The second phase is the actual Songwriters’ Workshop, where selected students will create songs with award-winning artists and producers to inspire the ideals of understanding, mutual respect and human dignity.

The third phase is the Project One Concert, featuring music written and performed by participating youth and special celebrity guest artist performances. A panel of diverse music professionals will consider a variety of factors, including response to the songs posted on youtube.com. Ten songs will be chosen from the participant teams and their songs will be included on the final Project One CD.

Too many high school students do not have a safe environment where they can achieve their full learning potential, free of violence, discrimination and prejudice, says Robin Toma, the Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations. Now, more than ever, we need music that champions racial equality, social justice and ends ignorance. The essence of Project One is encouraging creation of powerful new music that opposes hatred and brings students together.

To sign up, go to www.zerohour.com; or visit the Project One My Space page at www.myspace.com/projectonela, or add Zerohour Los Angeles as a friend on Facebook. Participants can register on line at www.zerohour.com or RSVP to projectone09@gmail.com or call (213) 974-7615. Family, friends and teachers are welcome to attend the free events.

January 24 is the first activity, taking place at the District Two venue, the Maxine Waters Employment Preparation Center, located at 10925 South Central Avenue, Los Angeles, 90059. The second session will take place on January 31 in District Four at the Long Beach Rhythm Lounge, 245 Pine Avenue, 2nd Level, Long Beach, 90802. Registration at each venue takes place at 9:00 a.m.; Sessions begin at 10:00 a.m. and continue to 1:00 p.m.

Four sessions will be scheduled for February: The first activity, held on February 7, is held in District Three’s Village/ Ed Gould/Plaza/Renberg Theatre/LAGLC, 125 N. McCadden Place, Los Angeles, 90038. On February 14, Districts 3 & 5 will host the event at the Autry National Center, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles, 90027. The District 1 February 21 event will be held at Cal Poly Pomona, Downtown Center Theatre, 300 W. Second Street, Pomona, 91766. The final District 5 February event will be held at Cal Arts Community Arts Partnership (CAP), Institute of the Arts, Bijou Theatre, 24700 Mc Bean Parkway, Santa Clarita, 91355. Again, registration at each venue takes place at 9:00 a.m.; Sessions begin at 10:00 a.m. and continue to 1:00 p.m.

Los Angeles County Assessor Rick Auerbach and County Consumer Affairs Director Pastor Herrera, Jr. recently warned homeowners to be wary of solicitations from private companies offering to file property assessment reduction forms for a hefty fee to pay for a review by the Assessor’s Department for free.

"We are again receiving calls from homeowners who have been sent these deceptive mailers, many of which could be mistaken for government notices and mislead property owners into thinking they must pay at least $100 to apply for a review of their assessed value, Auerbach said. Because of the real estate market downturn, however, my office will begin reviewing nearly 500,000 residential properties for their 2009 assessed values.

We don’t charge a fee for this, he said, and anyone whose homes are reviewed will receive a letter in June notifying them of the results. One firm, he noted, is charging $179 to file a decline-in-value application, as well as a so-called late fee of $30. This company is already the subject of investigation in several counties, he added.

"What is particularly disturbing about the latest solicitation from this firm is that it misleads the homeowner by mixing up years. The mailer states that the firm will represent the homeowner in an assessment appeal, when in fact, the last date to appeal was November 30th. If the solicitation is for 2009, assessments have not yet been made. Therefore, this firm won’t know what the 2009 assessed value is until after our review of the 500,000 homes is completed in June and the homeowner is notified."

At best, Auerbach added, these are legal but sophisticated scams taking advantage of homeowners who don’t understand that my office will do a reassessment on its own. Or anyone can file a simple application form available on our website by clicking here. This can be completed in a few minutes. The form suggests including comparable sales if known, but that section can be left blank and we will still do the review. A property owner can also call toll-free (888) 807-2111 for assistance.

At worst, these private solicitations may even violate laws which require very specific language and disclaimers that they are not being sent by a government agency, he said. The 2008 decline-in-value review recently completed by my office, he said, resulted in lower assessments on nearly 130,000 homes and condos with an average property tax savings of $750. At least 1,600 of the reviews we initiated involved unnecessary forms submitted by these private companies at great expense to the homeowner, Auerbach said.

Anyone, Herrera stressed, who wants a complaint history of these solicitation companies or wants to file a complaint may contact our department at (800) 973-3370. A complaint form is also available by
clicking here.

If someone has already paid for this unnecessary service, they may be eligible for a refund, particularly those homeowners who thought they were dealing with a government agency.

Auerbach added that for 2009 his staff will now look at all homes sold in 2003 or later and may even go back to 2002 in some areas of the county based on a review of market conditions.

