression and anger. Call Bob at (562) 343-5195 or visit recoveryinternational.org . Donations requested but not required.

MUSIC IN THE AIR What Long Beach Schools Jazz Showcase Who Hosted by Millikan parent booster club When Wednesday, April 1 from 3pm to 9pm Where Millikan High auditorium, 2800 Snowden Ave. More Info The event will showcase the musical talent of Long Beach Unified School District students. Entrance fee is $5 per person. Refreshments will be available. Contact Renee Bhatia, Millikan High School band director, at (562) 425-7441 ext. 4142.

MEET AND EAT What Social and meeting Who Hosted by American Association of University Women Where Holiday Inn, 2640 N. Lakewood Blvd.

When Thursday, April 2, beginning at 5pm More Info Shelly Spiegel-Coleman, executive director of Californians Together, a nonprofit agency in Long Beach, will speak on “A New Focus on English Learners.” There will be a social at 5pm with program from 5:30pm to 6:30pm. A short business meeting will take place from 6:30pm to 7pm, followed by dinner from 7pm to 8pm. Call (562) 438-0597.

MONEY, MONEY, MONEY What Monthly meeting Who Long Beach Central Project Area Council, Inc. When Thursday, April 2 at 6pm Where Peppercorner Restaurant, 601 E. Broadway More Info The community is invited to atend the meeting, which will focus on the budgeting process and timeline. Contact Annie Greenfeld, president, at (562) 225-9462 CRACK A BOOK What Bixby Knolls Literary Society meeting Who Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association Where Elise’s Tea Room, 3924 Atlantic Ave. When Wednesday, April 15 at 7pm More Info The book to be discussed will be Stoner by John Williams. Parking is available along Atlantic Avenue. Call (562) 595-0081, email info@bixbyknollsinfo.com or visit facebook.com/bkliterarysociety .

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4 SIGNAL TRIBUNE

Thoughts Publisher from the

by Neena Strichart

As my friends and family know, I rarely stray from a travel radius of about five square miles. When I do, it is usually to attend an event, visit a loved one or spend the day at Disneyland, an annual trek for the Strichart family. To prove my point, I drive a 2003 Honda Accord that sports about 45,000 miles.

Earlier this month I did a bit of traveling after being named the 70th Assembly District’s Woman of the Year. Thanks to Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell, the award included a trip to Sacramento for a tour of the state capitol building, a lovely brunch and lunch reception and a very empowering ceremony honoring all of the California State Assembly district’s awardees.

It was such a beautiful experience, thanks to Patrick O’Donnell and his staff in Long Beach and Sacramento, one that I will always remember.

Arriving the night before the event, I checked into a hotel near the capitol building and immediately unpacked. I wanted to make sure that my wardrobe would be wrinkle-free for the next day’s activities. After hanging up my clothing I checked out the in-room coffee service, safe, and all the other amenities, including the honor bar. If my memory serves me, I believe the M&Ms were priced at something like $17. Well, maybe just $4.50, nevertheless, a bit pricey.

As I was getting ready to leave the room to go find a place to have dinner, I noticed a small black velvet bag near the television stand. Knowing it didn’t belong to me, I quickly scooped it up and saw that it contained a lovely little silver necklace imprinted with the words “I Love You More.” Feeling bad for whoever lost the little treasure, I scurried downstairs and turned it in to the front desk. The woman there assured me she would try to find the rightful owner. She figured it probably belonged to whoever had the room the night before.

At that point it was nearing 7:30pm, and I was ready to find a place to dine. Walking just a block or two from the hotel, I found a Claim Jumper Restaurant. Knowing that they had a portion of the menu dedicated to glutenfree items, I quickly ordered my meal. Waiting for my food to arrive, I decided to call my hubby Steve and let him know that I arrived safely. After chatting for a few moments, I told him about the little necklace I found and that I turned it in to the front desk.

Just then he yelled out words that I will not print here. Shocked at his behavior, I was speechless. He then, in a very loud voice, informs me that he put the necklace in my luggage as a surprise. In a very stern tone, I told him not to yell at me and asked him how the heck I was supposed to know it was intended for me when I found it on the floor? Apparently it had tumbled to the ground when I removed my pants from the suitcase. After a few moments of a rather heated discussion, he insisted that I call the hotel and tell them what happened. Figuring I would just tell them in person, and telling him so, he argued with me and insisted I call the hotel’s front desk, “now.” Even after telling him that with my cell phone’s roaming charges, I could instead have paid for that over-priced bag of hotel M&Ms, and by the way, he didn’t think I was funny, I gave in and called the hotel.

The hotel clerk whom I had given the necklace to answered the phone.

When I told her the story, she assured me that the necklace would be there for me when I got back from dinner. An hour or so later, Steve called me on my cell phone and apologized for being such a so-and-so. I quickly forgave him and wore the necklace the next day to the Woman of the Year event. Oh, believe me, I have told this story dozens of times by now, and I couldn’t resist sharing it with you, our loyal readers.

I want to thank Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell and his Long Beach and Sacramento staff for making my stay in Sacramento one to remember. I appreciate everything they did for me to make me feel comfortable and welcome.

OPINION

MARCH 27, 2015

COMMENTARY

Protect yourself against Medicare ‘gaps’

By David Sayen Medicare regional administrator

Medicare helps to pay for a wide variety of health services, from flu shots to hospital stays to hospice care.

But it doesn’t cover everything. And it doesn’t cover all your out-of-pocket costs.

Many services covered by Medicare require co-payments, co-insurance and deductibles. You can purchase supplemental insurance to cover these “gaps” in Medicare. Such insurance is called Medicare Supplement Insurance, or Medigap. Some Medigap policies also cover certain benefits that Medicare doesn’t, like emergency care in a foreign country.

If you have Medicare and you buy a Medigap policy, Medicare will pay its share of the Medicare-approved amount for covered health services. Then your Medigap policy pays its share.

You have to pay for Medigap yourself, and it’s sold through private insurance companies. You can buy it only if you have traditional Medicare, not Medicare Advantage, which is managed care provided by private insurers.

Every Medigap policy has to follow federal and state laws designed to protect you. Medigap insurance companies can sell you only a “standardized” Medigap policy identified in most states by the letters A through D, F through G, and K through N. Each standardized policy must offer the same basic benefits, no matter which company sells it.

So beware when you’re shopping for a Medigap policy: Cost is usually the only difference between Medigap policies with the same letter sold by different companies.

And there can be significant differences in how much various insurers charge for exactly the same coverage.

Here are some of the costs that Medigap policies often cover: • Medicare Part A (hospital) co-insurance and hospital costs for up to 365 days after Medicare benefits run out • Medicare Part B (medical) co-insurance or co-pays • Blood (first three pints)

LETTERS, EMAILS and WEBSITE COMMENTS

More rotation vexation

Tuesday’s (March 17) [Signal Hill City] council meeting was the time when the council elects one of their own as mayor. Normally, the mayor is selected by simple rotation. Larry Forester would be the new mayor using this method of election. What happened at the meeting was a surprise to all in the meeting audience.

What happened? Well, two council members, Ed Wilson and Lori Woods, tried to throw Larry under the bus by saying Larry should not be mayor since he could not be respected due to his alleged racial slur and “egregious” behavior in an event that occurred last August. Subsequently, Larry took responsibility for the event, and he apologized to all concerned. Apparently, since Larry was just re-elected, the voting residents have accepted his apology and forgiven him. They must feel his leadership skills overshadow one inappropriate moment. Thankfully, three councilmembers agree with them and elected Larry as the new mayor.

I am very disappointed by councilmembers Wilson and Woods’ decision to try to stop a very capable twice-elected mayor from serving in that position again. I am even more disappointed in the way they went about it– by embarrassing Larry in a very public meeting in front of his supporters. A private meeting would have been a much more appropriate forum. I think the timing of their decision to be transparent was not a good choice. The only result that I can see that they achieved is a potential adversarial council.

I hope that the full council can put this event behind them and move ahead for the good of the city. gary dudley signal Hill PUblIsHer/edITor-In-CHIef

Neena R. Strichart sTAff WrITers

T

CUlTUre WrITers

Vicki Paris Goodman Heidi Nye

Nenna Strichart/Signal Tribune

location, location, location

I am sorry that I did not attend the above-mentioned meeting [“USPS officials hope to open new Bixby Knolls post office by mid summer,” Feb. 27, 2015]. I hope that another location can be found in Bixby Knolls for a post office. I do not like the Market Street address. I dare not go there after 5pm because I understand there is a methadone clinic across the street from the Market Street post office. I eagerly await news of a new location for the post office in Bixby Knolls. Thank you very much.

Catherine ferracioli (website comment)

Something on your mind?

Email a letter to us at newspaper@ signaltribune.com .

Be sure to include your name, city of residence and phone number.

SIGNAL

AssoCIATe PUblIsHer

MAnAgIng edITor

Stephen M. Strichart

Sean Belk CJ Dablo

The beautiful little silver necklace I found on my trip to Sacramento. The words “I Love You More” refer to a saying Mother and I share with one another at the end of every phone conversation.

