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County Lifeguards Going Green With New Ford Hybrids

Ford Motor Company is teaming up with the Los Angeles County Lifeguards to help save lives while protecting the environment. Ford recently presented the squad with the first 10 of a fleet of 45 eco-friendly Escape Hybrids with Intelligent four-wheel-drive, specially equipped for use on rescue patrol along dozens of miles of Southern California coastline.

The 45 customized Ford Escape Hybrid beach patrol vehicles, valued at $1.5 million, were provided through a sponsorship with Ford Motor Company. The new vehicles will be an all green fleet that can go up to 500 miles on one tank of gas. The Ford Escape Hybrid dramatically reduces smog-forming emissions, as it meets California’s Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (PZEV) Certified standards. The Escape Hybrid is a full hybrid, switching between electric and gasoline power to maximize efficiency and performance similar to that of a V-6 engine. Fuel cost savings for Los Angeles County are estimated at over $200,000 annually.

We are the largest lifeguard organization in the world, and we have always blazed the trail for the profession, said Mike Frazer, chief, Lifeguard Services, Los Angeles County Fire Department. We wanted to be the first public safety agency in the country to go green.

Poll Workers Needed As June Primary Election Nears

Los Angeles County Acting Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (RR/CC) Dean Logan announced recently that an additional 11,300 pollworkers are needed to staff polling places for the June 3 Primary Election.

Pollworkers are an essential part of a successful election day, said Logan. We have recruited over 18,000 pollworkers, but with the election less than one month away we are still in need of over 11,000 pollworkers.

Recruitment has been especially difficult in the communities and areas of Agoura Hills, Beverly Hills, Canyon Country, Castaic, Encino, Lomita, Los Angeles (90026, 200929, 20024, 20025, 90026, 90027, 90045, and 91605), Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Playa Del Rey, Rancho Palos Verde, Santa Monica, Saugus, Sherman Oaks, Valencia, Venice, Winnetka and Woodland Hills.

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. 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.

The RR/CC also needs bilingual pollworkers who can speak one or more of the following languages: Cantonese, Japanese, Mandarin, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog/Filipino, or Vietnamese. In addition, pollworkers who speak other languages such as Armenian, Russian and Cambodian are encouraged to help serve their communities. Those eligible to become pollworkers must be registered voters and residents of California.

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

Preventing Water Illnesses Over Holiday Weekend

As residents prepare for Memorial Day, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health would like to highlight the importance of safe swimming practices. The week before Memorial Day (May 19-25, 2008) has been designated as National Recreational Water Illness Prevention Week.

We want to encourage people to enjoy the great beaches, lakes, water parks, and swimming pools that Los Angeles County has to offer in the healthiest way possible, both in terms of great exercise and in great health, said Jonathan E. Fielding, MD, MPH, Director of Public Health and Health Officer. That means taking precautions to ensure that you, your friends or family don’t get sick from germs that are normally found in lakes and the ocean. Don’t swallow water while swimming or playing; do shower before entering a pool or spa, and practice good hygiene when visiting public swimming pools.

Swallowing, breathing, or having contact with germs in pools, spas, oceans, lakes, or rivers can cause recreational water illnesses (RWI). Diarrheal illnesses are most commonly reported and may be due to parasites and bacteria. Swimmers who ingest contaminated water could experience severe symptoms such as diarrhea, or milder symptoms such as bloating, cramping, and nausea.

It is especially important that swimmers and other recreational water users consider the following precautions when enjoying beaches, water parks, pools, or other venues:

– People should routinely disinfect their pools or spas using chlorine or an equivalent product. They should also use a filter to screen out solids.

– Swimmers, including children, who have diarrhea should never enter public water areas.

– Toddlers should use swim diapers and the diaper should be checked often. If it needs to be changed, this should be done in the restroom and not near the water.

– Swimmers should wash their hands after using the toilet, or after changing a child’s diaper.

– Swimmers, including children, should practice good hygiene by showering before entering the water.

– Children should be taught to not swallow water either in swimming pools, in the ocean or in a lake.

Children ages one to nine years of age are particularly vulnerable to infection as they tend to swallow water indiscriminately. Pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems are also at greater risk. Locally, people can find LA County public swimming pool inspection reports on the Public Health Web site at
www.publichealth.lacounty.gov to review recent closures or complaints.

Taste Of The Heights Festival Returns To Pathfinder Park In Rowland Heights

Supervisor Don Knabe, in conjunction with the Hacienda Heights Improvement Association, Rowland Heights Coordinating Council, local community groups, local businesses, sponsors and the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation will host the 5th Annual Taste of The Heights Festival at Pathfinder Park.

