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Free Los Angeles Philharmonic Concert Coming to the Fourth District

Supervisor Don Knabe today was pleased to announce that the Los Angeles Philharmonic will be performing in the Fourth District at Rolling Hills Covenant Church on Wednesday, May 24 at 8:00 PM.

This free concert will be the first of four Neighborhood Concerts that are part of the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Target Around Town concert series. The conductor of the Rolling Hills concert will be Lisbon native, Joana Carneiro. Carneiro’s program for the evening will include Mussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain, Liadov’s Baba-Yaga, The Enchanted Lake, and Kikimora, and Stravinsky’s The Firebird.

I am thrilled that the Los Angeles Philharmonic is once again making a stop in the Fourth District, said Supervisor Knabe. This is a unique opportunity to see the LA Phil perform outside of downtown, and I encourage our residents to attend this free concert.

Tickets for the Rolling Hills Covenant Church performance are free with a limit of six tickets per request, and the tickets may be picked up at the main church office. For more information, please call (310) 521-2514. Rolling Hills Covenant Church is located at 2222 Palos Verdes Drive North in the City of Rolling Hills Estates.

Torrance’s Don Lee Appointed to the Los Angeles County Beach Commission

Supervisor Don Knabe today announced that the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved his appointment of Torrance resident Don Lee to the Los Angeles County Beach Commission.

Lee is a District Manager for Farmer’s Insurance, where he has also spent nearly three decades working as an insurance agent. In the past, he has served as a Commissioner on the Los Angeles County Commission on Insurance. Don Lee is also no stranger to business or politics; he is currently the Chairman for the Torrance Chamber of Commerce and he was also a Councilmember for the City of Torrance from 1992 to 2000.

As a lifelong resident of the South Bay, Don is a good fit for this commission, said Supervisor Knabe. We are very lucky to have his extensive knowledge of the region and his experience and work ethic.

Supervisor Knabe Appointed to California Statewide Emergency Council

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe has been appointed to serve on the California Emergency Council. The appointment was announced by Governor Schwarzenegger on May 5, 2006.

The California Emergency Council is the official advisory body to the Governor during an emergency and on issues of emergency preparedness. Additionally, the Council may advise the Governor on the State Emergency Plan and on the approval of orders and regulations.

I am honored to have been appointed by the Governor, said Supervisor Knabe. I am looking forward to the opportunity to advise the Governor on the important issues this Council will take up.

The California Emergency Council has a total of 10 members. Members do not receive a salary and the position does not require confirmation by the State Senate.

Wetlands to be Developed in Long Beach

Supervisor Don Knabe announced recently that the Board of Supervisors approved plans for the construction of treatment wetlands and public use open space that will greatly benefit the community. The project is located in the Dominguez Gap Spreading Grounds east and west basins in the City of Long Beach.

The Dominguez Gap was identified in the 1996 Los Angeles River Master Plan as one of five sites that would provide flood management, water quality, environmental enhancements, and recreational and educational improvements. In 2001, a feasibility study for the project was completed by the Los Angeles County Flood Control District.

During the process, the District worked to gather input and support from a large and diverse group of stakeholders. The supporters of this project include: the City of Long Beach, the California Coastal Conservancy, the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, along with residents in the area.

Construction will consist of developing extensive treatment wetlands in the east basin, enhancing the quality of water recharged in the west basin, providing public use open space along both basins with passive recreational features including trails, shade structures, and interpretive signage, and installing trash removal devices at major storm drain outlets. Work on the project is scheduled to begin August 2006 and should be finished in March 2007. Construction is not expected to disrupt traffic and local access in the area.

This project is an integral part of the Los Angeles River Master Plan, said Supervisor Knabe. This will not only create a wetland habitat in the Dominguez Gap, but it will also be a significant point of interest along the Los Angles River greenway.

Free Self-Help Legal Access Center Opens at the Long Beach Courthouse

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe will join Superior Court leaders this Friday afternoon to commemorate the much-anticipated Grand Opening of the Self-Help Legal Access Center at the Long Beach Courthouse.

On August 2, 2005, with the support of Supervisor Knabe, the Board of Supervisors approved the funding for this center, which will be the Fourth District’s first such Self-Help Center. There are currently four other Self-Help Centers like this one located throughout the County. Since the first facility opened in the Van Nuys Courthouse in 2000, these centers have combined to serve over 100,000 Los Angeles County residents.

The new Self-Help Center will be staffed with an attorney, paralegal and trained volunteers, and will be managed by Neighborhood Legal Services (NLS). While the employees and volunteers of the center will not be able to provide legal advice or offer direct representation, staff members will be able to provide information on preparing forms, courtroom procedures and appropriate courtroom demeanor.

"Opening this center is another landmark in our continuing campaign to enhance our outreach into the community," said Superior Court Presiding Judge William A. MacLaughlin. "We believe this center will provide critically needed services to people in the Long Beach area. Supervisor Knabe is to be commended for securing the necessary financial support to make this possible."

