All posts by admin

Summer Festival Coming Soon To South Whittier

The South Whittier Educate & Celebrate Festival is coming to Adventure Park on Saturday, August 25, Supervisor Don Knabe announced this week.

The South Whittier Educate & Celebrate Festival will be held on the last Saturday of this month and is expected to draw over one thousand people from the community.

There will be over 50 vendors in attendance that will set up informational booths in the park. There will also be a Health Fair between the hours of 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. In addition, several musical guests including Little Willie G., Los Tamaleros, Exposure, and the LA Rhythm Kings, will be performing starting a 3:00 p.m. Other activities available at the festival will include:

– Parenting Classes

– College Information: (Rio Hondo College, Whittier College, and Cerritos College)

– Local Youth Entertainment

– Arts & Crafts

– Kids Zone & Book Fair

– School Supply Giveaways (Pre-registration required)

– Free Haircuts

– School District Information: (South Whittier School District, East Whittier City School District, Whittier Union High School District, and Whittier City School District)

– Youth Boxing & Karate Demos

This will be one of the largest community events in the history of South Whittier, said Supervisor Knabe. We are thrilled by the response and excitement that the community is showing for this event.

The festival is sponsored by Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe, the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, and Care 1st Healthplan; other sponsors include: Southern California University of Health Sciences, Rose Hills, Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital, Wal-Mart, and Mitsubishi Motors of Whittier. For more information on the festival or to register for the school supply giveaways, please call (626) 333-1369.

Triple Digit Temperatures Could Cause Health Problems

The County Health Officer is issuing a Public Health Alert due to the National Weather Service’s forecast that hot weather will affect much of southwestern California today and into the week. Temperatures are expected to go above 100 degrees in parts of the desert, mountain, and valley areas of Los Angeles County. Air quality is also a concern, as the South Coast Air Quality Management District states air quality will be unhealthy for sensitive persons in the Santa Clarita Valley. Individuals living in this area with heart disease, asthma or other lung disease should minimize outdoor activity. Poor air quality can make people even more susceptible to heat-related illness.

While people don’t need to be told it’s hot outside, they do need to be reminded how to take care of themselves, children, the elderly, and their pets when the weather gets this hot," said Jonathan E. Fielding, M.D., M.P.H., Director of Public Health and Health Officer. "When the temperature is this high, prolonged sun exposure may cause dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. Also, never leave children, elderly people, or pets unattended in closed vehicles, since temperatures can quickly rise to life-threatening levels."

If you plan to be outdoors, please take precautions to protect yourself from the heat. Symptoms of dehydration and heat cramps include dizziness, fatigue, faintness, headaches, muscle cramps, and increased thirst. Individuals with these symptoms should be removed to a cooler, shaded place and given water or sport drinks. More severe symptoms such as diminished judgment, disorientation, pale and clammy skin, a rapid and weak pulse, and/or fast and shallow breathing may indicate heat exhaustion or impending heat stroke and require immediate medical attention.

The County of Los Angeles has several cooling centers available for seniors or those looking for a place to beat the heat. A list of these centers can be found at www.ladcss.org.

Marina del Rey Waterbus Cruises Into Summer Service

The young piano virtuoso, Xin Xin, will appear as soloist in the final classical concert of the 2007 Marina del Rey Summer Concert Series on Thursday August 23, 2007, 7 pm. Xin Xin will be performing with the Marina del Rey Summer Symphony, conducted by its Music Director Frank Fetta.

Arrowhead Mountain Spring Water presents the Marina del Rey Summer Concerts free to the public.

Xin Xin will perform with the Orchestra Variations on a nursery song by Ernst von Dohnanyi and Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini by Sergei Rachmaninoff. The Orchestra will be heard in John Dankworth’s Decline and Fall of a Bridge and The Firebird Suite by Igor Stravinsky, the latter honoring Stravinsky’s 125th birthday.

Xin Xin is making his third appearance with Maestro Fetta and the Marina del Rey Summer Symphony. Xin Xin has captivated audiences internationally since childhood. He attended China’s prestigious Central Conservatory of music at the age of 8. Among the orchestras with which he has performed are Edmonton Youth Orchestra, Interlochen Arts Academy Orchestra, USC University Orchestra and The Pacific Symphony Orchestra. In addition his appearances as a pianist, Xin Xin has taught master classes at universities, colleges and conservatories throughout China. Currently he is completing the artist diploma program at the Colburn Conservatory and performing as a member of the Metropolis Piano Trio.

Sponsors for the Marina del Rey Summer Concert Series are Los Angeles Supervisor Don Knabe, The Department of Beaches and Harbors, The Ritz-Carlton Marina del Rey and KUSC Classical FM 91.5. Host of the series is Rich Capparela, popular radio personality with KUSC FM.

$1.8 Million In Construction Contracts Awarded For Improvement of Long Beach Public Housing

The Los Angeles County Community Development Commission (CDC) – which functions as the County’s Housing Authority – received approval to award over $1.8 million in construction contracts for improvements at public housing developments located in Long Beach.