The Taste of The Heights, which has been established as a featured annual event in Rowland Heights, is a fun evening under the stars with food, wine tasting, and the smooth sounds of jazz. The Taste of The Heights Festival will showcase fine food from local restaurants to demonstrate the cultural diversity of the Heights. Each restaurant will provide an array of their most exquisite food entrees for patrons to sample. There will also be a Children’s Fun Zone featuring games, crafts, a puppet show, and much more.

The festival will be held on Wednesday, May 21, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at Pathfinder Community Regional Park, which is located at 18150 East Pathfinder Road in Rowland Heights. For ticket sales and information contact (626) 333-1369. Children under 6 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.

Taste Of The Heights Festival Returns To Pathfinder Park

Supervisor Don Knabe, in conjunction with the Hacienda Heights Improvement Association, Rowland Heights Coordinating Council, local community groups, local businesses, sponsors and the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation will host the 5th Annual Taste of The Heights Festival at Pathfinder Park.

The Taste of The Heights, which has been established as a featured annual event in Rowland Heights, is a fun evening under the stars with food, wine tasting, and the smooth sounds of jazz. The Taste of The Heights Festival will showcase fine food from local restaurants to demonstrate the cultural diversity of the Heights. Each restaurant will provide an array of their most exquisite food entrees for patrons to sample. There will also be a Children’s Fun Zone featuring games, crafts, a puppet show, and much more.

The festival will be held on Wednesday, May 21, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at Pathfinder Community Regional Park, which is located at 18150 East Pathfinder Road in Rowland Heights. For ticket sales and information contact (626) 333-1369. Children under 6 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.

Construction Set To Begin On Dockweiler State Beach Youth Center

Over four miles of the Marvin Braude South Bay Bike Trail will soon be refurbished or completely rebuilt after Supervisor Don Knabe agreed to fund the project with $5 million in Fourth District Capital Improvement funds. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the project today.

The portions of the bike path to be renovated are located between Culver Boulevard in Playa del Rey and Calle Miramar in Torrance. The project involves removing damaged Portland Cement Concrete (Cement) and Asphalt Concrete (Asphalt) and reconstructing those portions of the bike path with similar materials. Also, slurry and crack sealing will be used when complete restructuring is not necessary. The project will now go out to bid, and construction is scheduled to begin in summer 2009. Over 21,000 feet, over just over 4 miles of the bike path will be repaired or reconstructed.

The Marvin Braude Bike Trail stretches nearly 22 miles between Will Rogers State Beach and Torrance County Beach, with most of the path running along public beaches. This past March, the County completed the renovation of a portion of the bike path is located between 62nd Avenue and Culver Boulevard in the Playa del Rey community of the City of Los Angeles.

It is important that the bike paths running along public beaches are safe, said Supervisor Knabe. I am glad to fund improvements that will enhance the safety and increase enjoyment of the numerous residents and visitors who use the Marvin Braude Bike Trail.

Project Details

– Culver Boulevard to 38 feet north of Grand Avenue

1. Reconstruct approximately 9,000 feet of cement pavement

2. Reconstruct or slurry approximately 800 feet of asphalt pavement

– 38 feet north of Grand Avenue to 45th Street

1. Reconstruct approximately 1,000 feet of asphalt pavement

2. Slurry approximately 4,510 feet of asphalt pavement

– 45th Street to 1st Street

1. Reconstruct approximately 800 feet of asphalt pavement

– Torrance Loop to 3,960 feet south of Torrance Loop

1. Reconstruct approximately 1,000 feet of asphalt pavement

2. Slurry approximately 3,960 feet of asphalt pavement

– 3,960 feet south of Torrance Loop to Calle Miramar

1. Reconstruct approximately 100 feet of cement pavement

Hawaiian Gardens Library Is Moving

The Hawaiian Gardens Library is moving and will open at a new site in Hawaiian Gardens this summer. The last day of service to the public at the current location was Saturday, May 10, 2008.

The nearest County libraries for customers seeking library service are at the following public libraries:

Artesia Library – 18722 South Clarkdale Avenue in the City of Artesia

George Nye, Jr. Library – 6600 Del Amo Boulevard in the City of Lakewood

During the relocation period, customers may return books to a bookdrop located at Hawaiian Gardens City Hall, 21815 Pioneer Boulevard, or to any other County library.

The new Hawaiian Gardens Library will include self-checkout machines for customer self-service, new library book shelving; new furniture; new computers; and exterior book drops. The project is being funded by the City of Hawaiian Gardens.

