Yearly Archives: 2008

Dry Dock Storage And Boat Launching Services Provided To Del Rey 77 Boat Owners

The Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors announces effective immediately, Seamark Marine will provide temporary boat moving and launching services to boat owners who store their boats in the dry dock storage facility at Del Rey 77, located at 13575 Mindanao Way in Marina del Rey. Del Rey 77 boat owners should contact the Department of Beaches and Harbors at (310) 305-9503 for boat storage rental or access to their vessels.

Boaters that want to launch their vessels from Del Rey 77 Monday through Saturday should contact Seamark at (310) 301-8303. For Sunday launching, boaters may contact Seamark on Friday or Saturday, and the vessels will be placed in the water Saturday night; these boaters can use and return their boats on Sunday to the water area at Del Rey 77, and Seamark will retrieve the boats for storage on Monday morning.

Seamark will also offer Del Rey 77 boat owners the option of launching from the Seamark hoist located at 13441 Mindanao Way in Marina del Rey at no extra charge, which can hoist vessels up to 26 feet in length. Hours of operation for Seamark are Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.; Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.; and closed on Sunday.

Interim Director And Chief Medical Director To Be Appointed To Department Of Health Services

Effective May 16, 2008, John F. Schunhoff, Ph.D., will be appointed as Interim Director and Robert G. Splawn, M.D., will serve as the Interim Chief Medical Director for the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services.

Dr. Bruce Chernof, Director and Chief Medical Officer, recently announced his resignation from County service effective May 15, 2008. Mr. Schunhoff and Dr. Splawn will serve these posts to ensure that the mission and responsibilities of this highly critical department are carried out without interruption. The Chief Executive Office is working with the Department of Human Resources to identify a highly qualified recruitment firm to conduct a nationwide search to identify candidates for the permanent position as Director of the Department of Health Services.

In these positions, Mr. Schunhoff and Dr. Splawn will operate in a collaborative manner and function as a team to address various critical issues facing the department. The Chief Executive Office will be working closely with both individuals to ensure that the County and the Department of Health Services move forward with critical initiatives, such as the Financial Stabilization and Deficit Reduction Plans, reopening Martin Luther King, Jr. Hospital, the LAC+USC Replacement Project, and restructuring departmental programs and services.

LA County Department Of Children And Family Services Looking For New Hires

The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) will host a Job Fair on Saturday, April 26, 2008, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at its Chatsworth Office located at 20151 Nordhoff Street in Chatsworth. The Job Fair is open to the public. Anyone committed to changing the lives of children by working as a Children’s Social Worker or in a supportive clerical role is invited to attend.

DCFS offers multiple positions in a variety of fields including clerical, nursing and social work. A Children’s Social Worker II can earn as much as $66,068 annually and Children’s Social Workers Trainees can earn up to $41,140 annually. Additionally, the County of Los Angeles offers an excellent benefits package, retirement plan and 10 paid holidays per year. At the Job Fair, free educational workshops will touch on topics such as the job application process and "A Day in the Life of a Social Worker."

Applications and information regarding minimum requirements for available positions can be found online at www.lacdcfs.org in the "careers" link, by calling the DCFS Job Hotline at (213) 351-6417 or by visiting DCFS Headquarters at 425 Shatto Place, Room 105, in Los Angeles. Applications and information will also be available at the Job Fair, along with technical assistance in completing the necessary forms.

Board Establishes $10,000 Reward For Information Related To Murder Of 11-Year Old Long Beach Boy

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a $10,000 reward today, at the request of Supervisor Don Knabe, for information related to a shooting incident that led to the death of an 11-year old boy in the City of Long Beach.

On Sunday, March 16, 2008, Jose Luis Garcia Bailey, 11, was standing with a group of three other individuals in front of a residence at 2024 East 15th Street in Long Beach across the street from where he lived. The four of them were talking when two males approached on foot and started shooting. Jose was fatally shot.