• Part A hospice care co-insurance or co-pays • Skilled nursing facility co-insurance • Part A and Part B deductibles Medigap policies generally don’t cover long-term care (like care in a nursing home), vision or dental, hearing aids, eyeglasses and private-duty nursing.

The best time to buy a Medigap policy is during your six-month Medigap open enrollment period, because you can buy any Medigap policy sold in your state, even if you have health problems. This period automatically starts the month you both turn 65 and are enrolled in Medicare Part B, and once it’s over, you can’t get it again.

Medigap insurance companies are generally allowed to use medical underwriting to decide whether to accept your application and how much to charge you for the Medigap policy. However, if you apply during your Medigap open enrollment period, you can buy any Medigap policy the company sells, even if you have health problems, for the same price as people with good health.

Some other points to keep in mind: • You must have Medicare Part A and Part B to buy a Medigap policy • A Medigap policy only covers one person. If you and your spouse both want Medigap coverage, you must each buy a separate policy • You pay the private insurer a monthly premium for your Medigap policy, in addition to the monthly Part B premium that you pay to Medicare • Any standardized Medigap policy is guaranteed renewable even if you have health problems. This means the insurance company can't cancel your Medigap policy as long as you pay the premium David Sayen is Medicare’s regional administrator for Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada and the Pacific Territories. For more information, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

R

Cory Bilicko

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B

InTern

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Rhiannon Williams

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desIgn edITor/ProdUCTIon MAnAger

Cierra Hoaglin

AdverTIsIng ConsUlTAnTs

Barbie Ellisen Katherine Green

ColUMnIsTs

Mark McCormick Kenneth McKenzie Shoshanah Siegel

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. Letters must be 400 words or less. The Signal Tribune will publish no more than one “pro” letter and one “con” letter on a particular topic in a single issue. 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. We do not run letters to the editor submitted by individuals who have declared their candidacies for public office in upcoming races. This policy was put in place because, to be fair, if we publish one, we would have to publish all letters submitted by all candidates. The volume would no doubt eliminate space for letters submitted by other readers.

Instead, we agree to interview candidates and print stories about political races in an objective manner and offer very reasonable advertising rates for those candidates who wish to purchase ads. The Signal Tribune is published each friday with a circulation of 25,000. Yearly subscriptions are available for $50.

939 e. 27th st., signal Hill, CA 90755 (562) 595-7900 www.signaltribune.com | newspaper@signaltribune.com

MARCH 27, 2015

NEWS

SIGNAL TRIBUNE

Nonprofit educational program strives to reduce acts of violence between police and community members

Sean Belk

Lehman was compelled in 2011 to develop an educational program, About four years ago, Long Beach which today operates as a nonprofit Police Officer Jason Lehman spoke to called “Why’d You Stop Me” a group of Poly High School students (WYSM). The program is based on an in an effort to create a bond between equation: E+R=O, which means that police and the community. At the time, “events” occur in life and how people the presentation was a strategy to reach choose to “react” to those events deterout to at-risk youth when it was mines the “outcome.” The goal, he rumored that gang members were plot- said, is to react “positively” to events in order to have a “positive” outcome. ting to kill police officers.

The nonprofit has put this equation That conversation, however, wristbands that have been handed on quickly morphed into an educational program that today he hopes will con- out to community members. Lehman tinue to reduce acts of violence said even some Long Beach police between police and the community by officers are proudly wearing the wristtackling an ongoing and often complex bands on duty to show support of the program and build trust. power struggle.

“If we promise as law enforcement “If we eliminate fear, we would eliminate violence in every aspect of and promise as a community to react this world,” said Lehman, 33, in an positively to every event, we’ll always interview with the Signal Tribune. have a positive outcome,” he said. “It’s “Fear, most of the time, comes from so simple to the point that if we made the unknown. So we want to create that promise every time, we would eliminate acts of violence between more transparency.”

After that first school presentation, police officers and community members.”

Lehman, who worked for seven years in the Long Beach Police Department’s gang and violentcrime suppression team, today has a busy schedule, working at night and in the morning hours as a Courtesy WYSM police offiLong Beach Police Officer Jason Lehman, second from left, conducts an educational session as part of his nonprofit “Why’d You cer during Stop Me?” (WYSM). The nonprofit aims to reduce incidents of vio- the gravelence between police and community members through an 11-part yard shift.

During the educational program.

Staff Writer

day, he speaks to community members as the founder and executive director of WYSM, which has won awards for its sessions on bridging the gap between police and community members.

The sessions include an 11-part educational program that he said strives to describe to the community the struggles with “power and fear” that police officers deal with on a daily basis, first admitting that, although minimal, sometimes police misconduct does occur.

“Some police officers would have a problem with [admitting] that,” Lehman said in the office of his nonprofit located in downtown Long Beach. “We are a flawed business just like any business. Just because we’re held to a higher standard, doesn’t mean we don’t have that 1 percent of police officers that are out there doing the wrong thing.”

The program, which has recently been honored by the Anti-Defamation League and recognized by the California Conference for Equality and Justice for gang-prevention efforts, also covers such topics as racial profiling and society’s perceptions of law enforcement, he said, adding that many participants have changed their attitudes about police officers after attending the educational session.

“If they felt like they were being stopped because of a particular race, such as being black, by the end of our training, oftentimes, they’ve realized that they weren’t stopped for being black, they were stopped in a neighborhood that’s 80 percent black,” Lehman said.

In one instance, Jasmine Simpson, who was a 16-year-old student at the time, attended a session at Wilson High School, and was touched so much by the presentation that she wrote a poem titled “I Used To Hate You.”

5

The poem describes how she once “despised” the police for taking her family away, however it ends by stating, “Now I wanna be like you.”

Since Simpson attended the session, she got back on track with school after having frequent truancies and has a new respect for police officers, Lehman said, adding that the student admitted to having drug and alcohol-abuse problems at a young age and being a sexualabuse survivor.

The educational Long Beach Police Officer Jason Lehman is the execusessions also include tive director and founder of “Why’d You Stop Me?” scenario-based training (WYSM). The nonprofit founded in 2011 conducts eduin which participants cational sessions to open communication lines between are able to step into the the community and police. shoes of a police officer and act out duties, down those barriers. such as pedestrian and traffic stops, Throughout the years, the program engaging in an officer-involved shoot- has also included community meming, or listening to police dispatches bers, some who are ex-convicts and and then deciding what to do in those drug addicts, to share stories and deter situations, he said. youth from making bad decisions.

The sessions aren’t just limited to Lehman said he hopes that educating community members. WYSM, which this year launched a WYSM also works to “retrain” police program to offer “Power for Power” officers about struggles community scholarship awards, will spread to members are going through as well. cities across the country, adding that “As much as I feel like I know, as a the nonprofit has plans to make prepolice officer, what I’m doing, do I sentations in Utah, Arizona and Pennreally know what the community is sylvania. going through?” Lehman asked. “I “We hope that his message could would like to say I do, but I think that spread to everybody so that we can retraining is important.” really get this point across and get it He pointed out that it’s important to done,” Lehman said. “This program is understand that there are reasons why really effective and saves lives.” some individuals may have a negative MORE INFORMATION perception of law enforcement and wysm.org starting the conversation helps to break

NEWS

6 SIGNAL TRIBUNE

MARCH 27, 2015

EYE ON CRIME Crimes reported by the lbPd Council districts 6, 7 & 8 (no arrest information supplied) Thursday, March 19 11:50am Auto burglary 3400 block Atlantic Ave. 2:29pm Residential burglary 1300 block Wesley Dr.

9:21pm Auto burglary 3100 block San Francisco Ave. 11:41pm Battery 800 block W. PCH

friday, March 20 2am Grand theft- motor vehicle 500 block W. PCH

4:04pm Assault- not firearm 2800 Atlantic Ave.

4:22pm Assault- not firearm 2400 block Pine Ave.

2:53am Assault- not firearm 2800 Atlantic Ave.

12:02pm Auto burglary 4400 block Atlantic Ave.

8:45am Grand theft- motor vehicle E. 20th St./Orange Ave.

10:10am Robbery- person 2000 block Long Beach Blvd.

3:27pm Assault- not firearm 200 block E. Willow St.

sunday, March 22 1:57am Non-injury hit-and-run

Monday, March 23 5:19am Residential burglary 3100 E. PCH

11:53pm Auto burglary 800 block W. 33rd Way

2:39pm Robbery- commercial Alamitos Ave./Orange

saturday, March 21 9:55pm Non-injury hit-and-run 1900 block Pine Ave.

11:22pm Non-injury hit-and-run 4600 block E. Goldfield

6:03pm Non-injury hit-and-run Myrtle Ave./E. 19th St.

9:44am Residential burglary 4400 block California Ave.

11:23pm Robbery- person E. PCH/Junipero Ave.

