August 28, 2006 -- Volume II, Issue XI

Calendar of Events

Fri., Sep. 29, 2006
Starts at 8:30 a.m.
MTA Exposition Light Rail
Groundbreaking
Exposition Blvd., between West and Hillcrest

Fri., Sep. 29, 2006
6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Friends of the LA River
5^th Annual LA River Awards
LA River and Center and Gardens

Sun, Oct 1 2006
Final Day
Los Angeles County Fair
1101 W. McKinley Ave.
Pomona, CA 91768

Mon, Oct 2, 2006
Yom Kippur

Tues., Oct 3, 2006
Starts at 9:30 a.m.
L.A. County Board of
Supervisors Meeting
500 W. Temple St., Rm. 381B
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Mon, Oct 9, 2006
Columbus Day Holiday
*County Buildings Closed

Tues., Oct 10, 2006
Starts at 1:00 p.m.
L.A. County Board of
Supervisors Meeting
500 W. Temple St., Rm. 381B
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Tues, Oct 10, 2006
Starts at 12:00 p.m.
American Public Transportation
Association Awards Luncheon
San Jose Convention Center
150 West San Carlos Street
San Jose, CA 95113

Tues., Oct. 17, 2006
Starts at 9:30 a.m.
L.A. County Board of
Supervisors Meeting
500 W. Temple St., Rm. 381B
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Mon., Oct. 23, 2006
2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Alameda Corridor East (ACE)
Board of Directors Meeting
Irwindale Council Chambers
5050 Irwindale Ave.
Irwindale, CA 91706

Tue., Oct. 24, 2006
Starts at 9:30 a.m.
Los Angeles Board of
Supervisors Meeting
Public Hearing
500 W. Temple St., Rm. 381B
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Thu., Oct. 26, 2006
Starts at 9:30 a.m.
Metropolitan Transportation
Authority (MTA) Board of Directors Meeting
1 Gateway Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Fri, Oct 27, 2006
6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
*For Info Call (626) 798-2833*
Amigos de los Rios
Benefit Dinner
Quiet Canyon Restaurant
901 N. Via San Clemente
Montebello, CA 90640

Tue., Oct 31, 2006
Starts at 9:30 a.m.
Los Angeles Board of
Supervisors Meeting
Public Hearing
500 W. Temple St., Rm. 381B
Los Angeles, CA 90012

FIRST DISTRICT LIBRARIES RECEIVE IMPROVEMENTS

Los Angeles County Public Libraries provide resources and activities to stretch our children's minds, from the tots in a reading circle, to teens tackling their homework. Adults access libraries for information, for relaxation and even to learn new skills, such as surfing the web. It is important that our Public Libraries are clean, safe and inviting community gathering places.

This summer we secured more than $500,000 to provide many libraries in the First District with exciting exterior façade refurbishments -- a top-to-bottom new look for our community libraries!

Sunkist Library in La Puente (pictured) and the La Puente Library received many upgrades. At Sunkist, we painted the exterior; installed new tile flooring; posted new signs and plaques; and installed a new book drop. La Puente Library also received upgrades.

We were able to provide face lifts for a total of 12 First District County Libraries. We spent about $50,000 on each library. River Library in Pico Rivera; Weaver in Bell Gardens and Bell Gardens Public Library; Montebello Public Library; El Camino Real and City Terrace in East Los Angeles; Norwood in El Monte and El Monte Public Library; and Walnut and Rosemead all received new paint jobs, signage, book drops and overall sprucing up.

Libraries provide a safe and welcoming place to read, study and learn and borrow a variety of educational resources. Each community library reflects the history of the surrounding community.

For Instance Walnut Library, founded in March 1916 was replaced by a bookmobile service. The community grew, and in 1970, the present library became part of the Civic Center complex.

El Monte Library, founded in 1890, offers magazines and newspapers in English, Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese, and houses the Cesar Chavez Self-Improvement Collection for Job Training and Career Development. Norwood Library in El Monte began in a storefront in 1950, and now houses the Cesar Chavez Language Learning and Literacy collection.

Rosemead Library, established I June 1916 in a room at Savannah School, has the Distinction of having burned down twice -- in 1921 and 1927. Of course, this means it was relocated several times, with its final destination located next to City Hall since 1957.

USC TROJANS VISIT LAC+USC PEDIATRIC PATIENTS

I had the opportunity in early September to recognize two individuals who have brought joy to the lives of thousands of children and their families at LAC+USC medical Center Women's and Children's Hospital. Each year, USC Trojans football Coach Pete Carroll brings the USC football team to visit pediatric inpatients at Women's and Children's Hospital. Coach Carroll encourages his players to become leaders on and off the field.

The football players engage in play activities, take photos and offer words of encouragement and support to the children. USC Marketing Event Coordinator Craig Kelley has facilitated player visits, and has provided many tickets to USC sporting events for the children and their families. It was my pleasure to join the Coach, team members, Mr. Kelley and Medical Center staff to bring cheer to children at the hospital.

VISIT THE UPDATED GLORIA MOLINA WEBSITE!

I am pleased to announce that my website has been updated and thoroughly made over. Please feel free to explore it at http://molina.co.la.ca.us. We created this website to bring you a step closer to L.A. County government by connecting you with important information about services and events in our community. We encourage you to explore the website. Feel free to let us know what you think of it by contacting us at molina@lacbos.org.

"CORNFIELD" STATE HISTORIC PARK OPENS

After five years of planning, a 13-acer Interim Public Use Park opened at the Los Angeles State Historic Park in downtown Los Angeles at the former "Cornfields" site. For many years, I drove by the site and saw a field of junk, debris and dirt. Now I look out into a green meadow and see a place where families and children from adjoining communities can escape the urban hustle and bustle to enjoy nature. I was happy to participate in the Grand Opening of the Interim Park.

"A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT" Greening the L.A. river

As a little girl growing up in the Pico Rivera area, one of my favorite things to do was to ride my bike along the Rio Hondo River -- many children are not so fortunate. For many of our children and families, green space is so scares that public parks take the place of private backyards. And that is why I have been so committed to greening our rivers in the San Gabriel Valley and in the most densely populated areas of Los Angeles County.

Many of us have lived our entire lives in Los Angeles without realizing that "a river runs though it!" That is why the greening of the Los Angeles River is a civic project that captures everyone's imagination -- including mine. In 1991, I asked the Board of Supervisors to mandate the development of the Los Angeles River Master Plan, adopted in 1996. This past June, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors celebrated the Plan's 10^th Anniversary.

For more than a decade, Friends of the Los Angeles River have given vast amounts of time, energy, and dedication to making the Los Angeles River Master Plan come to life. On September 29, I was honored to receive the organization's first Chi Mui, Award for my efforts on behalf of our rivers. Chi Mui was a dedicated public servant devoted to preserving public lands for public uses. I was humbled when Mr. Mui's widow, Betty Mui, presented the award.