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Cerritos Regional Park to Receive Renovation Overhaul

Supervisor Don Knabe announced today that the Board of Supervisors has accepted a $20,000 gift for the Paramount Public Library from the City of Paramount. County law requires that donations over $10,000 be accepted by the Board.

The Paramount Library will use the funds to expand both the library’s children and adult collections by purchasing more English and Spanish books and materials. In addition, the money will also be used by the library to give extra support to the Children’s Homework Center.

I would like to personally thank the City of Paramount for such a generous donation to the Paramount Public Library, said Supervisor Don Knabe. These funds will be used by the library to purchase needed books and materials, as well as, provide enhanced customer service for the public.

Las Brisas Community Housing Development in Signal Hill Receives Approval from the Board of Supervisors

Dozens of affordable housing units for low-income families will be coming to the City of Signal Hill after the Los Angels County Board of Supervisors approved a loan agreement with Las Brisas Community Housing II, L.P.

The Las Brisas housing development is located at 2400-2420 California Avenue in the City of Signal Hill. The project will consist of the creation of 60 units of affordable housing in the complex. The 60 units will be broken down into the following: 21 one-bedroom units, 18 two-bedroom units, 20 three-bedroom units, and one three-bedroom manager’s unit. The units will be reserved for families earning from 30 to 50 percent of the median income for the Los Angeles-Long Beach Metropolitan Area as determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

In addition to the housing units, the development will also include a community center, management offices, laundry rooms, landscaped courtyards and parking areas with designated senior spaces. The parking will be made up of 71 on-site spaces, including 27 covered carports.

The total development cost of the project is $17,409,499. The term of the loan agreed upon is 30 years and it will provide up to $2,500,000 for the project. The project has no impact on the County’s General Fund, and the loan will be repaid by the rental receipts generated from the operation of the project.

This is a first-class housing development in a community that needs affordable housing, said Supervisor Don Knabe. This wonderful development will not only have an abundance of low-income housing, but it will also include a childcare center, a community room and a multitude of other services to accommodate the families living there.

Whittier Union High School District Honored by the Board of Supervisors for the Highest Academic Improvement in the County

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe made a presentation today to recognize the Whittier Union High School District for receiving the most improved A.P.I. (Academic Performance Index) Scores in the County.

The A.P.I. was the cornerstone of California’s Public Schools Accountability Act of 1999. It measures the academic performance and growth of schools on a variety of academic measures. The California Department of Education uses it as one of their most useful tools of determining the academic success of a school.

For seven consecutive years, Whittier Union High School District has sustained significant academic achievement gains at all of its high schools, which include: California, La Serna, Pioneer, Santa Fe, and Whittier.

This is an extraordinary accomplishment for Whittier Union, said Supervisor Knabe. I commend the Superintendent, the Board of Trustees, the teachers, the staff, and most of all the students, for their hard work and dedication.

In attendance to receive the scroll was Whittier Union High School District Superintendent Sandra Thorstenson. Along with the superintendent were several members of the School District Board of Trustees including: President Jeff Baird and Clerk Leighton Anderson. Photos of this Board Presentation are available. Any media outlet interested in obtaining copies can call (213) 974-1095.

Upgraded School Crossing Zones Coming to Whittier and Hacienda Heights

Supervisor Don Knabe announced today that advanced solar powered school zone flashers will soon be installed by the County of Los Angeles near several school sites in the Fourth District.

The six sites in Whittier and Hacienda Heights are part of a project by the Department of Public Works to upgrade crossing signals at 31 separate schools across the County. The total cost for the project is $455,700 and will be paid by State transportation grant funding under the Safe Routes to School Program.

The project locations will be along Colima Road near Grazide Elementary in Hacienda Heights and in Whittier at Norwalk Boulevard near Katherine Edwards Middle School, Mills Avenue near McKibben Elementary, Mulberry Drive near Mulberry Elementary, Workman Mill Road at Wallen Andrews Elementary and Norwalk Boulevard at West Whittier Elementary.

All of the upgrades will include solar powered school zone flashers. Construction is expected to begin in early December and be complete within 40 days.

This project is a positive win from two angles, said Supervisor Knabe. Our children will have access to safer routes for crossing busy intersections and we are using renewable energy to make it happen.

Young Anglers Get Ready for the Knabe Katch at La Mirada Regional County Park

Over 1,000 youth ages 5 to 15 will be angling for a prize catch at the 2005 Knabe Katch Fishing Derby at La Mirada Regional Park this Saturday, September 24. This year’s event hosted by Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe and the La Mirada Kiwanis Club along with the City of La Mirada and the County Department of Parks and Recreation promises to be a fun-filled day for the entire family.

The fishing derbies are always fun events that children and families look forward to and many return to participate each year, said Knabe. Even if a child has never fished before, there are volunteers on-hand to show them the art of casting a line and the fun of putting a worm on a hook.

