Whittier Daily News back issues from May 2009:
It's Politics: Ron Calderon's anti dog-fighting bill moves forward
May 01, 2009; ... Editor's note: It's Politics reports Saturdays on the ins andouts of Whittier-area politics and city government. The second time is the charm for state Sen. Ron Calderon's antidog-fighting bill. The Senate Public Safety Committee on a 6-0 vote Wednesdayapproved his ...
Water utilities plan to hold rates steady despite increased costs
May 01, 2009; ... LAKEWOOD - Officials from local water agencies said they plan tohold the line on rates for now although their cost of getting wateris going to jump astronomically. The board of the Water Replenishment District Friday voted toincrease its assessment for pumping ground water by ...
Whittier flies flag honoring veterans
May 01, 2009; ... WHITTIER - Locals who've been wounded or become ill while servingin the military were honored Friday in a special Silver Star flag-raising ceremony at City Hall. Members of American Legion Post 51, city staff and militaryfamily members gathered at the base of the flag pole in ...
Former teller admits to robbing La Mirada bank
May 01, 2009; ... LA MIRADA - A Whittier woman who robbed a La Mirada bank with acell phone held to one ear got sentenced to probation and mustperform community service. Monica Soto, 22, pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery at herThursday hearing at Downey Superior Court. She was sentenced ...
Dia del Nino celebration at Whittier Library
May 01, 2009 ... Children of all ages and their families are invited to WhittierPublic Library's first Dia del Nino/Dia de Libros (Day of the Child/Day of Books) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at the library, 7344 S.Washington Ave. El Dia del Ninos celebrates children, pays homage to ...
Lions Club in Whittier joins Special Olympics
May 01, 2009 ... Lions Clubs International and Special Olympics have teamed up toestablish a third Special Olympics Lions Club in the United Statesin Whittier. Albert Brandel, Lions Clubs International president, will chartera new Special Olympics of Los Angeles (SOLA) Lions Club at an eventfrom ...
Golf tournament to help students with tuition
May 01, 2009 ... The 27th Annual Monsignor Jinks Golf Tournament sponsored by St.Paul of the Cross will take place at 10 a.m. with cocktails from 5to 6 p.m. and the awards dinner at 6 p.m. Friday at La Mirada GolfCourse, 15501 Alicante ...
Poetry Reading Series Sunday with open mic
May 01, 2009 ... Come to the opening of the Poetry Reading Series from 2:30 to4:30 p.m. Sunday at the Christopher Wahl Youth Center, 12401 SlausonAve. The series opening will feature readings ...
Deputies search for assault suspect in complex
May 01, 2009 ... Deputies search for assault suspect in complex NORWALK - Deputies served a search warrant Friday night at acomplex where an 82-year-old woman was sexually assaulted earlier inthe day by an intruder who broke into her condo. Dogs sniffed out a trail that led to another ...
City to provide business loans for facade face-lifts
May 01, 2009; ... PICO RIVERA - The city will use grant money to give buildings onWhittier Boulevard a face-lift. About $120,000 will be used for loans to building owners on astretch of several businesses on the north side of WhittierBoulevard between Durfee Avenue and San Gabriel Place, where ...
VOLUNTEER NOW: The David and Margaret Youth and Family Services, 1350 Third St., La Verne
May 02, 2009; ... The David and Margaret Home for Children was begun as anorphanage in 1910 by the Woman's Home Missionary Society of theMethodist Episcopal Church. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Kuns of La Verne had donated an old hotel on17.5 acres and the facility was named after Mr. Kuns' parents andson ....
2000 Pico Rivera massacre back in courts
May 02, 2009; ... PICO RIVERA - It was a crime that shocked the community. In the early morning hours of July 21, 2000, an intruder entereda home on Marjorie Street and slew four members of a family whilethey slept. Richard Angel Flores, 42, and three of his children, Richard, 17,Sylvia, 13, ...
Sunday Tribute: Young's hands carved wood and a fulfilled life
May 02, 2009; ... WHITTIER - Life gave Charles Leslie Young plenty of twists andturns, but he adapted, one way or the other, to them all, managingto remain constructive and imaginative for 98 years. Young died April 24 of multiple affects of old age. He was born Oct. 14, 1911 in Nashville, ...
