WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2018
AN AMERICAN PRINT MEDIA PUBLICATION
Villanueva Sworn In As LA County Sheriff, Vows to ‘Restore’ Department
Lynwood Unified High School Students Spread Holiday Joy Through Helping Hands Club
L Former President George H.W. Bush Once Lived in Compton By Staff Reports
COMPTON—In one of the lesser-known chapters in the extraordinary life of George H.W. Bush, the nation’s 41st president—who died late Friday at his Houston home at age 94—lived in Compton for about six months in 1949 and 1950.
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he Bush family patriarch is usually associated with Maine and Texas—the two states where he spent most of his adult life. But according to his autobiography, Bush and his wife Barbara lived in Compton while on assignment for Dresser Industries, selling oil-drilling equipment. His eldest daughter, Robin, was born in Compton just before Bush was transferred again, he wrote. Bush’s son George W.—who would go on to become the nation’s 43 president—was 3 years old at the time. They lived in a now-demolished apartment complex at 624 S. Santa Fe Avenue. In the 1990s, former Compton Mayor Walter R. Tucker III proposed turning the location into a city landmark, but that never happened. Bush moved to Midland, Texas, in May 1950.
Among those being relieved of duty are Undersheriff Jacques La Berge, four assistant sheriffs, eight chiefs, a communications director and a community MONTEREY PARK—Alex Villanueva outreach director, Danny Leserman, a spokesman was sworn in as Los Angeles County’s for Villanueva, told the Los Angeles Times. The denew sheriff today, echoing his campaign partment’s two constitutional policing advisers will be transferred to new jobs with Los Angeles County vow to “reform, rebuild and restore” and will be replaced, he said. the department while saying the agency In his speech Monday, Villanueva called his win would not be influenced by “divisive the culmination of a career of “speaking truth to power.” policies” from outside the county and “This is a rare moment in history where we not state. only have the opportunity but the courage and responsibility to challenge an existing power to ensure his city and our entire county is standing that no matter where you are from, where you live, at a crossroads,” Villanueva told the crowd how you pray, the color of your skin—your sheriff’s gathered for his swearing-in ceremony at department will work to protect you and keep you East Los Angeles College. safe.” “We can either decide to go along to get along or He also hinted at his campaign theme of not alto challenge a status quo that has only worked for a lowing immigration agents into county jails and his select few and left far too many behind. support of the state’s “sanctuary” law, saying, “We The people of Los Angeles have decided that we’re will not allow any divisive policies from outside Los going to make real and new vision for what law enAngeles or California dictate the way we do our job forcement in our community should do and look here in California. Hard-working immigrant families like.” shouldn’t have to wonder if we’re here to protect Villanueva, a retired them or deport them.” sheriff’s lieutenant To the members of defeated incumbent Jim the department gathMcDonnell in the Nov. ered at the ceremony, 6 election. Villanueva said, “I McDonnell, the only ask that you serve first sitting sheriff to your community with lose a re-election bid in dignity and pride.” Los Angeles County in LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva “Treat everyone more than a century, with respect and did not concede defeat the success of your until Nov. 26, when vote-counting showed Villancareer will be determined by how well you serve the ueva with an insurmountable lead. community, not the political powers to be,” he said. Villanueva has already made headlines even “Those days are over.” before taking office. He thanked his campaign supporters for spreadHe announced plans last week to follow through ing a message to “reform, rebuild and restore the on a campaign promise to clean house at the departdepartment that reverberated throughout the entire ment by dismissing a series of people in the agency’s county of Los Angeles, sustaining itself with a belief leadership structure. that together we could actually make history.” By Staff Reports
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“I only ask that you serve your community with dignity and pride.”
YNWOOD—Firebaugh High School student Paola Valadez packed gift bags Nov. 21 with items including toothpaste, socks and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches alongside 350 fellow Lynwood Unified students in preparation for delivering holiday cheer. Valadez, president of Firebaugh’s Helping Hands Club, joined the volunteers in creating more than 1,000 gift bags to take to the streets of Los Angeles on Thanksgiving as part of the club’s philanthropic efforts. “Giving back to the community is something I have always been interested in,” said Valadez, a sophomore. “My older sister, Patricia, was a part of Helping Hands, and I got involved while I was still in middle school.” Students from Firebaugh, Lynwood, Vista and Pathway high schools, as well as “My older several District sister, middle schools, Patricia, joined was a part staff, community of Helping members and alum- Hands, and I ni to write u n i q u e got involved notes and while I prepare more than was still 1,000 peain middle nut butter and jelly school.” sandwiches for the Paola Valadez gift bags, w h i c h filled the lobby of the Firebaugh’s administrative building. On Thursday, the group gathered again to deliver the bags to homeless residents of downtown Los Angeles. “Seeing the kids come together for Helping Hands, especially when they are on vacation from school, is a beautiful thing,” Firebaugh High School teacher and club adviser Jeff Ballinger said. “Whether we’re spending quality time with the elderly on Valentine’s Day or donating to nonprofits that work with victims of domestic violence, our students are creating a narrative that says Lynwood is a caring, loving and compassionate community.” Ballinger said he hopes Helping Hands will grow into a community-wide organization. “Helping Hands is what happens when enough people come together with a desire to do some good,” LUSD Board President Alfonso Morales said. “This club is representative of the type of community that we have here at Lynwood Unified: parents, teachers and students all willing to donate n Helpin Hands, see page 2