The Board of Supervisors, which acts as the CDC’s Board of Commissioners, approved contracts with M.L. Construction to replace gas lines at the Carmelitos family housing development and with Continental Flooring Company to replace flooring at the 155-unit Carmelitos senior housing complex. The Carmelitos housing community is comprised of 700 units of family and senior housing, an award-winning nursery and community garden, and on-site educational enrichment and family resource centers.

The improvements will be paid for from Capital Fund Program funds allocated by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Capital Fund Program is an important tool by which the Housing Authority ensures the long-term viability of the housing developments and affirms its commitment to quality of life for residents and their families. The Housing Authority utilizes Capital Funds to focus on modernizing major property systems such as roofing, plumbing, electrical, and the replacement of fixtures and appliances.

Rancho Los Amigo Named A 2007

U.S. News & World Report "Best Hospital"

Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center has been named to the 2007 U.S. News & World Report America’s Best Hospitals list. The world-renowned facility was the only rehabilitation hospital in California or its neighboring states to be named to the Top 20 in the annual survey. Although 5,462 hospitals were evaluated by U.S. News, only 173 were ranked on this year’s list. Rancho, one of five hospitals in the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS) family, has been ranked one of America’s best hospitals each year since the inception of the
U.S. News survey in 1990. Less than 3% of U.S. hospitals are ranked on the
U.S. News list each year, said Los Angeles County Department of Health Services Director Bruce Chernof, M.D. We are proud that Rancho has again earned this prestigious distinction for clinical excellence from its colleagues across the nation.
This ranking is a testament to the critical work of this hospital, said Supervisor Don Knabe. The credit goes to each and every Rancho team member for the effort they put forth each day to give patients world-class care.
Rancho offers a full spectrum of both inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services. The hospital has been a leader in advancing rehabilitation medicine for more than half a century. Rancho serves an average daily inpatient census of 147 persons and experiences approximately 57,000 outpatient visits annually. The hospital is also renowned for its tradition of research leadership. This year, approximately $9 million in research will be conducted at Rancho.

Marina del Rey Summer Concerts Presents An Evening With The Los Angeles Opera

The Marina del Rey Summer Symphony, Frank Fetta, Music Director, and four stellar singers from the Los Angeles Opera will preview the Opera’s 2008 season in a program to be presented Thursday August 9, 2007 at 7pm. Arrowhead Mountain Spring Water presents the Marina del Rey Summer Concerts free to the public.

Soprano Shana Blake Hill, soprano Marina Fortuna, tenor Matthew Edwardsen and baritone Nmon Ford will be heard in arias from Otello, Carmen, Don Giovanni, La Boheme, Louise, Andrea Chnier, La Rondine, and Tosca.

Shana Blake Hill has appeared with the Los Angeles Opera as a principal artist, most recently as Papagena in The Magic Flute. Other roles she has sung with the company include Zerlina in a touring production of Don Giovanni, Mimi in La Boheme, and Clorinda in La Cenerentola.

Maria Fortuna has sung leading roles with companies around the world. In addition to her numerous recitals, she has appeared as soloist in concert performances with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Orchestra of St. Luke’s and the San Francisco Symphony.

Matthew Edwardsen began this year by returning to the role of Alfredo in Verdi’s La Traviata. He has also appeared as Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Rodolfo in La Boheme, and as Don Jose in Carmen. Nmon Ford is a two-time Grammy winner and has most recently performed both Scarpia in Tosca and the title role in the new production of Billy Budd with Hamburg Opera.

Sponsors for the Marina del Rey Summer Concert Series are Los Angeles Supervisor Don Knabe, The Department of Beaches and Harbors, The Ritz Carlton and KUSC Classical FM 91.5.

New County Public Health Laboratory Dedicated

Supervisor Don Knabe and leaders from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health participated in the ribbon-cutting and dedication of a new laboratory this week. The public health lab is the County’s focal point for testing, observation, and rapid response on hundreds of thousands of human specimens and environmental samples.

Through the testing services at this multi-million dollar, technologically advanced lab, we can quickly test water and food for contamination, identify the sources of disease outbreaks and limit their spread, and test and treat sick patients with serious, communicable diseases as quickly as possible, said Jonathan E. Fielding, MD, MPH, Director of Public Health and Health Officer. The lab is a key component in our fight against terrorism through testing for chemical and biological agents in environmental samples and human specimens.

The facility, located in the City of Downey, opened its doors in March. The previous laboratory had been housed in downtown Los Angeles. The new, more spacious location allows for the implementation of advanced technology and equipment that increases the lab’s capabilities. The bigger facility gives approximately 165 staffers room to safely and effectively do their jobs in over 34,000 square feet of laboratory space.

