Calendar of Events

Tues., Oct. 23, 2007
Starts at 9:30 a.m.
L.A. County Board of
Supervisors Meeting
Public Hearing
500 W. Temple St., Rm. 381B
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Wed., Oct. 24, 2007
Starts at 9:00 a.m.
L.A. County Dept. of Mental Health Community Forum
The California Endowment
"Yosemite Hall"
1000 N. Alameda St.
Los Angeles, CA 90022

Thurs., Oct. 25, 2007
Starts at 9:30 a.m.
Metro Board of Directors Meeting
1 Gateway Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Sat., Oct. 27, 2007 &
Sun. Oct. 28, 2007
Starts at 11:00 a.m.
The 8^th Annual
"Festival de la Gente"
Historic 6^th St. Bridge
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Tues., Oct. 30, 2007
Starts at 9:30 a.m.
L.A. County Board of
Supervisors Meeting
500 W. Temple St., Rm. 381B
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Tues., Sept. 30, 2007
6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
3^rd Annual MALDEF
Los Angeles Awards Gala
Century Plaza Hotel
2025 Avenue of the Stars
Los Angeles, CA 90067

Wed., Oct. 31, 2007
Halloween

Sat., Nov. 3, 2007
Starts at 10 a.m.
Roosevelt Park Pool
Rededication Ceremony
7600 Graham Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90001

Tues., Nov. 6, 2007
Election Day

Tues., Nov. 6, 2007
Starts at 9:30 a.m.
L.A. County Board of
Supervisors Meeting
500 W. Temple St., Rm. 381B
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Thurs., Nov. 8, 2007
Starts at 7 p.m.
*Info at (646) 429-1712
The 17^th Annual Hispanic
Business Magazine
"Entrepreneur of the Year"
Awards Gala
Marriot Downtown Hotel
333 S. Figueroa St.
Los Angeles, CA 90071

Sun., Nov., 11 2007
Starts at 1 p.m.
*Tickets at (213) 700-8751
Ehecatl Dance Co.'s
"Cena-Baile-Show"
Quiet Cannon
901 N. Via San Clemente
Montebello, CA 90640

Mon., Nov. 12, 2007
Veterans Day
* County buildings closed *

Tues., Nov. 13, 2007
Starts at 1 p.m.
L.A. County Board of
Supervisors Meeting
500 W. Temple St., Rm. 381B
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Tues., Nov. 20, 2007
Starts at 9:30 a.m.
L.A. County Board of
Supervisors Meeting
500 W. Temple St., Rm. 381B
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Thurs., Nov. 22, 2007
Thanksgiving Day
* County buildings closed *

Fri., Nov. 23, 2007
* County buildings closed *

Tues., Nov. 27, 2007
Starts at 1 p.m.
L.A. County Board of
Supervisors Meeting
Public Hearing
500 W. Temple St., Rm. 381B
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Wed., Nov. 28, 2007
Starts at 10:30 a.m.
Fitness Zone Launch
Belvedere Park
on N. Mednik Ave.
between E. 1^st St. and
E. César Chávez Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90022

Thurs., Nov. 29, 2007
Starts at 9:30 a.m.
Metro Board of
Directors Meeting
1 Gateway Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 9002

Tues., Dec. 4, 2007
Starts at 9:30 a.m.
L.A. County Board of
Supervisors Meeting
500 W. Temple St., Rm. 381B
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Tues., Dec. 4, 2007
Sundown
Hanukkah begins

Mon., Dec. 10, 2007
* Property taxes due! *

Tues., Dec. 11, 2007
Starts at 9:30 a.m.
L.A. County Board of
Supervisors Meeting
500 W. Temple St., Rm. 381B
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Wed., Dec. 12, 2007
Sundown
Hanukkah ends

Tues., Dec. 18, 2007
Starts at 9:30 a.m.
L.A. County Board of
Supervisors Meeting
500 W. Temple St., Rm. 381B
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Mon., Dec. 24, 2007
Christmas Eve

Tues., Dec. 25, 2007
Christmas Day
* County buildings closed *

Mon., Dec. 31, 2007
New Years Eve

Tues., Jan 1, 2008
New Year's Day
* County buildings closed *

October 18, 2007 -- Volume III, Issue VII

PARK VIEW TERRACE SENIOR APARTMENTS OPEN

Building high-quality housing for seniors remains a top priority. But with the Southeast Los Angeles region growing more densely-populated--and with homes remaining very pricey despite the recent market downturn--achieving this goal becomes more challenging each year. So we were very pleased to celebrate the opening of the Park View Terrace senior apartment complex in Bell Gardens.

The gorgeous new facility provides 72 affordable one-bedroom and two-bedroom units--and for the next 55 years, only low-income seniors will be eligible to apply for one. Park View Terrace also comes equipped with a 5,150 square-foot senior center. It features a gym with new exercise machines; a spacious recreational room with a new pool table; and a pretty, spacious outdoor area adjacent to the main residence building.

This senior apartment complex was made possible thanks to collaboration between the City of Bell Gardens and L.A. County, which supplied over $4.2 million in housing funds. Members of the Bell Gardens City Council deserve to be commended for supporting this affordable housing complex. Many municipalities are tempted to greenlight only market-rate projects but by seeing Park View Terrace to fruition, Bell Gardens leaders have demonstrated a true commitment to supplying affordable housing. And many thanks also to National CORE--the developer of this project.

STARBUCKS OPENS IN EAST L.A.

We are proud to announce that East L.A. is home to a new Startbucks coffee house! Located at the corner of E. 3^rd St. and S. Gage Ave., this Starbucks is the latest milestone in our effort to revitalize the area. Our goal is to bring to East L.A. the kinds of big chain businesses you can easily find in other neighborhoods while simultaneously helping local, existing entrepreneurs achieve even greater success.