While anyone has the right to file a decline-in-value application requesting a review of their property’s value, Auerbach urged those who bought their home or condo in 2002 or later to wait until June when the results of the review will be mailed. If a letter is not received or the owner is not satisfied with the results of the review, a decline-in-value application can be submitted.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has proclaimed January 18-24, 2009 Preteen Vaccine Week. This annual statewide awareness campaign is designed to highlight the benefits of immunizations and regular visits to a doctor for children between 11 and 12 years of age. There are more than 313,000 preteens between the ages of 11 and 12 living in Los Angeles County.

High vaccine rates for infants and older children have virtually eliminated many vaccine-preventable diseases that once caused serious illness and even death for our youth, said Jonathan E. Fielding, MD, MPH, Director of Public Health. We encourage parents to help their preteens start the year off on a healthy course by scheduling a wellness visit with their child’s doctor. Parents can discuss immunizations with the doctor, and gain tools to help encourage healthy habits such as eating a nutritious diet and exercising every day.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Society for Adolescent Medicine, and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that 11- and 12-year-olds receive:

Meningococcal vaccine (MCV4): to protect against certain serious types of bacterial meningitis and other related infections,

Tdap booster: to prevent tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough)

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine: to protect girls against cervical cancer,

A second chickenpox vaccine (unless they have received 2 doses as a child or have had chickenpox),

An annual flu vaccine.

Many preteens are not up-to-date on recommended immunizations, leaving them vulnerable to serious illnesses that could otherwise be prevented. Meningococcal infection, which can rapidly progress to a severe blood infection or meningitis, is fatal in about 10% of infected teens and causes long-term disability for another 15%.

Preteens may also spread vaccine-preventable diseases such as meningitis or whooping cough to those who are at greatest risk for severe complications. In 2007, only 32.4% of teens 13 through 17 years of age in the U.S. had received the MCV4 vaccine to prevent meningococcal infection, and only 30.4% of those in the same age group had received the Tdap vaccine to protect against whooping cough.

Several events will be held throughout the County with partners such as the Immunization Coalition of Los Angeles County (ICLAC) and the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Nursing Division. Events in celebration of Preteen Vaccine Week include:

January 21 at 4:00 p.m.: An interactive preteen immunization educational session for preteens and parents will be held at the Norwood Library in El Monte. Sponsored by LA County Public Health in partnership with the Norwood Library. Contact Ana Garcia, Children’s Librarian at the Norwood Library, at (626) 443-3148 or agarcia@library.lacounty.gov

January 28 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.: A panel titled Innovative Strategies to Increase Adolescent Immunization Rates will be held at the California Endowment’s Center for Healthy Communities. Hosted by ICLAC. Contact Wendy Berger at wberger@ph.lacounty.gov or 213-351-7800 to register.

January 28 and 29: Onsite vaccination clinics will be held for students at John Muir Middle School to provide free recommended vaccines to preteens. This event is hosted by LAUSD and ICLAC.

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is proud to display the world’s most storied red diamond, the Kazanjian Red, until February 1, 2009 in its Gem and Mineral Hall. Though there are many diamonds with a pink hue, true blood-red diamonds are the rarest of gems – only three large stones are known to exist. And of that trio, none has as fascinating and exciting history as the Kazanjian Red.

Found around 1927 in the diamond fields of South Africa, the red diamond was a sensational discovery. During World War II, it was stolen in Arnhem during Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, and hidden in a salt mine with other looted treasures. When it was recovered by American soldiers, it was at first mistaken for a ruby. The diamond’s original owners did not survive the war and the gem was eventually sold. It passed through several hands, including those of Sir Ernest Oppenheimer, until it was purchased by a private collector in 1970. There it remained hidden until 2007 when it was purchased by Los Angeles-based Kazanjian Bros. Inc. This is its first exhibition in the U.S.

Also on loan from the Kazanjian Foundation is a sparkling cache that has been dubbed the Hollywood Jewels Collection, now on display in the Hall of Gems and Minerals near the entrance to the Gem Vault. It includes treasures from old and new Hollywood: an emerald and diamond brooch once owned by Faye Dunaway; a bejeweled compact given to Carole Lombard by Clark Gable; the Edwardian era (ca. 1910) tiara worn by Madonna in her wedding to Guy Ritchie, and a gold and diamond collar necklace given to actress Terry Moore by Cary Grant.

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is located at 900 Exposition Boulevard. The Museum is open seven days a week, 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays, and 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekends and holidays. Admission is $9 for adults, $6.50 for students and seniors; and $2 for children 5-12. For 24-hour Museum information please call (213) 763-DINO or visit www.nhm.org