Hacienda Heights shelter event pampers women in need
May 02, 2009; ... HACIENDA HEIGHTS - Life for Claudia Van de Ven and her childrenhasn't been easy lately. After being homeless for several months, she turned to HisNesting Place, a Long Beach-area women's shelter, where she hasslowly been getting back on her feet. On Saturday her efforts ...
Officials watching swine flu virus closely
May 02, 2009; ... It started out as a mild strain of influenza in Kansas. But injust over two years, the 1918 Spanish flu spread across the globe,killing as many as 50 million people worldwide and 675,000 in theUnited States. Today, since its initial outbreak in Mexico last month, swine flu- a ...
Golf tournament to aid Whittier Swordsmen Association
May 02, 2009 ... The first Tom Klemens Memorial Golf Tournament to benefit theSwordsmen Athletic Association of St. Paul High School and honor thememory of a St. Paul alumnus will take place at 1 p.m. May 11 atCalifornia Country Club, 1509 S. Workman Mill Road. The event will include a four-person ...
Laugh Out Loud Variety Show at Whittier Shannon Center
May 02, 2009 ... Tickets are now available for the Laugh Out Loud Variety Showpresented by Soroptimist International of Whittier with a silentauction at 6 p.m. and the show at 7 p.m. Wednesday at The Ruth B.Shannon Center for the Performing Arts at Whittier College, 6760Painter Ave. The cost is ...
Art and Garden Tour set for this afternoon at the Arts Colony of La Mirada
May 02, 2009 ... The Arts Colony of La Mirada invites the public to an Art andGarden Tour from 1 to 4 p.m. today at the city of La Mirada'sCommunity Gardens, 13518 Biola Ave. This is the third year for this popular event, which celebrateslovely gardens and art in La Mirada. After purchasing a ...
Los Nietos School District tops in English-learners
May 03, 2009; ... WEST WHITTIER - Recent state test scores show that the tiny four-school Los Nietos School District is seeing quite a bit of successwhere many elementary school districts aren't - among its English-language learners. Over the years, non-native English speakers have received ...
Spina bifida patients learn how to play
May 03, 2009; ... LA MIRADA - You can be in a wheel chair and play tennis. That wasthe lesson for 16 patients of Children's Hospital of Orange Countyin a tennis clinic held Sunday at Biola University. Biola tennis coach Dee Henry held the clinic for the group, ages8-21. The group has spina ...
Puppet show at Whittier Elementary tackles sensitive issue of divorce
May 03, 2009; ... WEST WHITTIER - Her name was Brenda, and her parents weredivorced. So when she asked kids at West Whittier Elementary School duringan assembly Thursday whether they wanted to ask questions aboutbeing in a divorced family, the hands flew up. "Is it hard going back and forth ...
Mom's the Word: Handling it all with humor, grace
May 03, 2009; ... Mom's voice. It's deep and throaty, and so masculinetelemarketers have addressed her as "sir" on the phone. When shelaughs, it's downright operatic. And my mother laughs. A lot. Laughter is her defense against the storms and upheavals she'sseen in her 80 years of life: a world ...
School News Briefs: Middle school bands get top marks at festival
May 03, 2009 ... The orchestra and wind ensemble from East Whittier Middle Schoolreceived top honors last weekend at the 2009 Heritage Festival inSeattle. East Whittier was one of only two middle-school bands invited tothe festival. The wind ensemble took first place while the orchestra ...
Cinco de Mayo draws crowd to Whittier Narrows
May 03, 2009; ... SOUTH EL MONTE - Thousands of people descended on WhittierNarrows Recreation Area on Sunday to celebrate the Mexican holidayof Cinco de Mayo with a plethora of games, giveways and music. The holiday, which is recognized on the fifth of May, celebratesthe Mexican Army's defeat of ...
California needs to ramp up college education, study finds
May 03, 2009; ... A new report estimates that California will have a shortage of 1million college graduates by the year 2025. The report by the Public Policy Institute of California suggeststhat employers would have to move jobs outside the state to findqualified workers, or bring in employees from ...
Clarifying issues on seat belts, child safety seats
May 04, 2009; ... May marks the "CLICK-IT or TICKET" seat belt campaign for theCalifornia Highway Patrol. California law requires that drivers and passengers ride properlyrestrained in a seat belt or child safety seat. Children MUST be secured in an appropriate child safety seat inthe back ...
