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County Seeking Performers For Holiday Celebration

The Los Angeles County Arts Commission is currently seeking County-based youth and adult community and professional choirs, dance companies, and music ensembles to perform in the 49th Annual Los Angeles County Holiday Celebration.

The Arts Commission encourages all Los Angeles County-based performing groups representing diverse communities, traditions, and performing disciplines to apply for the Los Angeles County Holiday Celebration. Proposed programming should be suitably themed for a multi-cultural holiday production. All performing groups are paid. Interested organizations are required to submit an electronic grant (eGrant) application, which is accessible via the Arts Commission website at www.holidaycelebration.org

Both the application guidelines and the eGrant application are available online now, and the deadline to apply is Wednesday, August 6, 2008. If you have additional questions, please send an email to
www.publicevents@arts.lacounty.gov

The Los Angeles County Holiday Celebration is a free public event that honors the spirit of many cultures and holiday traditions through music, song and dance and takes place every December 24th from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at the Music Center in downtown Los Angeles. The stage production is also broadcast live on KCET, and an annual one-hour highlight broadcast is carried nationally on PBS.

Summer Pools Open To The Public on June 21

The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation has released its 2008 Summer Pool Schedule, and the pools at California High School, Cerritos Regional Park and La Mirada Regional Park will open to the public on Saturday, June 21, 2008.

Recreational swimming is free of charge and will be open to swimmers of all ages, Monday thru Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (recreational swim begins at 12:30 p.m.) and Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. This schedule is effective through, Monday, September 1, 2008.

It is very important to me that we have public pools open during the hot days of summer, said Supervisor Knabe. This is an excellent opportunity for the public to have free access to some great pools for the remainder of the summer.

For additional information about swim lessons, aerobics and other aquatic programs, patrons may contact the parks directly for details.

Opening Pools

California High School Pool

9800 Mills Avenue, Whittier 90604

(310) 965-8257

Cerritos Regional Park Pool

19700 Bloomfield Avenue, Cerritos 90701

(562) 403-7498

La Mirada Regional Park Pool

13701 Adelfa Avenue, La Mirada 90638

(562) 943-2534

Knabe Calls For Conservation Efforts

Supervisor Don Knabe responded to rising gas prices and the statewide drought this week by directing County leaders to begin reducing commuting times for County employees and reducing water usage in County facilities.

In his first motion, Supervisor Knabe called for creative solutions to rising gas prices by updating County polices on telecommuting, offering flexible schedule options, and offering incentives to employees to use public transportation. With tens of thousands of employees, Los Angeles County is the largest employer in Southern California.

A second motion was introduced by Knabe in response to Governor Schwarzenegger’s proclamation of a statewide drought due to a severely low water supply, below-average rainfall, and court-ordered water restrictions. The motion asks for recommendations on how to immediately reduce water usage in hundreds of County-owned facilities.

Higher gas prices and lower water levels are both serious issues facing the County and our employees, said Supervisor Knabe. We need to be sure the County is doing everything possible to address these challenges with creative solutions.

In February 2007, Supervisor Knabe responded to the need to increase the use and longevity of the local water supply by creating the County’s Office of Water Recycling, which was tasked with doubling the region’s use of non-potable recycled water by 2030 – an annual increase of 54 billion gallons.

Supervisors Approve Water-Saving Rebate Program

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a rebate program recently for the purchase of water-saving devices that will reduce water-waste both indoors and outside. Available to all Los Angeles County Waterworks Districts customers, the new program provides an incentive for customers to reduce water use.

This program is a win-win for Marina del Rey Waterworks customers – by purchasing and installing water-saving devices residential and business customers can qualify for rebate money and reduce their water bills, said Supervisor Knabe. But this program is also about conserving valuable water resources, and keeping excess water from running down the streets, picking up pollutants and depositing them into the Marina.