No one has yet been arrested in this case. The victim is not a gang member, but police believe the suspects are gang members. Investigators also believe it would be beneficial to offer a reward in this case, which may prompt reluctant witnesses to come forward and provide information to identify the individual(s) responsible for this crime.

It is important for the County of Los Angeles to display its resolve in protecting innocent citizens from appalling crimes, said Supervisor Knabe. In order to bring these suspects to justice, and demonstrate our intolerance to such deplorable crimes, I believe this reward should be established, hoping someone will come forward so that we can bring these suspects to justice.

Any person having any information related to the March 16 incident is asked to contact Detectives Russ Moss or Terri Hubert of the Long Beach Police Department – Homicide Division at (562) 570-7244.

Statement By Supervisor Knabe On Proposed 2008-2009 Los Angeles County Budget

The Chief Executive Officer’s proposal for the Los Angeles County 2008-2009 Budget rightly focuses on limiting growth of government programs in the time of a slowing economy and slowing revenue into County coffers.

For the first time in several years, we are experiencing a loss in property tax revenue from the stalled real estate market and the potential loss of state funding in many areas. However, this proposed budget reveals that Los Angeles County remains in solid financial shape and today we are not facing the widespread financial shortfalls and cutbacks that many other levels of government are currently suffering.

What we will have to keep a close eye on is the potential impact the proposed Federal and State budgets could have on the County in the year ahead. Proposed cuts in both of these budgets could potentially mean a loss of up to $500 million in funding to the County in the year ahead. Both the Federal and State budgets proposals are still very uncertain at this point, so the potential hit the County could take is unknown today. We likely will not know more about these impacts until September or October. If State and Federal budget cuts impact the County, then we will cross that bridge when we come to it. Until then, the County will move forward with our own budget proposal that is free of service cuts at this time.

As far as our budget proposal, I am very pleased to see $4.6 million in new funding for enhanced unincorporated Sheriff patrols. This means our unincorporated area residents will benefit from dozens of additional patrol deputies in the near future. Additionally, $3.3 million in new funding will be dedicated to gang prevention efforts.

Although the vast majority of our County programs and departments remain financially solvent, the ongoing deficit in the Department of Health Services is still deeply alarming and continues to loom on the horizon. With a potential structural deficit of over $700 million in the next two fiscal years, the time to act and to make difficult decisions has arrived. We must resolve this deficit without reducing health services to patients. Closing clinics and access points to healthcare is not the answer in a time when we should be opening additional clinics. We need creative decisions and a willingness to look at out-of-the-box solutions to solve this deficit and we need to make these decisions now.

LACMA’S Art Museum Council Presents 51st Annual Art & Architecture Tour

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s (LACMA) Art Museum Council (AMC) presents its 51st annual Art & Architecture tour on Sunday, April 27, 2008. One of the AMC’s most popular events, the Art & Architecture tour grants access to some of the finest homes and private art collections in Los Angeles. This year, the ticketed and docent-guided tour will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and includes a Special Projects boutique located at one of the homes, where attendees may purchase unique works of art created especially for the tour.

To take the tour, one must first become a LACMA member. Benefits of membership include free admission to LACMA, exclusive exhibition previews, discounts on special programs and gifts, and much more. For information about becoming a LACMA member please call (323) 857-6151.

General admission to the Art & Architecture Tour is $150; patron tickets for luxury mini-bus, sedan, and limousine service can also be purchased. Ticket-holders at these levels will enjoy access to one additional home, plus chauffeured front of the line access to all homes via luxury minibus (Gold, $350), sedan (Emerald, $2,500), or limousine (Platinum, $5,000); and a gourmet lunch. Tickets can be purchased by calling (323) 857- 6287. All proceeds benefit LACMA and help fund museum programs and acquisitions.

Artworks on display in the homes include works by Peter Alexander, John Baldessari, Jim Dine, David Hockney, Jenny Holzer, Elsworth Kelly, Paul McCarthy, Robert Motherwell, Bruce Nauman, Sigmar Polke, and many others. The homes on this year’s Art & Architecture tour include:

A dazzling modern home, nestled in Santa Monica’s idyllic Rustic Canyon and filled with a superb collection of contemporary art from internationally known artists.