Dispute triggers Pico Rivera shooting
May 04, 2009 ... An argument between two men led to a shooting early Mondaymorning. The victim wasn't hit. A 37-year-old man and a man in his 20s argued shortly aftermidnight in the 9000 block of Slauson Avenue. The younger man got into a car and, as he was driving away, firedat ...
Friends of Library plan used-book extravaganza
May 04, 2009 ... The Friends of Whittier Public Library's semi-annual used booksale takes place May 14-16. There will be thousands of titles andfantastic specials at the Friends' Book Store, 6703 Comstock Ave. inWhittier. From 4 to 8 p.m. the first night, May 14, is for members only.Membership ...
Learn how to cope in a down business climate
May 04, 2009 ... Come learn about employment strategies in a down economy fromnoon to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13 at El Rodeo Restaurant, 8825Washington Blvd. The business roundtable, sponored in conjunction with the PicoRivera Chamber of Commerce, is the third in a series of lunch ...
Boles to be seated as Assistance League leader
May 04, 2009 ... Dedicated Whittier volunteer Virginia Boles will be installed aspresident of the Assistance League of Whittier for the 2009-2010club year at the group's annual luncheon starting at 10 a.m. onWednesday, May 13 at Friendly Hills Country Club, 8500 S. VillaverdeDrive. Presiding at ...
Frank Girardot: Vin Scully is a cut above the rest
May 04, 2009 ... Somewhere in the past decade I gave up on professional baseball. I don't know if it was the meatheaded, ill-mannered, less-than-likeable ignoramuses who play the game, or the idiotic commissionerwho turned a blind-eye to rampant steroid abuse. Of course Commissioner Bud Selig ...
Uptown Whittier farmers market moves to new site
May 04, 2009; ... WHITTIER - The weekly Uptown Certified Farmers Market has movedfrom its 20-year spot at Greenleaf Avenue and Bailey Street. The market moved to the city parking lot at the southwest cornerof Philadelphia Street and Bright Avenue as a result of pendingconstruction on the Fisher ...
Neighborhood briefs, May 5
May 04, 2009 ... WHITTIER Soroptimists will make you laugh on Wednesday At 6 p.m. Wednesday, Soroptimist International's annual Showcaseof Stars: "Laugh Out Loud" will roll into the Shannon Center, 6760Painter Ave. This popular event takes on a retro twist as the ...
Authorities hope composite drawing leads to robbery, rape suspect
May 04, 2009; ... NORWALK - Detectives are asking for the public's help inidentifying the man who broke into a condo Friday then robbed andraped an 82-year-old woman who is legally blind. A composite was also released of the suspect who got away with anundisclosed amount. The home-invasion ...
Gloria Allred files suit on octuplets' behalf
May 04, 2009; ... LOS ANGELES - Attorney Gloria Allred filed a lawsuit Mondaydemanding a guardian be assigned to steward the money generated bythe octuplet infants borne to Octomom Nadya Suleman. Allred called a press conference at her Mid-Wilshire district lawoffice to announce the suit was filed ...
Rotary sponors youth leadership training
May 04, 2009 ... The Rotary Youth Leadership Awards program recently saw 18 areahigh school juniors from Whittier, California, Pioneer and La Sernahigh schools travel to Idyllwild Pines in the San Jacinto Mountainsfor a weekend of leadership training. About 180 teens made the trip. Sponsored by the ...
Trike-a-Thon raises money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
May 04, 2009; ... WHITTIER - About 50 helmeted preschool and kindergartners pedaledin circles on the blacktop of Faith Lutheran School Friday as theirparents, teachers and fellow students cheered them on during theschool's sixth annual Trike-a-Thon. They rode to raise money for St. Jude Children's ...
Pico Rivera and Whittier to rely on voluntary cutbacks, see no need for water rationing
May 04, 2009; ... Drought? What drought? Not here. At least most of the water utilities won't be imposing anyrationing on water use by their customers. The reason is that the cities of Pico Rivera and Whittier, PicoWater District and Suburban Water Systems receive little, if nowater from the ...
Trio of charities provide opportunities for Pasadena-area youth
May 04, 2009; ... PASADENA - Three Pasadena nonprofits reject the idea of adepressing future, believing instead that tomorrow's prosperity isrooted in the success of its local "at-risk" teens. "Wagging a finger and saying 'Don't do this' is ineffective,"said Trina Smith, executive director of Teen ...