10:45am Residential burglary 2900 block E. 29th St.

2:17pm Residential burglary 2700 block Magnolia Ave.

Tuesday, March 24 8am Grand theft- motor vehicle 3400 block California 10:15am Assault- not firearm 2400 block Atlantic Ave.

12:14pm Robbery- person Magnolia Ave./W. 31st St.

2:30pm Grand theft- motor vehicle

100 block E. Willow St.

4:39pm Two assaults- not firearms 100 block E. 28th St.

7pm Grand theft- motor vehicle 2000 block Olive Ave. 7:18pm Auto burglary 2200 block Locust Ave.

Wednesday, March 25 2:20am Grand theft- motor vehicle 1100 block E. PCH 6am Stolen vehicle recovered 1800 block E. Carson St.

10:37am Stolen vehicle recovered 2700 block Long Beach Blvd.

11:27am Non-injury hit-and-run 2000 block Olive Ave. 2:27pm Grand theft- person 500 block E. PCH

3:58pm Non-injury hit-and-run 1900 block Lemon Ave. 5:59pm Battery 2700 block Pacific Ave.

Crimes reported by sHPd Citywide Thursday, March 19 8:40pm Elder abuse 2100 block Crescent Dr.

11:01pm Auto burglary 1400 block E. Willow St. friday, March 20 2:26pm

Grand theft- property Cherry Ave./E. 21st St.

3pm Grand theft- property 2200 block E. Willow St. 6:12pm Residential burglary 800 block E. Willow St. 9:16pm Commercial burglary 900 block E. 33rd St.

saturday, March 21 12:15am Assault- not firearm 2200 block Gaviota Ave. (suspect taken into custody) 8:31am Grand theft- $950 or less 700 block E. Spring St. 9:51pm Injury hit-and-run Junipero Ave./E. 20th St. sunday, March 22 1:30am Attempt robbery E. PCH/Temple Ave.

2am Non-injury hit-and-run Cherry Ave./405 Freeway

9:21am Robbery- person E. Willow St./Walnut Ave.

1:39pm Battery from spouse, cohabitant, date Gaviota Ave./E. Hill St. (two suspects taken into custody) Monday, March 23 12:01am Auto burglary 2500 block E. 21st St.

6:40am Auto burglary 2000 block Junipero Ave.

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8:47am Auto burglary Stanley Ave./E. 21st St.

9:15am Auto burglary 2100 block Stanley Ave. 9:30am Non-injury hit-and-run 2400 block Lewis Ave.

10am Vandalism ($400 or more) 2900 block Cherry Ave. 2:28pm Auto burglary 2300 block E. 20th St.

8:31pm Battery from spouse, cohabitant, date 1800 block Stanley Ave. (suspect taken into custody) Tuesday, March 24 12:59pm Residential burglary 2900 block E. PCH

2:14pm Grand theft- motor vehicle 1300 block E. 23rd St. 2:31pm Grand theft- $950 or less 2400 block Cherry Ave. 8:44pm Auto burglary 2500 block E. 21st St.

9:33pm Grand theft- $950 or less 700 block E. Spring St.

Wednesday, March 25 1:04pm Manufacture/sell counterfeit trade mark 700 block E. Spring St. 9:21pm Grand theft- $950 or less 1600 block E. Willow St.

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COMMUNITY

MARCH 27, 2015

SIGNAL TRIBUNE

7

6th District begins new literacy program for kids Sixth District Councilmember Dee Andrews kicked off a new literacy program in his district this week at Lincoln Elementary, 1175 E 11th St. Over 100 students from Lincoln’s after-school WRAP (Winners Reaching Amazing Potential) program gathered to be recipients of books. “The best gift for our children is the gift of literacy,� Andrews said. “To read is to explore and to reach beyond any boundaries. Sometimes we take for granted the smallest things, like owning a book, when we have children in our city whose families can’t even afford one. It brings me great pleasure to be able to reach these children and to give them something that can expand their minds in a positive way.�

The 6th District Literacy Program was created with local Long Beach nonprofit New Life Beginnings, which has collected books throughout the year for the program. The Jordan High School WRAP Omega Brothers fraternity joined Andrews to deliver the books and provided inspirational quotes to the children. The program is free, and each child received a book of his or her choice.

For more information about the program or to donate books, call (562) 570-6816 or visit longbeach.gov/district6 .

Source: Andrews’s office

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Courtesy 6th District Council office

Sixth District Councilmember Dee Andrews (center) hosts his district’s new literacy program this week with the help of Jordan High School WRAP Omega Brothers.

CULTURE

8 SIGNAL TRIBUNE

MARCH 27, 2015

Ten community leaders subjects of artist’s portrait exhibit

“Blair Cohn,” oil on canvas

Long Beach artist Gregory Dane Sabin will present his collection of paintings entitled The Ten, featuring 10 of Long Beach’s renowned community leaders in a show that will run from Sunday, March 29 through Saturday, April 11. The exhibit will be on display at a newly developed retail space at 851 Pine Ave. The 10 portraits, which are four feet by four feet, include: Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, Long Beach Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal, Long Beach Fire Chief Mike DuRee, Long Beach Police Chief Robert Luna, former Long Beach Police Chief Jim McDonnell, Downtown Long Beach

Associates President Kraig Kojian, Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association Executive Director Blair Cohn, Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau President & CEO Steve Goodling, Belmont Shore Business Association Executive Director Dede Rossi and Community Action Team leader Justin Rudd.

“The 10 portraits were created as a group– or series,” Sabin said. “It started during the mayoral campaign and the election of Robert Garcia– he was my first subject. The mayoral race captivated my attention being as Garcia was the first elected openly gay mayor of a major U.S. city. I also

found his face and personality intriguing. The next portrait was the former police chief McDonnell, who I admired for his approach to crime within specific Long Beach neighborhoods. The series evolved from there, focusing on community leaders, and the subjects I chose all had in common facial features I found interesting.”

Sabin, a native of Seattle who relocated to Long Beach in 2004, is known primarily for his portraits of blue-collar working men and angstridden self-portraits, and more recently for an extensive series of raw meat and butcher-themed paint-

ings completed in 2013. The Ten portrait series is reminiscent of Sabin’s expressive style, with facial features dramatically depicted and the remainder of the portrait left less developed.

“I’d spent some time traveling back and forth in a past life, and always loved the diversity of the city,” Sabin said of Long Beach.

“And even the diversity of the neighborhoods within the city. Of course, being close to the ocean is appealing.”

A reception for the artist will take place at the space on Sunday, March 29 from 4pm to 7pm. The event is open to the public.

Sabin will be donating 25 percent of all sales from the exhibit to Food Finders food rescue/food bank.

“Being that I’m artist, I was interested in the CANstruction building competition benefiting Food Finders last summer, Sabin said. “I ended up volunteering for the event, and from that I learned about the problem of hunger in the community– in my own back yard. I was shocked that something so easily remedied in a country where so much perfectly good food goes to waste was even happening.

It’s become an important personal cause and I just love the work that Food Finders is doing.”

For more information about Food Finders, visit foodfinders.org . For more information about the exhibit, contact Terri Henry at (562) 572-4770 or terri@terrihenrymarketing.com .

For more information about the artist, visit gregorydanesabin.com .

Source: Terri Henry Marketing LLC

“Steve Goodling,” oil on canvas

“Robert Luna,” oil on canvas

“Jim McDonnell,” oil on canvas

CULTURE

MARCH 27, 2015 eatre review

Carrie: e Musical at La Mirada eatre for the Performing Arts

Cory Bilicko

Managing Editor

Yes, Carrie: The Musical at La Mirada Theatre indeed delivers those awkward moments related to teenage sexuality, Mom’s religious zealotry and the bucket of pig’s blood, but, in 2015, the production reads more as a social commentary on bullying and less as a gore fest. And that’s not a bad thing.

Part of what is effective in this retelling of the Brian De Palmadirected 1976 film based on Stephen King’s novel is that the audience is complicit in the teasing of Carrie (Emily Lopez), the sweet high-school outcast whose classmates make fun of her relentlessly. Early on in the show, the four sets of “bleachers” on which audience members sit are suddenly moved closer together by unseen forces, creating an almost claustrophobic (and certainly unsettling) tight space in which the teens taunt the potentially telekinetic girl. Viewers are so close, they’re practically in on the action. It’s uncomfortable, and it’s a smart, artistic technical choice. One gets a real sense of what it’s like to witness such brutal treatment and do nothing to help, particularly in the locker-room scene in which, among a group of cruel classmates, a naked and completely vulnerable Carrie gets her first period but has no idea what is happening.

P.E. teacher Miss Gardner (Jenelle Lynn Randall) steps in, reprimanding the mean girls and comforting Carrie, surprised that the teenager is clueless about the feminine cycle. When Carrie returns home from school, the source of her ignorance becomes apparent; her Bible-beating mother Margaret (Misty Cotton) explains, with the song “And Eve Was Weak,” that menstruation is a “curse of blood,” rather than a natural bodily function.