A Mediterranean villa, situated on a beautiful Bel Air hilltop, with city and ocean views outside, and contemporary and American Impressionist art inside.

A Trousdale mid-century home with airliner views of the city, authentic mid-century furnishings and works by current contemporary artists.

A tastefully remodeled traditional home, located in Beverly Hills, filled with Asian art and photo-realistic paintings.

A newly built Spanish-style home in Brentwood, seamlessly incorporating the owners’ collection of California and European artists.

Bonus home, to be viewed by upper-level ticket-holders only: a contemporary home, filled with Asian art, antique carvings and glass, located on one of the bird streets above the Sunset Strip.

Local Students To Help Beautify Los Angeles County Though Upcoming Earth Day Events

The County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works will once again host a series of Earth Day Events in conjunction with the Board of Supervisors throughout the months of April and May. These enriching events allow students, community groups and civic leaders to work together to plant native trees and shrubs and to educate the students on how to preserve the beautified greenery and to protect the local watersheds. Some events will also have students participate in eco-fairs and recycling demonstrations.
Each Earth Day event is filled with educational elements to help students understand how their everyday activities can affect our environment. The following is a summary of each upcoming Earth Day Event.
Date:
April 21, 2008
Time: 9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Supervisorial District:
Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, Third District
Location:
Studio City
Along Valleyheart Drive between Fulton Avenue and Coldwater Canyon Avenue
Activities:
Planting 294 California Native Flowers and Trees
Participating School:
Carpenter Elementary School
Number of Students and Grade Level:
65 – 4th grade students Date:
April 23, 2008
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Supervisorial District:
Supervisor Michael Antonovich, Fifth District Location:
Unincorporated Altadena Adjacent to Las Flores Debris Basin
Activities:
Planting 344 California Native Shrubs and Trees Participating School:
Loma Alta Elementary School
Number of Students and Grade Level:
71 – 5th and 6th grade students Date:
April 24, 2008
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Supervisorial District:
Supervisor Gloria Molina, First District Location:
La Primaria Elementary School 4220 Gilman Road
El Monte, CA 91732 Activities:
Planting 299 California Native Flowers and Trees, L.A. County Fire "No Way Out" booth and other educational booths, Watershed Model Presentation
Participating School:
La Primaria Elementary School Number of Students and Grade Level:
60 – 2nd and 3rd grade students Date:
April 24, 2008
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Supervisorial District:
Supervisor Yvonne Burke, Second District
Location:
Ballona Creek At the intersection of Sepulveda Boulevard and Ballona Creek on the southeast bank of the creek.
Activities:
Planting 234 native shrubs and trees and painting reusable grocery bags. Participating School:
Farragut Elementary School
Number of Students and Grade Level:
48 – 3rd and 4th grade students
Date:
May 22, 2008
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Supervisorial District:
Supervisor Don Knabe, Fourth District
Location:
Hill Classical Middle School
1100 Iroquois Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90815
Activities:
Planting 322 California Native Shrubs and Trees, Eco-Fair, essay and photo contest.
Participating School:
Hill Classical Middle School
Number of Students and Grade Level:
TBD

Be Ready For An Earthquake

Just Be Ready: Prepare Together – Emergency Preparedness Campaign Outlines 10 Essential Items For Your Earthquake Kit

A recent study by a group of earthquake experts states that there is a 67% chance that a magnitude 6.7 or larger earthquake will strike the greater Los Angeles area sometime in the next 30 years. Los Angeles County would like to encourage people to evaluate their disaster readiness.

The 10 Essential Items, as recommended by the Emergency Survival Program in LA County’s Office of Emergency Management, include:

1. Water

2. Food

3. Cash and Important Documents

4. Clothes

5. Flashlight

6. First Aid Kit

7. Medicine

8. Radio

9. Toiletries

10. Tools

These essential items will help ensure that people have access to basic essentials when other resources may not be available during an emergency. It is also vital that families put together a Communications Plan, in case they are separated or at work or school when a disaster strikes. This plan should include information on how to contact each other and designate a safe place to meet.