Oftentimes, businesses like Starbucks provide a financial spark that ignites the local economy and encourages other merchants to invest in the area. That's certainly been our experience with the East L.A. Civic Center Plaza just down Third St., at the corner of S. Mednik Ave. And once the Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension light rail line opens in 2009, we anticipate even more economic activity. Residence from all over L.A. County will be able to access East L.A. quickly and easily--and without a car.

In the meantime, we've delivering the kind of amenities East L.A. residence have asked us to supply--like the new Starbucks. And judging by the early morning activity there, it's a big hit! Many thanks to Eddie Torres and Lissette Mendoza of the East L.A. Chamber of Commerce along with Sarah Magaña-Withers of the Charles Company for helping make this project materialize. The East L.A. Starbucks is located at 3853 E. 3^rd St., in East Los Angeles, CA 90063.

DECREASE HOME ENERGY COSTS UP TO 80%!

If you live in an unincorporated area of L.A. County, you may qualify to participate in the Green Grant Program. Green Grant Program recipients will receive up to $20,000 to install a 3 kilowatt photovoltaic system in their home. These units typically cost $26,000--and they actually generate electricity. In fact, if no electricity is used in a home with a photovoltaic system, the electricity will flow back into the grid causing the energy meter to go in reverse! Since local power companies provide rebate incentives and a 3 kilowatt photovoltaic system generally qualifies for an average of $8,000, homeowners investing in a $26,000 system actually will spend only $18,000 total.

Typically, homeowners will see energy savings from 30 percent to 80 percent within a year. And each photovoltaic unit will eliminate 5,549 pounds of carbon dioxide emission in the first year of use. Green Grant Program recipients will be selected on a first-come, first served basis. Individual interested should call (213) 833-7988 ext. 24 and ask for Patricia Mejia. Or you can go to www.enterprisecommunity.org.

L.A. COUNTY FAIR QUILT AWARD FOR RUTH KNIESLEY

Over one million people attended the 8^th Annual L.A. County Fair at the Pomona Fairplex this year. An annual indicator that summer is over and fall has begun, the fair features plenty of fun for the whole family: A petting zoo, live entertainment, and a wide variety of food to sample. It also features a quilting competition. I entered my own creation in the contest (pictured at left). But, this year's winner of the Gloria Molina Achievement Award in Quilting went to Ruth Kniesley of Rancho Cucamonga (pictured at bottom). She actually received four awards at this year's fair:

Two first-place blue ribbons, a red ribbon for second place, and a white ribbon for third place. A quilter for the past 40 years. Ruth Kniesley also has volunteered in the Tapestry exhibit at the fair for the last 12 years. Thank you, Ruth--and congratulations!

WEST WHITTIER BLVD. BEAUTIFICATIONS PROCEED

Supervisor Molina initiated the Whittier Boulevard Beatification Task Force in partnership with the City of Whittier and Supervisor Don Knabe earlier this year since the boulevard falls under shared jurisdictions between the County and City. In response to local residents and merchants, code enforcement and graffiti abatement have been the top priority. So we’ve invested more time, energy, and funds to tackle these problems—and we’re making good progress.

Approximately 55 code enforcement cases from the 10400 to the 11640 block of West Whittier Boulevard are either being addressed or have received compliance! For more information about code enforcement, contact (323) 881-7058 or 211. To report graffiti, call the L.A. County Graffiti Hotline at (800) 675-4357 for graffiti removal within 48 hours.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE? 'CUT IT OUT!'

Experts estimate that one in three women will suffer from domestic violence at the hands of an intimate partner at some point in their life. Though the number of males who suffer from domestic violence is much lower, they, too, can be victims. And scores of children grow up learning to normalize domestic violence--which increases the chances of them becoming abusers of victims themselves.

This cycle must stop. In this spirit, the L.A. County Commission for Women recently began the "Cut It Out!" domestic violence awareness campaign with a big kick-off at Modem Salon in Silverlake neighborhood in Los Angeles. We were joined by L.A. City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo and L.A. City Council President Eric Garcetti.

The campaign's approach is unique: To spread the word to the hairdressing community that they are in perfect position to spot domestic violence warning signs--and get their clients the help they need. After all, it is a time-honored tradition to tell your hairdresser things you might not ordinarily share with a stranger. Through this campaign, we hope more hairdressers in the L.A. County area will learn to spot domestic violence warnings signs and begin referring clients to the domestic violence hotline: (800) 799-SAFE. Many thanks to Olivia Rodriguez and Karen Dávalos--who represent the First District on the L.A. County Commission for Women--for initiating this campaign. For more information, go to www.cutitout.org.

SENIOR SERVICES HOTLINE: (800) 510-2020

It is becoming more common each year for friends and relatives of seniors to take on the responsibility of becoming their primary caregivers. But the job is challenging--and those without experience caring for seniors may find the task both daunting and confusing. Luckily, we can help. Seniors and their caregivers should not hesitate to call the Senior Service Hotline at (800) 510-2020. It's open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Staff at the hotline speak English, Spanish, Korean, Tagalog, Chinese, and Vietnamese.

Operators are ready and waiting to offer information on existing local resources and refer callers to existing programs. They will even follow up with you to make sure you've received the help you need.

VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE OCT. 22^ND!

Unregistered voters intending to vote in the Nov. 6^th elections must register by Oct. 22^nd. Registration forms are available at locations throughout L.A. County, including libraries, fire stations, city clerk offices, and any local post office. You also can sign up online at www.lavote.net by clicking on the "voter registration" icon. To qualify, voters must be 18 years old by Election Day and a U.S. Citizen. Also, you cannot be in prison or on parole for a felony. For more information, call the L.A. County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk's Election Information Section at (562) 466-1310 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.