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Summer Festival Returning To South Whittier

The 2nd Annual South Whittier Educate & Celebrate Festival is returning to Adventure Park on Saturday, August 16, Supervisor Don Knabe announced recently.

The South Whittier Educate & Celebrate Festival is once again expected to draw thousands from the community. There will be over 90 vendors in attendance that will have booths set up in the park for the event. There will also be a Health Fair between the hours of 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Other activities available at the festival will include:

– Parent Classes

– Free Immunizations

– Free Dental, Vision & Hearing Checks

– Various Health Screenings

– College Town

– Local Youth Entertainment

– Arts & Crafts

– Kids Zone

– Martial Arts Demonstrations

– Many Local Non-Profits

– Mobile Blood Drive

– Bug Zoo, Petting Zoo & Pony Rides

– Rock Climbing Wall

– Bouncers

– County Resources

– Local School Districts & PTA’s

This is going to be a fantastic community festival and I am thrilled to be a part of it, said Supervisor Knabe. The response and excitement that we received for last year’s event was overwhelming, and we expect this year’s festival to be even better.

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, Mitsubishi Motors of Whittier, Burrtec Waste Industries, and The Gas Company. For more information on the festival, please call (562) 807-7350.

Knabe To Change Vote On Transit Sale Tax Issue

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe has announced that at the next meeting of the Board of Supervisors, he will enter a motion to reconsider the Board’s previous vote on the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s (MTA) sales tax measure. Supervisor Knabe has also decided that at the time of the reconsideration he will change his vote from ‘no’ to ‘yes.’

Supervisor Knabe’s planned reconsideration and intention to change his vote effectively means that the MTA sales tax measure now has the three votes it needs to pass the Board of Supervisors and go before the voters as part of the consolidated November 2008 Presidential Election ballot, and not as a totally separate election.

This morning, the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk informed the Board of Supervisors that the costs of a concurrent election, with the MTA sales tax appearing as a totally separate ballot in the November election, would cost taxpayers an additional $10.3 million. If the MTA measure were included as part of the main ballot, the cost would be $7.2 million, instead of the $17.5 million estimated for a separate ballot.

Additionally, the MTA measure would have to be setup as a completely separate election that would be conducted on the same day as the November 4, 2008 general election. Polling places would require additional staffing and voters would get separate ballots, sample ballots and voter guides for both elections.

I remain absolutely opposed to the MTA sales tax measure and I plan to spend my time and effort campaigning against it, said Supervisor Knabe. The plan is not equitable for all County residents and this is the wrong time to burden people with even higher taxes.

Although I am against the sales tax plan, I cannot in good conscience burden County residents with over $10 million in higher election costs. The taxpayers will have to pay for these costs, and that is something I will not allow to happen. Additionally, the separate ballots, voter guides, and other resources needed to conduct a separate election on the same day as the Presidential Election could cause unnecessary confusion and challenges for voters. This upcoming election is the most important in many years, and voters deserve better than a potential disaster at their polling place.

Knabe Supports Governor’s Budget Priority Plan

"This afternoon, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced that until the Legislature passes a budget, he will veto every piece of legislation that is unrelated to the budget. The Governor’s decision to make the budget the highest priority has my support.

The fact is we are more than a month into the new fiscal year and California still does not have a budget. I agree with the Governor that this is a tremendous disservice to the people of our State. There is nothing more important in the Capitol right now than passing a state budget.

Even though the Los Angeles County budget is currently balanced, the State’s uncertain fiscal condition could have a dramatic impact on our County coffers. The longer the Legislature waits to take action, the worse shape we could be in locally when a budget is finally passed.

Return Your Library Materials During Fine-Free Week

The County of Los Angeles Public Library is offering borrowers a chance to return overdue library materials and clear their library accounts during the Public Library’s Fine-Free Week, August 11-17, 2008. The County Library is holding Fine-Free Week to allow patrons to return books, DVDs, magazines and other library materials without paying a fine.

The purpose of fine free days is to encourage borrowers to return library property, and receive a fresh start, said County Librarian, Margaret Donnellan Todd. We want to ensure that children and families can read and use the library.

In addition, library patrons who have already returned their library materials, but still have unpaid fines on record, can visit any of the County Library’s 84 locations to receive a 50% reduction on fines owed if paid in full during this week. Charges for lost or damaged materials will not be waived.

The purpose of Fine-Free Week is to promote the return of needed library materials, heighten awareness of the importance of reading and literacy and encourage families to use the County Library.