Back at school, the popular Sue Snell (Kayla Parker), who’d been in on the teasing, has a change of heart and musters compassion for Carrie. She implores her boyfriend Tommy (Jon Robert Hall) to ask Carrie to the prom.

He’s reluctant at first but eventually complies, appearing to see things the way his girlfriend does.

With the encouragement of Miss Gardner, Carrie eventually agrees to accompany Tommy to the big event,

but she must first contend with her mom’s resistance. In the revealing “I Remember How Those Boys Could Dance,” Margaret attempts to present a cautionary tale to her daughter, relating how “those boys were demons of romance.” In a nuanced performance

by Cotton, she gets visibly caught up in the memories though, and we get a glimpse into her possibly lessthan-righteous past. eventually She regains her compoPhoto by Jason Niedle sure and forbids her Emily Lopez stars as the title character in the Los Angeles daughter from premiere production of Carrie: The Musical, now playing attending. at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts.

The 17-year-old ain’t having it though. She defies her a religious fanatic. Speaking of, Cotton mother’s demands and prepares for the as Margaret is also more down-to-earth than Piper Laurie in the De Palma flick. prom anyway.

Meanwhile, in a classic case of Laurie was harrowing in that movie, blame-shifting, meanie Chris (Valerie and her compelling performance Rose Curiel) plots to enact revenge on earned her a Best Supporting Actress the title character, since Miss Gardner Oscar nomination. (Spacek was nomihas banned Chris from attending the nated for Best Actress.) The low-key big dance as punishment for bullying approach that both Lopez and Cotton take works because, as audience memCarrie.

As the story progresses, Carrie bers, we’re merely feet away from builds self-esteem, empowering her to them. There’s no unnecessary grandchallenge her mother’s narrow beliefs, standing. The over-the-top emoting is but also to foster her telekinetic abili- preserved for just the right moments, ties. She reads books on the subject and and a few of those include some pretty learns to harness the powers, ultimately spectacular effects, particularly actors attached to wires that elevate them unleashing them in the show’s finale.

This is not one of those shows that three stories high. An especially hauntare up on the stage and you’re observ- ing image is that of Jesus Christ on the ing from afar; you’re right there in the crucifix. It’s a mastery of set-building, thick of it. I even left the venue with lighting and rigging.

However, technical and performtwo specks of fake blood on me. (It wiped right off.) The singing, which is ance achievements aside, the heart of top-notch across the board, is amplified Carrie: The Musical lies in the lyrics of through the theatre’s sound system, but its epilogue: “For years you look at you’re in such close proximity to the someone passing by, and then one day cast that their voices are within earshot. you finally see her.”

(No lip-syncing in this production.)

Carrie: The Musical will continue at the Whereas Sissy Spacek, in the first La Mirada Theatre for the Performing cinematic version of the book, is quirky Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd., through and awkward (and it well served that Sunday, April 5. For showtimes, visit movie’s creepiness), Lopez in this stag- lamiradatheatre.com . Tickets are priced ing is more relatable, illustrating that from $40 to $70 and can be purchased anyone can be victimized by bullies. on the theatre’s website. For more inforShe comes across as just a “normal” mation, call (562) 944-9801. gal who’s the unfortunate offspring of

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CULTURE

10 SIGNAL TRIBUNE

MARCH 27, 2015

Opera review

Musical revue to revisit sounds of the Big Band era Long Beach Opera’s Marilyn Forever rhythms and danced cheek-to-

Courtesy Artbeat, Inc.

In The Mood features a cast that includes a 13-piece orchestra and six singer-dancers performing over 50 hits from the 1940s.

In the Mood: A 1940s BigBand Music Revue will be presented at the Long Beach Convention Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd. on Friday, March 27 at 2pm and 7:30pm. The show, in its 21st year, is a fully staged tribute to Glenn Miller, The Andrews Sisters, Tommy Dorsey, Artie Shaw, Harry

James, Erskine Hawkins, Benny Goodman, Frank Sinatra and other idols of the ‘40s.

Complete with authentic costumes, music arrangements and choreography, In The Mood pays homage to those who fought WWII and a time when Americans listened and boogie-woogied to up-tempo Big-Band

cheek to intimate ballads.

In The Mood boasts a cast of 19 on stage: the 13-piece String of Pearls Big Band Orchestra and six singer-dancers performing over 50 hits, including “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” “Well, Get It,” “Sing, Sing Sing,” “On The Sunny Side of the Street.”

Creator and producer Bud Forrest is a Juilliard-trained pianist and conductor who served as accompanist for the Air Force chorus The Singing Sergeants. The show also captures the feel of the 1940s in part because of the involvement of the late Vic Schoen as its primary arranger. Schoen created the musical arrangements for the entire career of the Andrews Sisters. He was one of the seminal creators of the swing-era sound which he imbued into In the Mood.

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000 or ticketmaster.com .

For more information about the show, visit artbeatshows.org or inthemoodlive.com . For venue information, visit longbeachcc.com .

Source: Artbeat, Inc.

Photo by Keith Ian Polakoff

From left: Jamie Chamberlin and Danielle Marcelle Bond in Marilyn Forever. heidi Nye

Culture Writer

Long Beach Opera’s Marilyn Forever at The Warner Grand Theatre until March 29 is not so much the juxtaposition of Marilyn Monroe’s starlit existence with Norma Jeane’s private life but the story of a single Marilyn played by two actresses.

Granted, the one performed by Jamie Chamberlin is much better “put together,” at least externally, than the other played by disheveled Danielle Marcelle Bond. But they’re the same woman with the same anguish, depres-

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sion and loneliness. It’s just that Bond is farther down the path of suicide than is Chamberlin.

This reading of the opera is not what artistic and general director Andreas Mitisek had in mind, since he said this regarding the Marilyn vs.

Norma Jeane theme he hoped to achieve: “To more deeply understand this polarity and explore the inner struggle, I decided to cast Marilyn with two performers who will represent her public and private persona.”

Ironically, the most authentic scene is not with Bond’s Marilyn but with Chamberlin’s. She sits back-to-back with third husband Arthur Miller (Lee Gregory), each enjoying a good book.

The simple, unadorned intimacy of mutually supporting one another (each literally and figuratively having the other’s back) is one of only two tender moments in this production. The other is at the end when the two Marilyns lie down together for the long sleep. The dancing and singing scene between Miller and Monroe is too well-orchestrated to be private, as if even then, the cameras are rolling.

Throughout the 90-minute opera by composer Gavin Bryars and librettist Marilyn (another one!) Bowering, Chamberlin and Bond spout despair and lament pretense: “Norma Jeane is still somewhere asking does someone love her” and “No one likes to see the path you have to pretend.” Both actresses convey the icon’s desperate need for love and her certainty that she is destined to remain unloved– this from perhaps the world’s most adored woman of all time, that is, if you don’t count Jesus’s mom.

Kudos to Mitisek’s direction, specifically in the choice of an onstage jazz trio– saxophonist Gavin Templeton, pianist Gary Fukusima and bassist Gavin Bryars (yes, the composer), with Ian Walker playing bass on March 29– that complements the eight-member pit orchestra.

Intriguing is the use of cameramen on stage who film in real time the actors and the details of the bedroom in which Marilyn swallowed the fatal barbiturates. Cast on large screens, these images overshadow and attempt to overpower the actors. There is a certain perversion in seeing Marilyn’s personal objects, a voyeurism in carefully panning the pills on her bed stand. Especially intrusive are the details of her hairbrush. Video designer Adam Flemming conveys the indecent intrusion that the general populace made into Norma Jeane’s/Marilyn’s life and continues to make into her memory. Fifty-three years following her death, Marilyn continues to fascinate us. Perhaps she is forever.

Marilyn Forever continues at The Warner Grand Theatre through Sunday, March 29. Performance is at 2:30pm.

Opera Talks with artistic and general director Andreas Mitisek will take place at 1:30pm. General admission is $29 to $160. Student tickets are $15. Tickets may be purchased online at longbeachopera.org/tickets or by calling (562) 432-5934. The Warner Grand Theatre is located at 478 W. Sixth St. in San Pedro.

NEWS

MARCH 27, 2015

Adoption

continued from page 1

ished, abused and neglected youth, 28,000 children are currently in foster care and 1,400 foster children are awaiting adoptive families in L.A. County. The Alliance also indicates that: 38 percent of California’s fostercare population is in L.A. County; abused and neglected children who are identified as victims in the past are 42 percent more likely to be abused and neglected again; nearly one half of foster-care children have learning disabilities or developmental delays; less than 50 percent of foster youth graduate from high school and only 3 percent graduate from college; and 50 percent of youth who have aged out of foster care end up homeless or incarcerated.