I am thrilled that we finally have this highly-successful program in the Fourth District, said Supervisor Don Knabe. This Self-Help Center will provide our residents, who maybe do not have the ability to pay for an attorney, with free access to basic legal resources and information.

All residents of Los Angeles County with business at the Long Beach Superior Courthouse are eligible to access the Self-Help Legal Center, regardless of income. The new hours of the center which will be located inside of the Law Library are as follows: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

The Grand Opening and Open House is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, April 21st. The Long Beach Courthouse is located at 415 West Ocean Boulevard in Long Beach.

Steinmetz Park Play Areas to be Renovated

Steinmetz Park in Hacienda Heights is among 12 parks throughout Los Angeles County that will have their play areas renovated as approved by the Board of Supervisors, Supervisor Don Knabe announced today.

The renovations will include the replacement of the old, non-compliant play equipment and surfacing with new play equipment and modern surfacing designed to reduce the stress of impacts. The new play area improvements will meet all applicable State laws including Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility.

The cost of these renovations at Steinmetz Park will be approximately $450,000, with $315,000 coming from Proposition 12 funds and the remaining $135,000 will come form Proposition A funds.

These are necessary renovations that will provide our parks with new play equipment and low-impact surfacing, said Supervisor Knabe. Our children deserve to go parks that have both safe and modern playground equipment.

Reward Established in Deputy Maria Rosa Shooting

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors have unanimously approved a $25,000 reward for information in last week’s shooting death of Sheriff’s Deputy Maria Cecelia Rosa at the request of Supervisor Don Knabe.

Deputy Rosa was off duty when she was killed outside of a North Long Beach home early on the morning of March 28. Rosa attempted to defend herself during an apparent robbery attempt, but was shot twice before she could return fire. Investigators with the Long Beach Police Department say they are looking for two male suspects who were seen running from the scene of the shooting.

"This heinous crime will not go unpunished, said Supervisor Knabe. We need to find the men responsible for Deputy Rosa’s death and it is my hope that this reward will help lead to new information and ultimately an arrest.

Any person having any information related to this crime is asked to call the Homicide Detail of the Long Beach Police Department at (562) 570-5572.

Youth Golf Teams From Local High Schools to Clash in Ninth Annual ‘Knabe Cup’

High school golfers from across Los Angeles County’s Fourth District will tee-off Wednesday, April 5, 2006, at Supervisor Don Knabe’s Ninth Annual Knabe Cup Golf Tournament.

Thirty six high school teams, comprised of four players per team, will compete at Lakewood Country Club in an individual and team tournament for individual honors and a chance to dethrone two-time defending team champion Gahr High School of Cerritos.

It constantly amazes me how the competition has gotten better and better as the years have gone on, said Supervisor Knabe. I am excited that this tournament is viewed as the precursor to the league and CIF Championships.

The tournament, sponsored each year by Supervisor Knabe, allows student-athletes to engage in friendly competition, regardless of their high school’s respective league affiliation. Each player receives a free lunch provided by McDonald’s, range balls and tee prizes. Additionally, first, second and third place finishers receive trophies and windbreakers. Supervisor Knabe will speak with players at 12:30 p.m., followed by the shotgun start at 1 p.m.

Newborn Safely Surrendered at Downey Hospital

A newborn boy has been surrendered at a Downey hospital as part of the Safe Surrender program, Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe announced today.

The baby boy was safely surrendered yesterday at Downey Regional Medical Center. The baby was healthy and has been initially identified as Hispanic or Caucasian. This incident is the fifth Safe Surrender in Los Angeles County in 2006 and the 41st since the program went into effect.

The Safe Surrender Program in Los Angeles County was initiated by Supervisor Knabe and approved unanimously by the Board of Supervisors in June of 2002. It allows someone to surrender an infant that is no more than three days old, as long as the infant shows no signs of abuse.

The first year the program went into effect, no surrenders were reported in Los Angeles County. That same year, 11 newborns were discovered abandoned and deceased. By 2005, the number of Safe Surrenders climbed to 8 cases and the number of abandoned deceased infants dropped to 4.

This case could have ended in tragedy, but because of the Safe Surrender program, this baby boy has a long life ahead of him, said Supervisor Knabe. I am happy this mother made the right choice for her baby.

Knabe Funds Peninsula Transit Shuttle

A $5,000 reward has been unanimously approved by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to assist in the investigation of the fatal hit and run accident that claimed the life of 16-year-old Casie Hyde in Redondo Beach last December.

On the night of December 2, 2005, Hyde and her boyfriend, Mike Archuletta were in a car accident in the 2700 block of Manhattan Beach Boulevard. Redondo Beach detectives are investigating the accident as a possible road rage case as several witnesses reported seeing a black pickup truck involved in the accident that left the scene.

Supervisor Don Knabe requested the $5,000 reward from the Board of Supervisors during the meeting of Tuesday, March 28. The County’s reward joins a $25,000 reward announced by Hyde’s family last week.

Anyone having any information related to this accident is asked to call the Redondo Beach Police Department at (310) 379-2477.