November 22, 2006 -- Volume II, Issue XII

Calendar of Events

Thurs., Nov. 23, 2006
Thanksgiving Day Holiday
* County buildings closed *

Fri., Nov. 24, 2006
* County buildings closed *

Tues., Nov. 28, 2006
Starts at 9:30 a.m.
L.A. County Board of
Supervisors Meeting
500 W. Temple St., Rm. 381B
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Tues., Nov. 28, 2006
Starts at 5 p.m.
City of Los Angeles Holiday
Tree Lighting Ceremony
Los Angeles City Hall
200 N. Spring St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Tues., Dec. 5, 2006
Starts at 9:30 a.m.
Los Angeles Board of
Supervisors Meeting
500 W. Temple St., Rm. 381B
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Thurs., Dec. 7, 2006
Starts at 9:30 a.m.
Metropolitan Transportation
Authority (MTA) Board of
Directors Meeting
1 Gateway Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Thurs., Dec. 7, 2006
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Parent Project Graduation
Ceremony
City Terrace Park Social Hall
1126 N. Hazard Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90063

Fri., Dec. 8, 2006
REMINDER:
* Property taxes due! *

Sun., Dec. 10, 2006
Starts at Noon
Third Annual Lincoln Heights
Christmas Parade
Begins at intersection of
N. Broadway & S. Ave. 24
and ends at Lincoln Park at
intersection of Mission Rd. &
3501 Valley Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90031

Mon., Dec. 11, 2006
Noon to 1:30 p.m.
United Latino Fund Luncheon
Tamayo's Restaurant
5300 E. Olympic Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90022

Tues., Dec. 12, 2006
Starts at 9:30 a.m.
L.A. County Board of
Supervisors Meeting
500 W. Temple St., Rm. 381B
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Fri., Dec. 15, 2006
Hanukkah begins

Mon., Dec. 18, 2006
2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Alameda Corridor East (ACE)
Board of Directors Meeting
Irwindale Council Chambers
5050 Irwindale Ave.
Irwindale, CA 91706

Tues., Dec. 19, 2006
Starts at 9:30 a.m.
L.A. County Board of
Supervisors Meeting
500 W. Temple St., Rm. 381B
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Sat., Dec. 23, 2006
Hanukkah ends

Mon., Dec. 25, 2006
Christmas Day Holiday
* County buildings closed *

Tues., Dec. 26, 2006
* CANCELLED *
L.A. County Board of
Supervisors Meeting
500 W. Temple St., Rm. 381B
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Sun., Dec. 31, 2006
New Year's Eve

SOUTH WHITTIER SENIORS START MAYBERRY PARK CLUB

Our seniors should be so proud of their lifelong dedication to civic causes and their involvement in community affairs. I know I am proud of them. So when seniors from the unincorporated South Whittier area recently formed their own senior club -- and headquartered it at Mayberry

Park -- I humbly accepted the honor of inaugurating the club and its first leadership class. Many members have frequented the Mayberry Park Senior Center for years. They regularly use it for meals, friendship, recreation, exercise, and bingo games in both English and Spanish. It is considered their “home away from home.” The club’s new leadership committee will help members organize workshops, events, trips, and other programs. Current club officers include President Sandra Fellerman; Vice President Eva Olmos; Second Vice President Geneva Thoman; Secretary Ana Rivero; and Treasurer Maria Meza.

As an added treat, at the request of the club, I held a quilting class after completing the leadership installation ceremony. Many seniors were unaware of my passion for quilting but had lots of fun getting a first-hand look at some of my original pieces. I enjoyed it so much that we’ve decided to hold quilting classes on a regular basis. Anyone interested in joining or learning more about the Mayberry Park Senior Club should contact Mr. Irving Montenegro of the L.A. County Dept. of Parks and Recreation by phone at (562) 944-9727 or by e-mail at imontenegro@lacountyparks.org.

EAST L.A. THANKFUL FOR NEW FARMER’S MARKET

The East L.A. community can count another blessing this Thanksgiving now that Farmer's Markets are being held each Saturday from 8 a.m. to Noon (rain or shine!) along E. 1^st St. between N. Rowan Ave. and S. Ditman Ave. All produce sold is organic. Visitors also will enjoy live music, cooking classes, and a family-friendly atmosphere. Merchants along 1^st St. have made available ample public parking in the large lots behind their stores.

We held our first East L.A. Farmer's Market this past Sat., Nov. 18^th -- and over 500 people attended within the first hour! Many thanks to Ms. Pompea Smith of SEE-LA for partnering with Volunteers of East Los Angeles and my office to bring the East L.A. Farmer's Market to fruition. For more information, call (323) 263-4462 or send an e-mail at volunteersofela@aol.com.

MORE PARK AND RIVER REVITALIZATION ON HORIZON

This November, Californians overwhelmingly voted "Yes!" for Proposition 84, which increases public funding by $5.4 billion for parks, rivers, clean air, and clean water. But many L.A. County residents still wonder: What benefits will I see in my neighborhood? If the past is any indication, the answer for the First District is: "Plenty!" Two recent events held by local environmental non-profit organizations underscore why.

First, the Trust for Public Land held an open house at their new Los Angeles River Center and Gardens headquarters in the Elysian Valley. The Trust for Public Land has been instrumental in revitalizing both the L.A. River -- Maywood Riverfront Park immediately comes to mind but there are many others -- and the San Gabriel River via Gibson Park in

El Monte; the Woodland Duck Farm in unincorporated Bassett; and an as-yet unnamed universal access park for children with disabilities that will be situated in the unincorporated Avocado Heights neighborhood. Then Amigos de los Rios held a gala dinner to celebrate all the greening projects completed along the "Emerald Necklace" of rivers, trails, and green space gracing the San Gabriel Valley (shown above). The list is long! Projects include El Encanto Wilderness Park in the Azusa foothills; the Arrow Highway Gateway in Azusa; Lario Creek, which borders Azusa and Irwindale; Lashbrook Park in South El Monte; the San Jose Creek Habitat and Trails Restoration in unincorporated Avocado Heights; the Thienes Avenue Gateway in South El Monte; and El Bosque del Rio Hondo located within the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area (which also will serve as a home to the San Gabriel River Discovery Center). Groups like Amigos de los Rios and Mujeres de la Tierra (pictured) provide the vision -- and the volunteers -- to bring our local natural treasures back to life. But funding is just as key.

L.A. County voters provided it by passing Proposition A back in 1992 and again in 1996, making available $859 million total. We're confident residents feel their tax dollars have been well spent so far -- and we know they'll like what’s to come.