“There is not enough attention being placed on this need that impacts our community,” Councilmember Austin said. “The response to our last ‘Share Your Heart, Share Your Home’ event was incredible, but there continues to be a huge and ongoing need for more foster and adoptive families. I am honored to be working once again with Supervisor Knabe and DCFS on this important issue.” one family’s story Scott Sparks, who is originally from Orange County, met Wilber Rubio, who is from Long Island, when Sparks was in New York for work. After becoming a couple, the two men eventually set their sights back on the West Coast.

They relocated to Southern California, bought their property in Long Beach and lived with Sparks’s family until their house was built. They both wanted kids but didn’t want to begin the adoption process until they had moved into their new home.

Soon thereafter, they saw a TV segment of Wednesday’s Child, which highlights particular children waiting to be adopted.

“And that just kind of reminded us it’s time to get off the duff and start moving,” Sparks said. “So, we called the number, and they referred us to DCFS (Department of Children and Family Services), and DCFS invited us to an event where they were going to kind of explain the process, and they give you like a certificate because you have to have that orientation certificate before you can move on in the process. So, you go to that event– it’s like a three- or four-hour event– you learn about all the paperwork and the process. It’s kind of a weeding event, to kind of say, ‘Are you willing to go through the hoops you’re going to have to go through, because we don’t want to waste time if you’re not?’”

Sparks said that, after that orientation, interested adoptive parents must sign up for a parenting program that the County offers.

“It’s a series of courses that you have to take,” Sparks said. “We took it right here at Long Beach [City] College, but you can’t miss one. If you miss one, you’ve got to start all over. So, it’s their way of getting commitment.”

Sparks explained that he and Rubio attended about 12 classes, opting for particular weeknights.

“So, we went twice a week, for four hours a night, they served dinner,” Sparks said. “It’s like behavior intervention... they talk about the different types of kids– [from] special-needs to, you know, just your normal kid, from infant to teenagers, all the different types of adoption that you can get into. And what they’re doing, basically, is certifying you as a foster home, because L.A. County requires that you foster before you can adopt.”

Sparks wanted a younger child, but Rubio preferred an older kid with whom it would be easier to communicate. One thing they agreed upon is the desire to adopt both a boy and a girl. The couple had agreed that a would not be a practical choice, since they both had careers.

“We go to a recruiting event, and we meet [Giovanni, Genesis and Angel], and I look at him, and I’m like, ‘Okay, here, we got the younger one that I wanted, we got the boygirl combo, and we got an older one that you wanted. So what do you want to do?’” Sparks said. “It’s one more. So we did it. We said, ‘why not?’”

Sparks said that, when he and Rubio took the three siblings into their home, they did so to foster them with the intention of adopting them.

They saw the siblings as kids they wanted to foster because they were interested in adopting them, as opposed to being a home that fosters children randomly until the time is right to adopt.

The “foster before adopting” approach is one that can be a bit of an emotional hazard for those who enter the program to become parents.

They run the risk of becoming attached to children who are then returned to their biological parents.

“We both wanted to take as least risk as possible, so we were looking for kids that were close to termination of parental rights so that we wouldn’t get into a situation where we fell in love with, you know, a sibling set or something, and then they say, ‘Oh, they’re going back to Mom and Dad,’ which happens quite frequently. We’ve got a couple of friends who are going through that process now, that are finding out that the kids are going back [to their original homes]. They’re not going to get to keep them.”

Sparks explained that the County only terminates parental rights in extreme circumstances. While kids are in the foster-home process, their

biological parents typically still have a say in decisions such as haircuts and medical treatment, for example.

Sparks said that the court system attempts to reunify children with their birth parents up until a permanent home is found.

Sparks and Rubio said, as a same-sex couple, they actually didn’t encounter more challenges and scrutiny than a heterosexual couple would face.

“I don’t necessarily think we had challenges, because, actually, they’re actively recruiting gay and lesbian families to adopt,” Sparks said. “They’re kind of the new frontier, I would say, because we don’t have unplanned pregnancies. We’re actually planning to have children.”

The only resistance the couple faced regarding homosexuality came about during one of the parenting classes when a prospective adopter voiced that a gay child would not be welcome in his home.

Sparks said the moderator of the class suggested to the man that he “step out of the process now” because that is not a factor he would be able to control.

Although the couple indicated that the County is welcoming to prospective gay parents, Rubio noted that filling out the paperwork can present some interesting challenges.

“For example, there’s still like ‘Mom’ and ‘Dad’ [on the forms],” Rubio said. “Now they’re starting to change it to ‘Parent 1’ and ‘Parent 2.’”

The couple joked that they would agree to take turns being the ‘mom’ when it came time to make those designations.

The adjustment period Sparks and Rubio said they took several measures to make their home a welcoming one to the kids.

They said, as part of the process of vetting potential State and County foster homes, inspectors are sent into the homes to ensure they are safe and appropriate. Sparks said they look for things like age-appropriate bedding for the children and that knives and alcohol are locked up.

“Before they can actually move in, you have to like ‘court’ them and see them a couple of times,” Rubio said. “So what we did [is] we actually... have pictures of them in their rooms... we asked them, ‘What do you like?’ She likes Hello Kitty, so we bought Hello Kitty stuff.”

Rubio said that, because the kids’ rooms had been customized to their likes, they immediately felt welcome there.

To make sure the children were comfortable with the fact that their new parents would be same-sex partners, the couple bought several

SIGNAL TRIBUNE books about gay parents, as well as some that feature other types of unorthodox parents, such as a book about two geese that adopt a cat and another, based on a true story, about two male penguins that care for a penguin egg and raise the baby after it hatches.

Sparks and Rubio also said they belong to several same-sex-parenting social groups in Long Beach, so their kids are exposed to other children with gay mothers and fathers.

Rubio said that raising a family as an adoptive gay couple in Long Beach, as opposed to Orange County or other states, has made the whole process much easier.

“For me, what surprised me the most, is people just see us as a family,” Rubio said. “The most random people, that you don’t expect– they just see us as family, and when we have play dates, they don’t ask, ‘Where’s the mom?’” finding more moms and dads At the “Share Your Heart...Share Your Home” event on Saturday, March 28, a panel featuring current foster parents and resource providers will share their experiences and answer questions about what is involved in providing a stable foster

11

or adoptive home. Information will also be available on additional resources and support that are available to families that open up their homes. Lunch will be provided, and there will be a supervised play area for the children of attendees.

To also help raise awareness, the Heart Gallery will be on display in the lobby of Long Beach City Hall, presenting a unique portrait exhibit of adoptable children and sibling groups sharing the same dream of having a permanent family. Those pictured in the gallery are actual children in need of permanent homes.

Foster and adoptive parents can be single, married, divorced or living with a partner. They can live in an apartment or house, and either rent or own. There is no minimum income requirement, other than supporting oneself and providing a safe and stable home. Financial assistance, medical coverage and supportive services are available.

To learn more about adopting or fostering, people can call (888) 8111121 or visit the website www.ShareYourHeartLA.org.

To RSVP for Saturday’s event or for more information, please call 888-811-1121. ß

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NEWS

12 SIGNAL TRIBUNE

Budgeting

MARCH 27, 2015

continued from page 2

Aurelio Alba, who has lived in the 9th Council District for four years, votes during the participatory budgeting process in the district on March 21 during the launch of the voting process at the Houghton Park Community Center.

Photos by Sean Belk/Signal Tribune

Ninth District Councilmember Rex Richardson speaks to a crowd of residents at the Houghton Park Community Center during the launch of the district’s participatory budgeting process on March 21.

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and stakeholders. The committee worked together with various community groups and city officials to form a list of nearly 175 projects that need funding in the 9th District. Those projects were then narrowed down through a vetting process to just 11 “shovelready” projects, which residents and stakeholders voted on this week.

Projects included adding a Class-2 bike lane down Artesia Boulevard that would cost nearly $800,000, planting 40 trees on

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of the PB process, adding that Mayor Robert Garcia and city officials are also looking at ways to possibly be able to use the process in allocating federal community development block grants (CDGB) funds.

Otis Hogan, a 48-year resident of Long Beach who worked on the steering committee, said the process allows more residents to take “ownership” of their neighborhoods and get involved through voting, adding that it’s local elections that make the most difference.

“What happens in your neighborhood affects you the most and, certainly, what happens in your city,” he said. “I think if you get them involved young, they stay involved.”

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Benjamin Miranda, a Jordan High School student who worked with other students to come up with two proposals that included the new marquee and installing solar lights at DeForest Park, said he was honored to be a part of the PB process, adding that it gives youth a chance to participate in the community.

“It’s a great opportunity for the youth because we never really have a say of what’s happening in our community,” Miranda said.

“After this, I can’t wait for PB next year, when we have bigger and better ideas, and we’re going to have a little bit more control of what’s happening.”

Richardson said other Council districts in the city are taking note

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NEWS

MARCH 27, 2015

SIGNAL TRIBUNE

13

Police arrest four in kidnapping, murder of 3-week-old Eliza Delacruz

The Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) made four arrests this week in connection with the January 2015 kidnapping and murder of 3week-old Eliza Delacruz.