For more information on earthquake and disaster readiness, call (866) 999- 5228 or visit www.publichealth.lacounty.gov

Bilingual Public Health staff is available Monday to Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Los Angeles County Funds 124 Summer Internships At 87 Arts Organizations

Los Angeles County, through its Arts Commission, has given grants totaling $496,000 to 87 performing, literary, media and municipal arts organizations throughout Los Angeles County to support paid internships for college undergraduates in summer 2008.

Descriptions of and contacts for the 124 internship positions are posted on the Arts Commission’s web site. Go to www.lacountyarts.org, click on Internships, then 2008 Internship Positions or click here to download the information.

Interested undergraduates should apply directly to the organization offering the internship, not the Arts Commission. College undergraduates either resident in or attending school in Los Angeles County are eligible for the internships.

Interns are paid $350 per week for ten weeks and take part in educational and arts networking activities. Through the program, interns gain a deeper understanding of the work involved in nonprofit arts administration and the role of the arts in a community, and develop business skills that can be put to use in their future careers. Internship host organizations help mold and shape potential new workers in the arts field who may go on to arts leadership positions on staffs, boards or as volunteers.

Organizations in the County’s Fourth Supervisorial District offering arts internships include: Arts & Services For Disabled, Inc., City of Torrance, Friends of the Cerritos Center, International City Theatre, Long Beach Symphony Association, Musical Theatre West, and Public Corporation for the Arts/Arts Council for Long Beach.

Examples of County internship experiences include:

– An operations/education intern to work at the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra to plan and prepare for the 2008-2009 season of artistic, production, and education activities, working closely with the Artistic Department staff to gain a hands-on experience in preparing and coordinating multiple aspects of concert production, artist relations, and programs.

– A music production & administrative assistant to work at Arts & Services for the Disabled to support programs for students with development disabilities. The summer project will culminate with the intern and ASD students creating and producing a musical piece for broadcast by ASD that will potentially air on local state and/or community college radio stations and online.

– An education associate to work at the Friends of the Cerritos Center to assist in the development and implementation of the Center’s educational programs for youth. The intern will gain hands-on experience in arts instruction activities, including curriculum development for the Professional Development Workshops for Teachers program, production of the annual Educator’s Handbook, and general implementation and program administration.

First Measles Case In 2008 Diagnosed In LA County

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has confirmed that a young child has been diagnosed with measles. Currently there is no identified source of the disease and the investigation is ongoing. The child was not vaccinated against measles.

At this time, we have not identified any additional cases, but we are continuing to investigate as we try to determine where and how this patient contracted the disease. We are alerting doctors to be on alert for any patients that might have symptoms associated with measles. What we do know is that the patient was not vaccinated against this highly preventable disease, said Jonathan E. Fielding, MD, MPH, Director of Public Health and County Health Officer. This is the first childhood case of measles in Los Angeles County since 2002. The child with measles in that year also was not vaccinated and acquired the disease during foreign travel.

Public Health would like to remind parents how important childhood immunizations are to everyone’s health. Because of vaccines, there are very few cases of measles in the United States today. Parents concerned about vaccine safety should speak to their child’s health care provider.

A Note About Vaccine Safety:

Recent media attention regarding vaccines and questions of a possible link to autism has focused on a mercury-containing preservative called thimerosal. However,

– According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and other leading medical study groups, thimerosal has never been proven to cause any harm.

– None of the vaccines recommended for children age 6 and under, except for certain doses of inactivated influenza vaccine, contain thimerosal, and have not since 1999. In the state of California, thimerosal-free vaccine must be used in children under the age of three. The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, along with several other vaccines, has never contained thimerosal.

– Currently available childhood vaccines have an excellent safety record. There is no scientific data to link vaccines to such serious conditions such as autism.