The County Library’s Fine Free Week will end 5:00 p.m. on August 17. For County library listings or additional information, please visit the County Library Web site at www.colapublib.org or call (562) 940-8415.

County’s Child Care Rating System Receives New Funding

Los Angeles County’s new child care rating system continues to grow, in part, to a new grant that will allow for dozens of additional child care centers to be inspected and graded.

The $351,650 contract from the First 5 Los Angeles Commission will allow for reviews of approximately 200 child development centers and family child care homes participating in the Steps to Excellence Project (STEP). The information collected during the review process will be analyzed and used to assign quality ratings to STEP participants.

The STEP program, launched by Supervisor Knabe in July 2007, is the first program of its kind in California. In much the same way as the County’s successful restaurant grading system has empowered consumers with information, the goal of rating child care centers is to educate parents and improve the quality and services of the centers. The program is starting as a pilot in nine communities across the County, including Long Beach. It is supported with funds from the County of Los Angeles, the California Department of Education and the First 5 LA Commission.

"What is unique about the STEP program is that we are evaluating the overall quality of these child care programs," said Supervisor Knabe. "We aren’t just assessing whether or not the carpet is clean and the walls are painted, we are looking at the ‘learning environment’ as well. To me, that is the most important consideration for any parent in deciding where to place their children."

In Los Angeles County, it is estimated that more than $1.4 billion is spent on child care services annually and the demand for services and facilities continues to grow every year. But, with this increasing demand for services comes an increasing need for oversight and access to information for parents about the quality of care their children are receiving. The STEP program will assess six key areas that all parents would want to know about a child care setting, including safety, program quality, teacher qualifications, and whether or not they can accommodate kids with special needs.

People interested in learning more about STEP should contact Helen Chavez in the County Office of Child Care at (213) 893-0505 or visit www.childcare.lacounty.gov

County Declares Water Conservation Alert

The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a resolution today seeking to increase water conservation efforts within the County, with the goal of achieving a significant reduction in overall water demand.

The resolution declares a Countywide Water Supply and Conservation Alert, and urges County residents, businesses, water suppliers, and cities to intensify water conservation efforts. In addition, all County departments now have the directive to immediately implement conservation measures to achieve a 15 to 20 percent reduction in water demand.

On June 10, Supervisor Knabe responded to Governor Schwarzenegger’s proclamation of a statewide drought by directing County leaders to immediately reduce water usage in hundreds of County-owned facilities. In response to the Supervisor Knabe’s motion, the Department of Public Works, in conjunction with the Departments of Internal Services, Parks and Recreation, and Regional Planning, submitted recommendations to immediately reduce water usage in the County. The first recommendation of the report was to declare a Countywide Water Supply and Conservation Alert.

This water problem is not going to go away, and if we ignore it is only going to get worse, said Supervisor Knabe. This Countywide alert not only seeks to raise public awareness of this critical issue, but it also ensures that the County is doing its part in reducing water usage.

10 Easy Tips To Reduce Water Consumption

1. Shorten your watering cycles. Up to 70 percent of residential water use goes to maintaining our yards. Taking one minute off a ten-minute cycle saves ten percent.

2. Check your sprinkler system. Do a weekly check for broken or clogged sprinkler heads and replace them right away. Make sure you are watering your yard and not the driveway or sidewalk.

3. Fix those leaks. Just a drip can waste more than 10,000 gallons per month. A leaking flapper on a toilet also increases flows at the water treatment plant.
4. Plant native species or drought-tolerant plants. Many of the lawns and plants we use are not intended for the unique climate in Southern California.

5. Use a broom instead of a hose. Sweeping up rather than hosing off leaves or grass clippings not only saves water, it reduces runoff.

6. Get an adjustable hose nozzle for outdoor use. With one of these you can adjust the spray to meet your needs. A hose running for five minutes uses the same amount of water as a 20-minute shower.

7. Eliminate runoff. Runoff could mean your lawn needs aeration. When you aerate your lawn, you give the water somewhere to go besides down the storm drain.

8. Take shorter showers. Cutting two minutes off your shower time can save 600 gallons a month for a family of four. If you change the showerhead to a water efficient model, you could save even more.

9. Turn off the water while you brush your teeth or shave.

10. Wash only full loads of laundry or dishes. Waiting until you have a full load can save you up to 20 gallons for the same amount of clean clothes.

Free South Whittier Summer Concerts Begin August 2

The South Whittier Summer Concert Series kicks off Saturday, August 2, at 5:00 p.m. at Adventure Park, located at 10130 South Gunn Avenue in South Whittier, Supervisor Don Knabe announced recently.