As originally reported in the Signal Tribune, San Diego authorities found the deceased infant in a dumpster at a commercial strip mall in the 600 block of Palm Drive in Imperial Beach on Jan. 4. LBPD detectives traveled to San Diego to confer with authorities, and the San Diego Coroner’s Office confirmed the deceased infant as Eliza Delacruz, who had been missing from her family’s home in the 100 block of W. 51st Street where three of her adult relatives had been shot and injured on Jan. 3 around 5:50pm.

The preliminary investigation led detectives to believe an adult male suspect fled with the infant immediately after the shooting occurred.

Long Beach Fire Department responded to the scene and transported her parents and uncle to local hospitals.

Two victims were in critical but stable condition. The third victim was treated and released.

The arrested individuals are: giseleangelique rene d’Milian, 47, a resident of Thousand Oaks, was arrested in Corona. She was booked for murder, kidnapping, attempted murder and conspiracy, and is currently being held in Long Beach City Jail. Her original bail amount was $1,000,000 and has now changed to no bail.

Anthony ray McCall, 29, a resident of Oceanside, was arrested in Oceanside. He was booked for murder, kidnapping, attempted murder and conspiracy, and is currently being held in Long Beach City Jail. His original bail amount was $1,000,000 and has now changed to no bail.

Todd damon boudreaux, 43, a resi-

Marijuana

continued from page 1

background of medical marijuana’s history in long beach Regulating medical cannabis in Long Beach has not been an easy task for city officials. There had been an ordinance on the books back in 2010, but no permits were ever issued to dispensaries. The City faced about 34 lawsuits over the years, and Long Beach Deputy City Attorney Kendra Carney confirmed that most of the cases involve dispensary owners or landlords who leased to these medical-marijuana businesses. She estimated that 14 of these lawsuits are still ongoing.

The City Council eventually banned medical marijuana dispensaries in 2012, but they still asked the Planning Commission to review the original ordinance. Last October, the Commission recommended significant changes to the proposed law and offered its own ordinance draft, which will eventually be reviewed by the Council. new issues Last month, the Council said they expected the task force to present ordinance recommendations to the Council

by April. This may be a daunting task, depending on how well versed the taskforce members are on the ordinance. In addition, there are numerous questions that have not been answered, and many of them won’t be answered before the group begins to meet.

On March 24, City Manager Pat West released a lengthy memo to the Council, detailing 34 issues that need to be addressed. West grouped the issues into four separate categories: enforcement/regulation, legal, permitting/zoning and revenue management. West acknowledged in his memo that many of the issues would not be fully addressed until June 1.

Besides those issues, there may be future legislation for marijuana for nonmedicinal use. Long Beach city officials acknowledged in their study-session meeting in February that there may be a ballot initiative in 2016

dent of Fontana, was arrested in Fontana. He was booked for accessory after the fact and is being held in Long Beach City Jail. His original bail amount was $20,000 and has now changed to no bail.

Charisse nicole shelton, 29, a resident of Corona, was arrested in Corona.

She was booked for accessory after the fact and is being held in Long Beach City Jail. Her original bail amount was $20,000 and has increased to $1,000,000. Shelton is D’Milian’s daughter.

“I could not be more proud of the Long Beach Police for bringing these suspects to justice,” said Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia. “This was a horrific and tragic crime, and those involved must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. I am hopeful that these arrests bring some peace to the family of baby Eliza. May she rest in peace.”

For several weeks, Long Beach detectives canvassed the area where the shooting occurred in search of witnesses, investigated the victims’ backgrounds, retraced the victims’ steps on the day of the shooting and reviewed extensive surveillance video footage, according to police.

Recently, detectives were able to piece together a possible motive for the kidnapping.

In 2014, D’Milian fabricated a story to her boyfriend that she was pregnant with his twins. She told him that she gave birth to his children in December 2014 while out of the country.

Based on their investigation, detectives determined D’Milian never gave birth to any children in 2014 and in order to continue with this deception, she intended to produce two children who matched the ages of her fabricated twins.

D’Milian developed a plot with McCall to kidnap Eliza and pass her off as her own child.

Initially, the investigation moved very slowly because the severity of the victims’ injuries prevented them from providing details to detectives, police said. Once the victims were released from the hospital, they were able to provide more information.

Long Beach detectives learned that Eliza’s mother had taken a public bus home on the day of the shooting, and they retraced the bus’s route to locate any surveillance video from nearby businesses. While reviewing video, detectives discovered a black Range Rover had followed the victim and Eliza, and the female driver contacted the victim after she got off the bus.

Based on interviews, detectives determined the following: On Jan. 3, D’Milian and McCall, in separate vehicles, followed the bus that the victim and Eliza were riding.

About 4:15pm, the victim carrying Eliza exited the bus at Del Amo and Long Beach Boulevards and began to walk home. D’Milian stopped the Range Rover and had a brief conversation with the mother. The victim thought nothing more about the contact and continued home.

Less than two hours later, at approximately 5:50pm, McCall forced his way into the Delacruz home, shot three adults, and kidnapped Eliza.

The suspect fled the area with the child. The next day, Eliza’s deceased body was found in a trash dumpster in Imperial Beach.

The San Diego County Coroner ruled baby Eliza’s death a homicide. At this time, specific details related to the cause or time of her death are not being released. The reason she was killed remains unknown.

Connection to el segundo case As the Long Beach investigation continued, detectives learned that the El Segundo Police Department was investigating an assault case. In mid February, Long Beach detectives contacted the El Segundo detectives. The El Segundo assault case indicated the following: On Feb. 6, 2015, at approximately 1:48am, El Segundo police officers responded to a hotel in the 2000 block of East Mariposa Avenue regarding an unknown trouble call.

Once on scene, officers discovered a 23-year-old female had been severely beaten with a full-size bat, inside a hotel room. Officers also located the victim’s uninjured 4-month-old infant son inside the room.

The alleged attacker, suspect McCall, had fled the scene after employees knocked on the victim’s door. The employees had been alerted by hotel patrons of a female yelling for help inside the room.

Due to the severity of the attack, El Segundo detectives immediately began an attempted-murder investigation.

A joint investigation between both departments was initiated, and El Segundo detectives provided information regarding persons and suspects who had been identified in the El Segundo case.

Detectives determined D’Milian knew the El Segundo victim for several years and was aware that she recently had a child. The victim was specifically targeted because of her child’s age and because D’Milan knew where to find the woman. D’Milian put a plan into motion to have McCall kill the mother in El Segundo and kidnap her baby, so D’Milian could pretend to be its mother and convince her boyfriend that it was their son.

video and sketches As the Long Beach shooting victims’ conditions improved, they began working with a sketch artist.

On March 18, Long Beach Police released video of the Range Rover and two sketches, one of the female Range Rover driver and one of the male shooting suspect. As a result of the release, detectives received new tips and names that matched those in the El Segundo case.

Using information from the new tips, detectives were able to conduct several interviews with newly found witnesses who provided crucial evidence that ultimately led to the four arrests.

Public’s help still needed The investigation remains ongoing, and the public’s help is still needed.

Detectives believe D’Milian misrepresented that she had a charitable organization that wanted to help young mothers and their infants. Detectives believe D’Milian contacted friends and acquaintances in their efforts to find infants.

Detectives are hopeful additional witnesses, who can provide supporting evidence of D’Milian or her associates’ prior attempts to seek out infants, will come forward.

Those who may have received a phone call or text message related to this matter are urged to call LBPD Homicide Detail at (562) 570-7244.

Those wishing to provide a tip related to the El Segundo investigation should call Detective Luke Muir at (310) 5242263. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may call 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or text TIPLA plus their tip to 274637 (CRIMES), or visit LACrimeStoppers.org .

Source: LBPD

that could offer California voters a chance to legalize recreational marijuana throughout the state.

In an interview, Carney was asked if that potential legislation could affect the City’s ordinance. The deputy city attorney acknowledged that it is “hard to predict” how the City will respond if recreational marijuana is legalized. “[However], the State Supreme Court has already determined that cities have the ability to ban or regulate these facilities,” she added. “So it’s likely that should the City choose to adopt this new ordinance now for medical marijuana, the City would apply something very similar to regulate recreational marijuana as well in the future.”

The newest map highlights potential zones where dispensaries and their corresponding cultivation sites could operate. Land-use restrictions are outlined in the ordinance draft. The Council long ago agreed that businesses should not be allowed to operate near parks and schools. Under the proposed ordinance draft, dispensaries and cultivation sites could be located in industrial areas. The Planning Commission additionally recommended that dispensaries—but not cultivation sites-should also be allowed to operate in certain commercial zones (see map).

Many of these industrial and specified commercial zones are located in north Long Beach.

At February’s study session on medical marijuana, 9th District Councilmember Rex Richardson requested staff to create a revised map that would highlight additional possible buffer zones that could further restrict the number of marijuana businesses in the area. The modified map highlights 1,000-foot buffer zones around licensed childcare facilities and libraries.