Business forum to set youths up in local jobs
May 05, 2009 ... The Southeast Area Social Service Funding Authority (SASSFA) islooking to place youths in local businesses immediately and over thesummer, either as a direct hire, partially subsidized On the JobTraining (OJT), or fully subsidized summer youth program. These government-funded ...
Musicians' workshop on tap for Saturday
May 05, 2009 ... Come out for the Whittier Musicians' Workshop's 23rd annual freepublic concert to celebrate National Music Week at 7 p.m. Saturdayat Hillcrest Congregational Church, 2000 W. Road in ...
'A Grain of Sand' free screening set Thursday
May 05, 2009 ... The community is invited to a free screening of the movie, "Viewfrom a Grain of Sand," at 7 p.m. Thursday at St. Matthias EpiscopalChurch, 7056 Washington Ave. The movie is a harrowing, thought-provoking yet intimate portrailof Afghan women's history over the ...
Cinco de Mayo party on tap for Friday
May 05, 2009 ... The Whittier Elks Lodge No. 1258 will be having a Cinco de Mayocelebration from 6 to 11:30 p.m. Friday at the lodge, 13620 WhittierBlvd. Hosts for the evening will be Bill Covell and Darrel Taylor andwill feature a buffet of ropa vieja (shredded beef), ...
Town hall meeting at the East Whittier Woman's Club to discuss 'at- risk youths'
May 02, 2009 ... Bridge of Faith and SPIRITT Family Services will discuss thefuture of at-risk youths at a town hall meeting from 3 to 5 p.m.Wednesday at the East Whittier Woman's Club, 14148 E. Second St. The guest panel will include Irene Redondo-Churchward fromSPIRITT, Julie ...
Two seminars at the Whittier Public Library to help those unemployed
May 02, 2009 ... Learn how to navigate the unemployment department at one ofWhittier Public Library's free seminars on "How to Thrive (not justsurvive) During Changing Times: Seven Steps to Being Gainfully Un-Employed." The first seminar is from 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday at the WhittwoodBranch, 10537 ...
Little Lake schools make beautiful music
May 02, 2009; ... SANTA FE SPRINGS - They didn't cause the state's financial woes,and they couldn't have predicted how much the state would try to cutfrom local school budgets next year. But supporters of the 5,000-student Little Lake City SchoolDistrict are prepared to stretch their wallets to the ...
South Hills man arrested for firebombing his own home
May 02, 2009; ... WEST COVINA - A South Hills homeowner is in custody afterallegedly firebombing his own home in February, officials said. Robert Ho, 51, was arrested Friday on suspicion of felony arsonafter he came in for an interview with police at the West CovinaPolice Department, Lt. Dan Brooks ...
Santa Fe Springs business forum to set youths up in local jobs
May 03, 2009 ... The Southeast Area Social Service Funding Authority (SASSFA) islooking to place youths in local businesses immediately and over thesummer, either as a direct hire, partially subsidized On the JobTraining (OJT), or fully subsidized summer youth program. These government-funded ...
Rio Hondo Symphony is seeking new members
May 03, 2009 ... The Rio Hondo Symphony Association is seeking new members to makepossible another season of four admission-free concerts performedfor the benefit of the entire community. Memberships begin at $20. Anyone who contributes $150 or more ...
Whittier Dial-A-Ride offering gift cards for Mother's Day
May 03, 2009 ... Whittier Dial-A-Ride cards make great gifts for moms, aunts andother special women this Mother's Day. The cards come in $5 and $10denominations and can be easily tucked into a greeting card. The cards may be purchased at the Whittier Senior Center, 13225Walnut St.; the Parnell ...
Whittier New Century Singers seek new female members
May 03, 2009 ... The New Century Singers Whittier Women's Chorus is now openwithout auditions to women who love to sing and perform. Rehearsals are from 9 to 11 a.m. on Wednesdays at Harmony Center,12907 Bailey St., and from 7 to 9 p.m. Sundays at the East WhittierMethodist Church, 10005 Cole ...
Applications available for 2009 Whittier Idol
May 03, 2009 ... Applications are being taken for the 2009 Whittier Idolcompetition with tryouts scheduled at 10 a.m. Saturday at theWhittier Community Center, 7630 Washington Ave. The final judging will take place at 2 p.m. June 7 at the ShannonCenter, 6760 Painter Ave., in conjunction with the ...