The Hawaiian Gardens Library is part of the County of Los Angeles Public Library. For additional information, please call (562) 940-8415 or visit the County Library Web site at
www.colapublib.org

Historic Wetlands Project Complete Along Los Angeles River In Long Beach

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe joined other local elected officials this week for the opening of the Dominguez Gap Wetlands in Long Beach. The $7 million treatment wetlands and spreading grounds project is the latest in a series of regional, multi-benefit projects implemented by the Los Angeles County Flood Control District. At peak capacity, the new wetlands will naturally remove pollutants and other harmful chemicals from over one million gallons of storm water every day, before that water reaches the ocean or returns to the ground water supply.

The wetlands project is the first of its kind in Los Angeles County. It maintains the integrity of flood protection along the urban lower reaches of the Los Angeles River, while introducing new water quality elements, groundwater recharge, restoration of native habitat, pedestrian and equestrian trails, environmental education, and river bike trail enhancements.

The project encompassed extensive renovation of two preexisting Flood Control District spreading grounds, located along both the east and west sides of the Los Angeles River between Del Amo Blvd. and the 405 Freeway.

Enhancements to the 37-acre East Basin include one mile of constructed, treatment wetlands, pedestrian and horseback trails, two bird observation decks, woodland and riparian habitat, and a bike trail rest station. The wetlands are designed to naturally treat from 2-3 cubic feet per second (1.3 to 3.2 million gallons a day) of storm water and urban runoff, the rough equivalent of five Olympic-size swimming pools. The result will be a significant reduction in the amount of pollution, heavy metals, organic carbons, and oil and greases found in runoff within the system. Trash booms will collect floatable trash, allowing it to be removed before it can foul the wetlands. Once treated, the runoff will be moved underneath the Los Angeles River by a pump system to the project’s West Basin for groundwater recharge.

The 15-acre West Basin remains a functional spreading ground that, with new project improvements, will allow as much as 450 acre-feet a year of water to permeate into the underground aquifer of the West Coast Groundwater Basin. In simplified terms, one acre-foot of water is approximately the volume of a football field filled one foot deep with water. Both the East and West basin areas are lush with a plant palette of shrubs, trees, brush and wildflowers native to the lower Los Angeles River, selected especially for this project by the County’s project consultant, CH2M Hill.

Historically, the Los Angeles River has been impaired by pollutants from local and regional storm drains that carry storm water and urban runoff away from city streets and communities within the Los Angeles River Watershed. Polluted runoff is the result of harmful human activities like littering, illegally dumping lawn clippings and automobile fluids into catch basins, and over-watering lawns. These activities, among others, have led to stringent federal regulations (known as Total Maximum Daily Load allocations or TMDLs) that restrict the amount of trash and other pollutants that may enter designated receiving waters. By 2016, cities and County areas within the Los Angeles River Watershed must effectively have zero trash going into the Los Angeles River.

This is a great day for Los Angeles County and for its water quality partners, said Supervisor Don Knabe. The project’s open space, water quality improvements, and groundwater recharge make it a cost-effective solution for addressing some of the County’s toughest regional issues.

South Coast Botanic Gardens Will Receive New Security Fencing To Prevent Graffiti

The South Coast Botanic Gardens on the Palos Verdes Peninsula will receive a new chain link fence along Rolling Hills Road and the horse trail, Supervisor Don Knabe announced today.

The Security Fencing Graffiti Prevention Project will increase security and make the garden less accessible to graffiti and vandalism. The goal is to protect the collection of rare and unusual trees and plants at the South Coast Botanic Gardens.

The estimated total project cost is $101,000, and is funded by Proposition A Competitive Excess Grant Funds in the amount of $85,000 with the remaining $16,000 coming from the South Coast Botanic Gardens Special Development Fund. The anticipated completion date is September 2008.

Avalon Lifeguard and Paramedic

Station
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has approved a $5.423 million project to construct a state-of-the-art lifeguard and paramedic headquarters building in the City of Avalon on Catalina Island. Of the $5.423 million total budget, $3.924 million was awarded to AMG Associates, Inc., for the construction contract, while the remaining funds will be used for project management costs, furnishing and equipping the building, and a public art project for the exterior of the building.

The proposed project is a two-story, 7,005 square foot lifeguard/paramedic station, which consists of a two-bay apparatus area for housing a paramedic truck, a utility vehicle and watercraft trailers; an office with storage rooms; and a reception area with a public restroom.

The Avalon Lifeguard facility will also have one unique feature among all of the County’s similar buildings. This will be the first to include dormitory space for workers, which will consist of a living room, kitchen, dining room and bedroom space for up to eight personnel. County lifeguards on Catalina Island are on-call for 24-hour periods, meaning that anyone stationed in Avalon must secure housing in the City’s limited and expensive housing market. With the new building, lifeguards will be able to complete their shifts without having to acquire housing off-site.

The new building will be constructed on a parcel of land adjacent to City Hall that was donated to the County by the City of Avalon. Construction is scheduled to be completed by summer 2009.