Task-force selection process Each councilmember named two individuals to represent the district.

Since the 4th District has not yet elected a new representative, the Council agreed in February to allow that dis-

trict’s representatives to be appointed

by Sharon Weissman, the 4th District’s acting chief-of-staff. Weissman also works as a senior adviser in Mayor Robert Garcia’s office.

The Council agreed in February that the districts’ councilmembers had sole discretion to appoint their two individual choices without input from Mayor Garcia. A few task-force members acknowledged in interviews with the Signal Tribune that they did not go through a formal application process before councilmembers appointed them to the task force, however, after the members were confirmed, the City did require a vetting process that included a background check. A few task-force members said they also completed an ethics-training course.

Many of the group members live in Long Beach, but the councilmembers weren’t required to appoint representatives who live in their Council districts.

Task force membership The following individuals have been named to the City of Long Beach Medical Cannabis Task Force: 1st District: Larry Bott and Tony Rivera; 2nd District: Adam Hijazi and Jack C. Smith; 3rd District: Denise Mester and Sarah Sangmeister; 4th District: Joe Sopo and Jan Ward; 5th District: Floyd Curry and Marc R. Greenberg ; 6th District: Greg Lefian and Nick Morrow; 7th District: Aaron Herzberg and Larry King and; 8th District: Charlyn Bender and Marc Rothenberg; 9th District: Kasia McDermott.

Ninth District Councilmember Richardson said in an email to the Signal Tribune that he is looking to name a second person to represent his district on the task force. That individual will replace Steve Neal, who had originally been appointed to the group. Neal is the former 9th-district councilmember.

Marijuana advocates Members of the group come from a variety of backgrounds, and there are several individuals on the task force who are enthusiastic supporters of medical cannabis. Hijazi and Lefian

are members of the Long Beach Collective Association, an advocacy group for medical marijuana. Morrow said he is a former deputy sheriff and now works as a private detective and an expert witness on cannabis. In an interview, he described himself as a proponent of medical-marijuana patients.

King said he formerly owned a dispensary in Long Beach and now serves as a consultant for other medical-marijuana businesses in Illinois, Los Angeles and Long Beach.

Although potential dispensary owners would have a financial stake in the medical-marijuana ordinance, there isn’t a problem for them to serve on the task force at this time, according to Assistant City Attorney Michael Mais.

In an email to the Signal Tribune, he said that the City abides by the rules of the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC). He acknowledged that with many boards and commissions, an individual with a “potential financial interest” that could create a conflict of interest might have to recuse himself/herself.

“However, for the FPPC rules on financial conflicts to apply, the involved person must first meet the definition of a ‘decision maker’ under the [Political Reform] Act,” he added.

“In the case of single purpose (ad hoc) purely advisory groups such as the medical-marijuana task force, the ‘normal’ conflict rules do not apply because members of such groups do not meet the definition of ‘decision maker’ under the Act, provided that they are only making advisory determinations and exit for a limited time or purpose. With that background information, there is nothing in the Act that would create a legal conflict of interest for a person to both serve on the task force and also have a financial interest in a potential dispensary or dispensary site. If hypothetically, the task force was to exist for some purpose beyond the initial task assigned to them by the Council, there is a possibility that the ‘normal’ conflict rules would then apply.”

A significant number of the taskforce members are trained in the legal profession. Mester, Sangmeister, Greenberg, Herzberg, Rothenberg and Bender have all been identified as attorneys, but they do still represent a variety of backgrounds.

Mester is a mother and serves on a local PTA board, and Sangmeister formerly served as a parks and recreation commissioner, said Julie Maleki, chief of staff for the 3rd District. Greenberg has worked with the Long Beach Police Department’s civilian-review committee and had lived near a marijuana facility that had been operating illegally, said Christine Schachter, chief of staff for the 5th District.

Herzberg is the founder of CalCann Holding Corporation. According to that company’s website, Herzberg owns “interests in dispensary, cultivation and production facilities in California and Nevada,” and he has worked for marijuana businesses to help them acquire licenses and conditional-use permits.

Bender works for the district attorney’s office in Orange County.

Rothenberg has a law practice in Bixby Knolls, and he isn’t the only local businessman in the group. Rivera and Sopo also own businesses in the city. Sopo is a real-estate agent.

Bott, Smith, Sopo, Ward and McDermott are Long Beach residents who have been involved in neighborhood associations and/or other community-advocacy groups.

Curry, also a resident of Long Beach, is an LAPD SWAT officer who has dealt with the marijuana issue, according to Schachter.

Although many of them have seen each other at previous meetings on medical cannabis, next week’s meeting will be the first time these individuals will have gathered as a group. Since the city manager’s office stated that several major issues will not be fully addressed until June 1, it is unknown when the City Council expects to schedule the ordinance on its agenda. ß

14 SIGNAL TRIBUNE

TST4863 / Case No. VS026898 oRDER To ShoW CAuSE foR ChANGE of NAME, SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, 12720 Norwalk Blvd., Norwalk, CA 90650.

PETITION OF Venessa Louise Lopez.

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1. Petitioner: VENESSA LOUISE LOPEZ filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present Name: JOSHLYNN MARIE ZEPEDA, to Proposed Name: JOSHLYNN MARIE LOPEZ. AND, Present Name: SEAN SONNY MONTES, to Proposed Name: SEAN SONNY LOPEZ. 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: April 22, 2015; Time: 1:30pm.; Dept. C, Room 312. 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: March 6, 13, 20, 27, 2015. ___//ss//___ Margaret Miller Bernal, Judge of the Superior Court Dated: February 25, 2015

TST4865 / Case No. TS018504 oRDER To ShoW CAuSE foR ChANGE of NAME, SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, 200 West Compton Blvd., Compton CA 90220 PETITION OF Robert Dwayne Peterson.

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1. Petitioner: ROBERT DWAYNE PETERSON filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present Name: ROBERT DWAYNE PETERSON, to Proposed Name: ROBERT DWAYNE CARTER. 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: April 17, 2015; Time: 8:30am.; Dept. B. 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: March 6, 13, 20, 27, 2015. ___//ss//___ William Barry, Judge of the Superior Court Dated: February 26, 2015 TST4864 / 2015 039546 fiCTiTiouS BuSiNESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: SUGAR DADDIES SWEET SHOPPE, 429 Shoreline Village Drive Suite E, Long Beach, CA 90802. Registrant: CLOVER CONFECTIONS, INC., 10051 Birchwood Drive, Huntington Beach, CA 92646. This business is conducted by: a Corporation. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Michael

PUBLIC NOTICES

Daniel, 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 February 13, 2015.

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: March 6, 13, 20, 27, 2015.

TST4867 / 2015 031215 fiCTiTiouS BuSiNESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: SPARKICREATIVE, 3553 Atlantic Ave. Ste. 149, Long Beach, CA 90807.

Registrant: JULIE FOGG, 3640 Myrtle Ave., Long Beach, CA 90807. This business is conducted by: an Individual. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Julie Fogg. 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 February 4, 2015. 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: March 6, 13, 20, 27, 2015.

TST4869 / 2015 048587 fiCTiTiouS BuSiNESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: THE COMMON CREATIVE DESIGN, 3118 Cade St., Long Beach, CA 90805. Registrant: GILBERTO ZAVALA, 3118 Cade St., Long Beach, CA 90805. This business is conducted by: an Individual. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Gilberto Zavala. 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 February 24, 2015. 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: March 6, 13, 20, 27, 2015.

TST4870 / Case No. lS026431 oRDER To ShoW CAuSE foR ChANGE of NAME, SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, NORTHWEST DISTRICT-EAST BLDG., 6230 Sylmar Ave., Room 107, Van Nuys, CA 91401.

PETITION OF Francine Epstein on behalf of Justin and Matthew Epstein

CITY of sIgnAl HIll TST4882 2175 Cherry Avenue Signal hill, CA 90755-3799 NoTiCE of VACANCiES

CiVil SERViCE CoMMiSSioN PlANNiNG CoMMiSSioN PARKS & RECREATioN CoMMiSSioN

NoTiCE iS hEREBy GiVEN that due to terms expiring on May 31, 2015, two vacancies each exist on the Signal Hill Civil Service, Planning, and Parks & Recreation Commissions. The City of Signal Hill will be conducting a recruitment to fill each vacancy. All interested residents are encouraged to apply.

To serve as a Civil Service, Planning, or Parks & Recreation Commissioner, you must be a U.S. citizen, 18 years of age or older; and a registered voter and resident of the City at least 29 days prior to the date of appointment. Each member shall continue to reside in the City for the duration of the term of office (Signal Hill City Charter Section 602).

If you are interested in serving as a Commissioner, please call (562) 989-7305 for an application. Applications are also available in the City Clerk’s office, 2175 Cherry Avenue, Monday–Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You may also apply on the City’s website at HYPERLINK "http://www.cityofsignalhill.org" www.cityofsignalhill.org. Applications must be accompanied by a letter of interest.