Writer's Club of Whittier releases balloons that carry special messages
May 03, 2009; ... WHITTIER - In the next few days or even weeks, if you find a slipof paper attached to a deflated balloon, don't throw it away. Open up the small booklet, and you may find some pearls ofwisdom. The poets in the Writers' Club of Whittier Thursday releasedabout 25 balloons ...
Glimpse of old California at Homestead Museum
May 04, 2009 ... INDUSTRY - The clocks turned back about 150 years Sunday duringthe Homestead Museum's annual Romance of the Ranchos festival. During the event, attendees got a unique glimpse of what life waslike on a California rancho during ...
Good Neighbor Senior Club to honor mothers
May 05, 2009 ... The Good Neighbor Senior Club is hosting a Mother's Day"Coronation" from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Neighborhood Center,9255 Pioneer Blvd. Nonrefundable tickets are $8. There will be door ...
Ex-Pasadena cop admits to La Habra bank robberies
May 05, 2009; ... SANTA ANA - A tearful former Pasadena police officer admittedTuesday to robbing two La Habra banks of $21,657 as the "PoliteBandit." Vincent Edward Cantu gained his FBI moniker because he apologizedto tellers while robbing them. As part of a plea bargain, Cantu, 45, of ...
City tightens laws for sex offenders
May 05, 2009; ... PICO RIVERA - Council members took steps last week to tightenrestrictions on sex offenders living in the city. "The council has taken a great interest in this issue as manycities have," Assistant City Attorney Matt Gorman said. "It's notfor punishment, but it's for public safety." ...
Whittier doctor in tax-evasion case starts prison sentence
May 05, 2009; ... WHITTIER - A 73-year-old doctor who bilked the government out ofnearly $1 million in health care fraud started his prison sentenceTuesday, authorities said. Eugene O'Donnell, of La Mirada, was convicted on one count of taxevasion and sentenced to 16 months in prison. He also must ...
New police station has 'topping off' ceremony
May 05, 2009; ... WHITTIER - Up about 47 feet in the air, iron workers EdwardCuevas and Patrick Wernio slowly hooked a 36-foot-long steel beaminto place. As the last one to be welded into place on Whittier's new 50,625-square-foot police station, it now was time for a party or thetraditional ...
PIH nurses receive financial aid for higher learning
May 05, 2009; ... WHITTIER - The Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital Foundationpresented $150,000 in scholarships Tuesday to 30 of the hospital'snurses in honor of National Nurses Week. Since 2004, the foundation has given nearly $1 million to nursesto help pay for tuition or other school ...
Swine flu fears not enough to shutter schools
May 05, 2009; ... San Gabriel Valley and Whittier school administrators sayprotecting students against exposure to the swine flu virus hasdefinitely kept them on their toes for the past couple of weeks, butit wasn't enough to keep kids away from the classroom. Where some Southern California schools ...
Adams recall effort hits the streets
May 05, 2009 ... Anthony Adams recall effort hits the streets By Rebecca Kimitch Staff Writer The recall of Republican Assemblyman Anthony Adams over his votefor new taxes has cleared another hurdle.After getting the thumbs up from the Secretary of State onMonday, recall ...
Frank Girardot: Octomom, Moe the Chimp and the U.S. Senate
May 06, 2009; ... Moe the Chimp and Octomom have something in common. No. The pair is not headlining with the Amazing Bearded Lady andthe Human Pin Cushion outside the pig races at a county fairsomewhere. They are part of what's driving a huge change in local reportingaround the country ....
Homeless man dead for two days before found
May 06, 2009; ... WHITTIER - No one seems to have noticed the body of a homelessman that lay behind a grocery store for at least two days. It wasn't until April 22 that the corpse of Thomas MichaelPfaffenberger was discovered when security guards called police toreport a homeless man sleeping to ...
Hazmat teams respond to 'white powder' emergency call
May 05, 2009 ... SANTA FE SPRINGS - A hazardous materials scare Tuesday afternoonin the 9500 block of Millergrove Drive turned out to be a hoax,officials said. Photo Gallery:Anthrax scare The Santa Fe Springs Department of Fire-Rescue responded to acall to assist the Whittier Police ...