The event will begin at 7:00 a.m. with a free pancake breakfast, followed by the derby kickoff at 8:00 a.m. Children may take part in free fishing and angler safety lessons as well as other activities. Each child will also receive a free t-shirt and be eligible for prizes in several categories.

La Mirada Regional Park is located at 13701 South Adelfa Avenue, La Mirada, California. For more information, call (626) 333-1369.

Nearly $25 Million Awarded for Port Security Upgrades

The Los Angeles / Long Beach Port Complex will soon benefit from nearly $25 million in federal grants for fortifying security throughout the port facilities.

The grants were announced by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as part of the Port Security Grant Program (PSGP). The award for the Long Beach port area is $12,768,629. Another $11,447,716 is heading to the Port of Los Angeles. PSGP funds address key national priorities by helping to protect ports against small craft and underwater attacks and vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices.

This Grant is another strong recognition by Homeland Security about the importance of ensuring the safety and security of our port complexes in Los Angeles County. We must ensure the continuous, uninterrupted flow of commerce through our ports and this funding will help us do exactly that, said Fourth District Supervisor Don Knabe.

In order to receive funding, eligible port terminals requested funding for eligible projects – especially projects addressing port security priorities. All applications were reviewed by the local United States Coast Guard port captains and scored on uniform rating criteria.

In addition to the awards announced this week, over the past five years, the Grant Program has provided $489 million to enhance dockside and perimeter security in our nation’s seaports.

Supervisor Knabe Honors Kiwanis Club Volunteers

Supervisor Don Knabe presented scrolls of recognition to Maxine Burkhammer, Joann Ferrin and Elaine Liston of the Lomita-Harbor City Kiwanis Club for making over 100 handmade dolls for young patients at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.

Burkhammer, Ferrin and Liston spent over 150 hours hand making over 100 dolls to give away to children undergoing cancer treatment, surgery and other medical care at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. The dolls are 12 inches long and come dressed in hospital caps and gowns. The women have plans to make an additional 400 dolls by the end of this year.

What these three women have done is absolutely remarkable. said Supervisor Knabe. Maxine, Joann, and Elaine have brought comfort and understanding to children and families that are going through very difficult times, and we are grateful for their passionate and dedicated spirit.

Board of Supervisors Appoints Ann Franzen of Bellflower to Commission for Children and Families

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe announced today that the Board of Supervisors has appointed Ann Franzen of the City of Bellflower to the Los Angeles County Commission for Children and Families.

Franzen is a retired day care provider who worked extensively with Day Care Licensing and the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. As a day care provider, she helped find state money for mothers who could not afford day care and worked with young children that had speech and physical development problems.

Ann’s significant experience as a child care provider has given her excellent insight into the various issues that children and families go through on a daily basis, said Supervisor Knabe. Her knowledge will be a great asset on this important commission.

Board of Supervisors Recognizes Whittier Area First Day Coalition

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors presented a scroll to the Whittier Area First Day Coalition to acknowledge the outstanding work that the organization has done to engage the homeless issue in Whittier.

The Whittier Area First Day Coalition has a mission to help the homeless and other at-risk individuals transition toward self-sufficiency. The Coalition achieves this difficult task by providing various programs for individuals and families throughout the Whittier Area. The Job Club Program, the Recovery from Homelessness Program and the Health and Wellness Program are a few of the comprehensive programs that the Coalition offers.

The Coalition has also developed a recovery model called the Reciprocal Community Engagement Model. This innovative model was designed to give local communities a strategy to build a network of programs that creates natural interaction between people. This interaction seeks to bring the homeless out of their isolation and reintegrate them back into their communities.

With over 90,000 homeless identified across the County, local involvement in addressing homelessness is more important than ever, said Supervisor Knabe. What the First Day Coalition is doing in Whittier is a shining example for the rest of the County.

Bobbi Jean Tanberg Honored as Los Angeles County Employee-of-the-Month

The Board of Supervisors today honored Bobbi Jean Tanberg as the June 2005 Employee-of-the-Month.

Tanberg is a 15-year county employee and she currently serves as an Occupational Therapy Assistant with the Department of Health Services at the Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center in Downey. There, she provides a wide range of services for both children and adults with physical disabilities.

Tanberg, an enthusiastic sports fan, set her sights on making the U.S. Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team in 2000, and after many years of hard work she made the team. Her positive outlook on life makes her instrumental in the Positive Self-Image Life Coach Program and she also serves as an excellent role model at Rancho.

On her personal time, Tanberg is a passionate community advocate for the disabled. In 2004, she developed and implemented the spinal cord injury helpline which helps spinal injury patients locate much needed community resources. Bobbi’s tireless work in the community is a tremendous inspiration to us all," said Knabe. We are very lucky to have such a devoted person working at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center.