Applications will be accepted until Monday, April 20, 2015, at 5:30 p.m.

Published in the Signal-Tribune newspaper on March 13, 2015.

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1. Petitioner: FRANCINE EPSTEIN filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present Name: JUSTIN EDWARD WHITCRAFT EPSTEIN, to Proposed Name: JUSTIN EDWARD EPSTEIN. AND Present Name: MATTHEW MICHAEL WHITCRAFT EPSTEIN, to Proposed Name: MATTHEW MICHAEL EPSTEIN. 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: April 10 2015; Time: 8:30am.; Dept. M 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: March 6, 13, 20, 27, 2015. ___//ss//___ Huey P. Cotton, Judge of the Superior Court Dated: February 27, 2015 TST4871 / 2015 057666 fiCTiTiouS BuSiNESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: SELECTIVE ELITE GROUP ONE, 3553 Atlantic Ave. #711, Long Beach, CA 90807. Registrant: NAIMAH A. WILLIAMS, 3553 Atlantic Ave. #711, Long Beach, CA 90807.

This business is conducted by: an Individual. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct.

Signed: Naimah A. Williams. 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 March 4, 2015. 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: March 6, 13, 20, 27, 2015.

TST4873 / 2015 060583 fiCTiTiouS BuSiNESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: JUST BUENO NUTRITION, 7623 Firestone Blvd., Downey, CA 90241. Registrant: REBECCA BUENROSTRO, 10821 Kibbee Ave., Whittier, CA 90604. This business is conducted by: an Individual. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Rebecca Buenrostro. 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 March 6, 2015. 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: March 13, 20, 27, & April 3, 2015.

TST4876 / Case No. TS018550 oRDER To ShoW CAuSE foR ChANGE of NAME, SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, SOUTH CENTRAL DISTRICT 200 West Compton Blvd., Compton CA 90220.

PETITION OF Chauncee Markellus Roscoe Hicks.

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1. Petitioner: CHAUNCEE MARKELLUS ROSCOE HICKS filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present Name: CHAUNCEE MARKELLUS ROSCOE HICKS, to Proposed Name: ROAM HICKS. 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: April 23 2015; Time: 8:30am.; Dept. B, Room 906. 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: March 13, 20, 27, & April 3, 2015. ___//ss//___ William Barry, Judge of the Superior Court Dated: March 11, 2015

TST4877 / 2015 070298 fiCTiTiouS BuSiNESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: CLEARVIEW WINDOW SERVICE, 3719 California Ave., Long Beach, CA 90807. Registrant: CLEARVIEW SERVICES, INC., 3719 California Ave., Long Beach, CA 90807. This business is conducted by: a Corporation. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Jeffrey Dahl, CEO. 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 March 16, 2015.

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: March 20, 27, & April 3, 10, 2015.

TST4879 / Case No. BP145794 Notice of Ancillary Petition To Administer Estate of: RiChARD Z. SMAGlo To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of RICHARD Z. SMAGLO. An Ancillary Petition For Probate has been filed

by GEORGE SMAGLO in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles. The Ancillary Petition For Probate requests that GEORGE SMAGLO be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. The Ancillary 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 Ancillary Petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act with limited authority.

(This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain and 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 in this court as follows: April 16, 2015 at 8:30 AM in Dept. 5 located at 111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.

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 decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code.

Other California statutes and legal authority may effect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. 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

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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.

CHARLES A. GANGLOFF, SB# 40177 Attorney for Petitioner Charles Al Gangloff & Associates 295 Redondo Ave., Suite 202 Long Beach, CA 90803 Reporter# 106969 Pub. Signal Tribune, March 20, 27, & April 3, 2015

TST4883 / Case No. yS027090 oRDER To ShoW CAuSE foR ChANGE of NAME, SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, Torrance Court House, 825 Maple Ave., CA 90503.

PETITION OF Andrea Felice Potts.

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1. Petitioner: ANDREA FELICE POTTS filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present Name: ANDREA FELICE POTTS, to Proposed Name: EMPRESS KISMET KAHMAR EL. 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: April 24 2015; Time: 8:30am.; Dept. B, Room 340. 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: March 27, & April 3, 10, 17, 2015. ___//ss//___ Steven R. Van Sicklen, Judge of the Superior Court Dated: March 6, 2015

TST4878 / 2015 062772 fiCTiTiouS BuSiNESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: PIXBYLOS, 3253 E. Ransom St., Long Beach, CA 90804. Registrant: CARLOS OROZCO, 3253 E. Ransom St., Long Beach, CA 90804. This business is conducted by: an Individual. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Carlos Orozco.

The registrant has not begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. The registrant began using this fictitious business name on January 17, 2014.

This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on March 9, 2015.

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: March 20, 27, & April 3, 10, 2015.

TST4875 / 2015 063798 fiCTiTiouS BuSiNESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: OPENBOXSUPPLY, 2176 Dudley Circle, Signal Hill, CA 90755. Registrant: JOSE MICUEL MORALES, 2176 Dudley Circle, Signal Hill, CA 90755. This business is conducted by: an Individual.

I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Jose Miguel Morales. 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 March 9, 2015. 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: March 13, 20, 27, & April 3, 2015.

MARCH 27, 2015

TST4880 / 2015 057178 STATEMENT of ABANDoNMENT of uSE of fiCTiTiouS BuSiNESS NAME The following person has abandoned the use of the fictitious business name: BELTRANS BOAT CLEANING, located at 11870 168th St., Artesia, CA 90701. The fictitious business name referred to above was filed on October 4, 2010, original File No. 2015 057177, in the County of Los Angeles.

Registrant: BELTRAN, GRACIELA C., 11870 168th St., Artesia, CA 90701.

This business is conducted by: an Individual. Signed: Berltran, Graciela C. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on March 3, 2015. Pub. The Signal Tribune: March 27, & April 3, 10, 17, 2015.

TST4868 / 2015 031536 fiCTiTiouS BuSiNESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: THE ACTIVE PORT, 3640 Myrtle Ave., Long Beach, CA 90807. Registrant: JULIE ANNE FOGG, 3640 Myrtle Ave., Long Beach, CA 90807. This business is conducted by: an Individual. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Julie Anne Fogg. 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 February 4, 2012. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on February 5, 2015.

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: March 6, 13, 20, 27, 2015.

TST4874 T.S. No. 14-2623-11 NOTICE OF TRUSTEE'S SALE NOTE: THERE IS A SUMMARY OF THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT ATTACHED 注：本文 件包含一个信息摘要 참고사항: 본 첨부 문 서에 정보 요약서가 있습니다 NOTA: SE ADJUNTA UN RESUMEN DE LA INFORMACIÓN DE ESTE DOCUMENTO TALA: MAYROONG BUOD NG IMPORMASYON DOKUMENTONG ITO NA SA NAKALAKIP LƯU Ý: KÈM THEO ĐÂY LÀ BẢN TRÌNH BÀY TÓM LƯỢC VỀ THÔNG TIN TRONG TÀI LIỆU NÀY PLEASE NOTE THAT PURSUANT TO CIVIL CODE § 2923.3(d)(1) THE ABOVE STATEMENT IS REQUIRED TO APPEAR ON THIS DOCUMENT BUT PURSUANT TO CIVIL CODE § 2923.3(a) THE SUMMARY OF INFORMATION IS NOT REQUIRED TO BE RECORDED OR PUBLISHED AND THE SUMMARY OF INFORMATION NEED ONLY BE MAILED TO THE MORTGAGOR OR TRUSTOR. YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST DATED 7/11/2006. 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 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 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: EDUARDO E. MORALES A MARRIED MAN AS HIS SOLE AND SEPARATE PROPERTY Duly Appointed Trustee: The Wolf Firm, A Law Corporation Recorded 7/18/2006 as Instrument No. 06 1574569 of Official Records in the office of the Recorder of Los Angeles County, California, Street Address or other common designation of real property: 2101 RIDGVIEW TERRACE DRIVE SIGNAL HILL, CA 90755 A.P.N.: 7217-029-010 Date of Sale: 4/9/2015 at 10:00 AM Place of Sale: Behind the fountain located in Civic Center Plaza, 400 Civic Center Plaza, Pomona CA Amount of unpaid balance and other charges: $834,358.49, estimated 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

PUBLIC NOTICES

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 (916) 939-0772 or visit this Internet Web site www.nationwideposting.com, using the file number assigned to this case 14-2623-11. 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: 3/11/2015 The Wolf Firm, A Law Corporation 2955 Main Street, 2nd Floor Irvine, California 92614 Foreclosure Department (949) 7209200 Sale Information Only: (916) 9390772 www.nationwideposting.com Frank Escalera, Team Lead NPP0243337 To: TRIBUNE 03/13/2015, SIGNAL 03/20/2015, 03/27/2015

SIGNAL TRIBUNE

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Remember to Support local businesses

- A reminder from the Signal Tribune

16 sIgnAl TrIbUne

MARCH 27, 2015