The rebate program offers money back for rotating sprinkler nozzles, smart weather-based sprinkler controllers, high-efficiency clothes washers, synthetic turf, ultra-low-flush or dual flush toilets, and waterless urinals purchased and installed on or after January 1, 2008. Rebates for the sprinkler nozzles are $4 each and for synthetic turf, residents and businesses are eligible for 0.30 cents per square foot or $13,000 per acre. All other rebates range from $50 to $150 for approved product models.

Facing the possibility of more dry years to come and limited supplies from Northern California, the new water conservation rebates will help Marina del Rey customers cut water waste even further, progressing toward the statewide goal of 20 percent reduction by 2010. For more information about the rebate program or water conservation, District customers can visit:

http://lacwaterworks.org/

County To Honor Foster Youth At Graduation Ceremony

More than 130 young adults will take center stage to celebrate their success on Thursday, June 4, 2008, as part of the 19th annual "Celebration 2008: Honoring the Academic Achievements of Foster Youth." The event will begin at 7:00 p.m. at Walt Disney Concert Hall, located at 111 South Grand Avenue in downtown Los Angeles. Actor and comedian Michael Epps will serve as the master of ceremonies.

Hundreds of friends, foster parents and family members will watch as the youth proudly march across the stage to honor this milestone in their lives – an occasion marked by academic accomplishment and triumph over adversity. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Director Patricia Ploehn and the Los Angeles County Chief Probation Officer Robert Taylor are among the invited guests.

As part of the "Celebration 2008" graduation ceremony, $577,500 in scholarships will be presented to the youth by a variety of corporations and non-profit organizations. Donors include United Friends of the Children (UFC), the Teague Family Foundation, DCFS, the County of Los Angeles Probation Department (Probation), KLOS, Rising Stars, Wells Fargo, the Ralph Hauser III Foundation, Accenture, The Heads Up Youth Foundation and the Rotary Club of L.A. Every graduate receives a new business suit for college and business interviews, and the girls have their make-up done by top celebrity stylists who donate their time and skills for the event.

All of the young adults taking center stage on June 4th have demonstrated strong character and perseverance in overcoming past obstacles to graduate from high school with honors, strong grade point averages and acceptance at prestigious universities, colleges and vocational schools. "Celebration 2008," is a collaborative effort involving DCFS; Probation; UFC; the Teague Family Foundation; the Community College Foundation; and Casey Family Programs.

Harbor Boulevard Improved In La Habra Heights

The County of Los Angeles has completed the construction of a roadway improvement project on Harbor Boulevard in the City of La Habra Heights, Supervisor Don Knabe announced today.

The $904,880 project focused on resurfacing and reconstructing the roadway, the reconstruction of the curbs, gutters, sidewalks and curb ramps, the modification of traffic signals, and the installation of new striping and pavement markings.

It is important that we constantly look for ways to improve the roads in our County, said Supervisor Knabe. By improving Harbor Boulevard, both the residents of La Habra Heights and the nearby unincorporated County areas that travel this route will benefit.

Young Anglers Get Ready For fishing Derby At Cerritos Regional County Park

Nearly 1,000 children will be angling for a prize catch at the 2008 Cerritos Kids Fishing Derby at Cerritos Regional Park on Saturday, June 7. The annual event is sponsored by Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe, along with the City of Cerritos, the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation and the Cerritos Rod and Gun Club.

This fishing derby is always a fantastic event that children and families look forward to every year, said Supervisor Knabe. Even if a child has never fished before, there will be volunteers on-hand to show them the art of fishing.

The event begins at 7:00 a.m. with a free pancake breakfast, followed by the fishing derby from 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Children can participate in free fishing and angler safety lessons. Each child will also receive a free t-shirt and be eligible to compete for prizes in other categories.

Approximately 1,000 children attend the fishing derby annually, including nearly 200 foster children and over 100 children being transported in from parks throughout Supervisor Knabe’s District.

Cerritos Regional Park is located at 19700 Bloomfield Avenue in the City of Cerritos. For more information, call (562) 924-5144.

Pollworkers Still Needed For Some Communities

Los Angeles County Acting Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (RR/CC) Dean Logan announced that additional pollworkers are needed to staff polling places for the June 3, 2008, Statewide Direct Primary Election for certain communities. Pollworkers serve on the frontline of democracy, said Logan. Their commitment to public service is a tribute to them and their communities.