The concert series will take place on three consecutive Saturdays in August, beginning on August 2 with The Hodads, followed by Bumptown on August 9. The series finishes during the South Whittier Educate and Celebrate Festival on August 16 with LA Blue. All concerts take place between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

The South Whittier Summer Concert Series is presented free to the public by the following sponsors: Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe; the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation; and the Los Angeles County Arts Commission. For more information on the concert series, please call (562) 698-7645.

County Providing Help For Family Caregivers

In response to the many demands and pressures facing family caregivers who are caring for loved ones with disabling health conditions, the Los Angeles County Area Agency on Aging (LACAAA) is launching an outreach campaign to inform caregivers of available support services to assist caregivers with education and training, coping skills to relieve depression, and respite to relieve stress and deterioration of the caregivers’ own health status.

The term caregiver for this program refers to an adult (18 years of age or older) family member who provides assistance to someone else without pay who is, in some degree, incapacitated and needs help. We find in dedicated families that provide most of the care, the care can range from handling family members’ transportation to managing medications, feeding tubes and personal hygiene. Here are a few of the signs that indicate a caregiver may need support:

– Feeling completely overwhelmed

– Feeling he/she cannot leave his/her family member alone

– Trouble sleeping because of care of a family member

Grandparents, step-grandparents, or other older relatives (age 55 and older) identified as the primary caregiver of a young child are also eligible for this program and may receive support services provided by the LACAAA Family Caregiver Program.

The Los Angeles County Area Agency on Aging has a support system of services in place for family caregivers; but many of the families in Los Angeles County are not aware of the program. We are launching the Family Caregiver Outreach Campaign to reach as many families as possible said Cynthia Banks, Director, Community and Senior Services/Los Angeles County Area Agency on Aging.

The Family Caregiver Outreach Campaign is being conducted in partnership with community agencies currently contracted with the County to provide family caregivers services, such as:

– Respite (a break for the caregiver from the daily responsibilities of caregiving)

– Support Groups

– Counseling Services (ranging from guidance with the responsibilities of the caregiving role to therapy for stress and depression)

– Training (self-care skills to reduce stress)

– Information about available resources

– Assistance in gaining access to services

All services and programs are free or low-cost. For more information about the LACAAA Family Caregiver Program please call (800) 510-2020.

County Libraries Offer Online Tutoring

The County Library offers online tutoring in English, Math, Science and Social Studies to students in grades 4 – 12. Students may log on the Library’s website or to www.librarytutor.org and fill in their County Library Card number to take advantage of this service. The service is available on computers in the libraries, or from home or school computers.

Family Place

Libraries with a Family Place provide a special welcoming atmosphere for young children and families. Parents and preschool children are encouraged to spend time together reading books and playing with developmental toys. Special parent/child programs, workshops and play days introduce caregivers to activities to foster early literacy and learning as well as to specialized community resources.

Family Place operates in the following libraries:

AC Bilbrew Library
Angelo M. Iacoboni Library Carson Regional Library
City Terrace Library Clifton M. Brakensiek Library East Los Angeles Library East Rancho Dominguez Library Florence Library Gardena Mayme Dear Library George Nye, Jr. Library Hacienda Heights Library Lancaster Regional Library
Lennox Library Quartz Hill Library Rosemead Library San Fernando Library Valencia Library West Covina Library Woodcrest Library

New Family Place Locations in 2008

Compton Library Culver City Julian Dixon Library Diamond Bar Library Hawthorne Library Lawndale Library Wiseburn Library

Funding Approved For Renovation And Expansion Of San Pedro Service Center

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors today unanimously approved almost $2.5 million in funding to renovate and expand the San Pedro Service Center.

The San Pedro Community and Senior Services Center Addition Project will consist of interior and exterior facility renovations and reconfigurations to adequately support program operations and services while making the facility compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The total budget for the project is $2,480,000, which will be fully funded by Fourth Supervisorial District Capital Improvement funds.

The San Pedro Service Center has been a vital community resource throughout the years, said Supervisor Knabe. The approval of this funding ensures that the Service Center, which has served the San Pedro community so well, remains a great resource for the community for many years to come.

The San Pedro Community and Senior Services Center, which opened its doors in 1972, has continued to expand its services over the years, while receiving few upgrades. Recent studies revealed that the center simply outgrew its current configuration and required substantial modifications due to the shortage of space and the overall condition of the building. The center, located at 769 West Third Street in San Pedro, currently provides a wide array of services to the community, ranging from a senior meals program, child care services, computer and citizenship classes, food pantry, toy loan center, and more.