The dedication of this facility is about something very critical in the life of this County and the service we provide to our over 10 million residents, said Supervisor Knabe. This laboratory and its dedicated staff are committed to the singular goal of keeping you and your family safe from disease and biological threats. The work that will be completed in this facility will touch the life of every person in this County in a positive way.

Los Angeles County’s public health lab is unique among other local public health laboratories in California due to the volume of testing it performs. The laboratory conducts more than 700,000 tests on 400,000-plus specimens per year. It serves the needs of more than 10 million residents and tens of thousands of visitors in the County.

The work the laboratory does to support the health and well-being of the public includes the following:

– Specialized monitoring and reference testing for the detection of biological and chemical terrorism agents in environmental samples and human specimens.

– Testing drinking water and recreational water for harmful bacteria.

– Supporting the tuberculosis control program through testing patient specimens to detect and identify active TB cases. The lab also tests for TB strains that may be multi-drug or extremely-drug resistant, in order to guide effective patient treatment and to determine if there is an outbreak.

– Testing foods for the possibility of contamination, which means a faster response on recalls of tainted items.

-Testing specimens during disease outbreaks, such as Hepatitis A, E. Coli O157, botulism, and salmonellosis, to prevent further spread and quickly treat those affected.

– Testing for the presence of West Nile Virus and other viruses transmitted by mosquitoes.

– Blood lead testing to detect elevated levels of lead in children.

– Performing rabies testing on potentially infected animals as part of an on-going rabies control program.

– Supporting HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted disease programs through patient specimen testing, outreach programs, and demonstration projects to enhance disease control and prevention efforts.

– Training, education, and consultation for laboratory personnel within and outside of Los Angeles County.

– Providing reference and specialized testing to help hospital laboratories and doctors in diagnosing unusual and rare diseases.

– Identifying emerging diseases and new strains of germs that cause disease.

This state-of-the-art facility is necessary for the protection and health of those in Los Angeles County. Through testing and monitoring, public health officials are better able to prevent widespread illness in the community.

Knabe Speaks at South Bay Job Training Graduation and Pledges $150,000 to Help Fund the Program

Supervisor Don Knabe recently spoke to graduates of the Energy Pathways Program at the ConocoPhillips refinery in Wilmington, and pledged to contribute $150,000 to the program.

The Energy Pathways Program, which started just over 18 months ago, is designed to provide scientific training and high-income job opportunities for foster youth, dislocated workers and disadvantaged adults throughout the South Bay. Program participants receive free college-level training in basic skills and industry-specific training, as well as free supportive services such as child care and employment counseling. If participants successfully complete the training, they will be guaranteed a job at corporate sites like ConocoPhillips, BP, Valero and Exxon-Mobil. Funding for this project is provided by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s discretionary Workforce Investment Act Fund.

What I love about the Pathways program is that this is a true collaborative partnership that is changing lives for the better, said Supervisor Knabe. We are transforming lives here – that is why I am now pleased to be making a contribution of $150,000 to help fund the education of the next generation of students who will come through this wonderful program. I want to do all I can to help this program continue and hopefully grow to provide more opportunities in many other fields of employment where there is a need for skilled workers and upward mobility.

Lakewood and Norwalk Sheriff’s States to Receive State Funding for Alcohol awareness Programs

Supervisor Don Knabe announced today the acceptance of a grant award from the State Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) that will pay for alcohol abuse and prevention programs that will be run by the Sheriff’s Department.

The State ABC grant to the Sheriff’s Department is in the amount of $317,830, and will be divided among the Lakewood, Lancaster, and Norwalk Sheriff’s Stations. The program, now in its fourth year at the Lakewood Station and in its first year at the Norwalk Station, will use trained Sheriff’s Deputies to identify and target problem businesses that are taking part in criminal activity, such as underage sales, and will work with ABC to deliver sanctions, if necessary.

The primary focus of the Alcohol and Beverage Control Program is to decrease the number of alcohol related offenses and DUI arrests made in Lakewood, Norwalk, and their surrounding cities.

$10,000 Reward Reestablished for Information Related to Double Homicide in Cerritos

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has unanimously reestablished a $10,000 reward today, at the request of Supervisor Don Knabe, for information related to a double homicide in the City of Cerritos.

On Thursday, October 26, 2006, at 4:00 p.m., Cerritos Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a residence on Rose Street regarding a rescue call. Upon their arrival, the deputies entered the home and learned that two male adults had been shot to death. One victim, Joshua Shin, age 32, lived at the house with his parents, and the other victim, Matthew Morrison, age 23, was a visitor. Homicide investigators have several significant leads and reward monies may help to motivate those with specific knowledge about this case to come forward.

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 this suspect to justice, and demonstrate our intolerance to such deplorable crimes, I believe the reward for this case should be re-established, hoping someone will come forward in order that we can bring this suspect to justice.

Any person having any information related to this crime is asked to contact Detective Richard Green of the Homicide Bureau at the Cerritos Sheriff’s Station at
(562) 860-0044.