Active recruitment is still taking place for the following communities and areas: Agoura Hills, Beverly Hills, Calabasas, Canyon Country, Castaic, Hermosa Beach, San Fernando Valley, Santa Clarita, Studio City, Malibu, Malibu Heights, Pasadena, Topanga, West Hills, and West Hollywood.

Pollworkers must be available between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. to set up the polls, provide assistance to voters, and conduct poll closing procedures. Pollworkers are compensated $80 for working Election Day plus $25 for attending a 1-1/2 hour training session. In addition, pollworkers who served during the February 5th Presidential Primary and who will work in the upcoming June Statewide Direct Primary Election and November General Election will be paid a $75 bonus.

Training sessions are conducted throughout Los Angeles County in the days prior to the election. A schedule of classes, pollworker training videos, and training materials can be found on the RR/CC’s website www.lavote.net under POLLWORKER INFO. Additionally, pollworker training videos are available at county libraries.

If interested in becoming a pollworker for the June 3rd Primary Election, please call the Polls Section of the RR/CC at (800) 815-2666, option 7 or visit the RR/CC website at www.lavote.net

Persons requiring multilingual assistance in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog/Filipino, or Vietnamese regarding information in the press release, may call (800) 481-8683.

“Meet And Greet” The New Acting Director Of Beaches And Harbors

Marina del Rey residents will have an opportunity to Meet and Greet the new Beaches and Harbors Acting Director, Santos H. Kreimann on June 12, 2008, from 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. in the Burton Chace Park community room located at 13650 Mindanao Way in Marina del Rey.

The public is invited to attend an open forum where community residents and businesses can gather and meet regarding important Marina del Rey issues.

Parking for the Meet and Greet is available in County Lot #4 located at 13500 Mindanao Way and County Lot #5 located at 4545 Admiralty Way in Marina del Rey for $5.00. For more information, contact the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors at (310) 305-9503 or visit:

www.marinadelrey.lacounty.com

Veterans Benefit From County Employment Program

A Veteran of the Army National Guard has become the first permanent employee hired by Los Angeles County through a program designed to give special access to employment and internship opportunities to Veterans.

Created through an August 2006 motion by Supervisors’ Don Knabe and Michael D. Antonovich, the Veterans Internship Program (VIP) is available to local military Veterans who have been honorably discharged. Participants are hired into paid internships in various County departments, lasting up to 24 months, and receive benefits and additional job training throughout their internship. VIP participants are then eligible to compete for permanent County positions.

On May 14, Kunny Yin became the first permanent County employee hired through the Veterans Internship Program when he was appointed an IT Tech Support Analyst II within the Department of the Treasurer and Tax Collector. Mr. Yin is a Long Beach resident and was initially hired into the internship program in December 2007, and once he was hired as a permanent employee earlier this month, he jumped 18 steps on the County pay scale. He served in the Army National Guard for three years, until 2006, and was trained as a computer information analyst.

The program really helped me get my foot in the door towards permanent employment, said Yin. My whole experience throughout the internship was nothing but a good thing.

A total of 50 Veterans have been placed by the VIP Program and are currently working in internships across the County in 10 different departments, including 14 in the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, 13 in the Probation Department, and 11 in the Department of Public Social Services. The County was also honored as Employer of the Year by the California Employer Advisory Council for providing outstanding employment services to Veterans.

Our Veterans have served our nation and sacrificed their lives for our freedom, said Supervisor Antonovich. This program provides our Veterans the opportunity to apply their skills, learn new ones and compete effectively for employment."

The County has jobs available in many areas that require very special skills or training, the same skills or training that Veterans often receive during their service to our nation, said Supervisor Knabe. Matching the wonderful talents of our Veterans, to needs of the County, in the form of a permanent job is a great way to honor the service of our nations Veterans.

Interested Veterans are encouraged to visit http://dhr.lacounty.info or call (213) 738-2175.