The new community center at Pathfinder Community Regional Park in Rowland Heights will include a 19,500 square foot multi-purpose area, tennis and basketball courts, and splash pad, as well as a computer room. The new 21,000 square foot Hacienda Heights Community and Recreation Center, located at 1234 Valencia Avenue, will include performance areas, walking trails, fitness stations and picnic tables.

“Each of the new community centers was designed with input from the public and are a fine example of how local partnerships can meet the needs of our residents,” said Supervisor Knabe. “I’m proud that even in tough economic times, we have funding for important projects that impact residents’ everyday lives.  These new community centers will boost the overall quality-of-life for residents in the area and provide them with an outstanding place where they can experience a cultural event, exercise, access a computer – there will be something for everyone!”

The total cost of the Rowland Heights Community Center is approximately $18 million and was made possible with funding from the office of Fourth District Supervisor Don Knabe. The total cost of the Hacienda Heights Community and Recreation Center is $21.2 million and will be funded by the Puente Hills Landfill-Community Benefit and Environmental Trust Funds, as well as 4^th District Capital Project Construction Funds. Both community centers are slated to open to the public in late 2014.

Pet owners are advised to be in compliance with licensing and the mandatory spay/neuter and microchip ordinance if they reside in any unincorporated area of Los Angeles County (or contract city that has adopted the County’s ordinance). Residents not in compliance will be subject to license fees and delinquency charges, including a $40 field enforcement fee, to offset the cost of the Department’s field services. In order to avoid penalties, be sure to license your pet. You can secure a new animal license by printing the application online at http://animalcare.lacounty.gov, or visiting your local County animal care center. If your license is not delinquent, you can also renew it through the Internet.

DACC offers low cost vaccination clinics and low cost assistance (for individuals who qualify) for spay and neuter surgeries. Please visit our website http://animalcare.lacounty.gov or stop by your local County animal care center for more information about these services.

For more information about DACC, find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/CountyofLosAngelesAnimalCare, or follow us on Twitter @LACoAnimalCare.

With proof of residence, such as a driver’s license, residents of communities that were impacted by the rock’s journey from Riverside County to LACMA will be granted free admission to the museum’s galleries.

“The route to the Museum of Art took the rock through most of the Fourth District, including stops in Rowland Heights, Lakewood, and Long Beach, and this is our small way of saying thank-you to our residents for their patience,” said Supervisor Knabe. “This is an incredible opportunity for residents who have never visited LACMA to experience all the art and culture the museum has to offer.”

Residents residing in the following zip-codes will receive free admission to LACMA the week of June 24-July 1:

• 90247
• 90248
• 90501
• 90502
• 90504
• 90603
• 90604
• 90605
• 90623
• 90631
• 90638
• 90670
• 90701
• 90703
• 90712
• 90713
• 90715
• 90716
• 90744
• 90745
• 90802
• 90805
• 90806
• 90807
• 90810
• 90813
• 91709
• 91745
• 91748
• 91765
• 91766
• 91789

The annual event will be held at Pathfinder Community Regional Park in Rowland Heights, with more than 1,500 participants and more than a dozen restaurants.  The night will feature a live band, The HoDads, with dancing, wine tasting, and great food.

Pathfinder Community Regional Park is a hidden beauty atop the hill overlooking the city lights.  Ticket prices are $10.00 per person in advance and $12.00 at the door.  This includes a taste from each of the sponsored restaurants.  In addition, children’s tickets are available for $5.00 each.  For information and advance tickets please call (626) 333-1369.

For the 19th consecutive year, the Rowland Unified School District and the communities it serves will be observing Safe Communities Week, March 21-26, promoting a safe, secure and peaceful environment.  The Festival is a time to celebrate the role all facets of the community play in promoting a safe, secure, and peaceful environment for all to enjoy.

“The vitality of the County of Los Angeles depends on how safe we keep our homes, neighborhoods, work places, and communities,” said Supervisor Knabe.  “The major focus of this long-term commitment is to make a positive difference for our communities by educating our youth and adults, providing positive alternatives and role models for children, and unifying the support of the local community.”

Many school, community and public service groups have already committed to providing entertainment and/or informational booths.  Among the groups are Supervisor Knabe’s Office, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, Rowland Unified School District and Operation Safe Community.  For more information, please call (626) 854-8359.

The annual event will be held at Pathfinder Community Regional Park in Rowland Heights, with more than 1,500 participants and more than a dozen restaurants.  The night will feature a live band, The HoDads, with dancing, wine tasting, and great food.

Pathfinder Community Regional Park is a hidden beauty atop the hill overlooking the city lights.  Ticket prices are $10.00 per person in advance and $12.00 at the door.  This includes a taste from each of the sponsored restaurants.  In addition, children’s tickets are available for $5.00 each.  For information and advance tickets please call (626) 333-1369.

Supervisor Knabe is pleased to announce that the Board of Supervisors renewed the popular Hollywood Bowl Park-and-Ride Express Bus Service Program, which provides bus transportation for patrons to and from 14 outlying lots across Los Angeles County.  Patrons paying cash at the park-and-ride lots pay $8 per person.

“The Hollywood Bowl is an historic venue that has seating capacity for 18,000 but only has parking for 2,800 vehicles,” Supervisor Knabe said. “The express bus service lets LA residents enjoy the Hollywood Bowl experience without the stress of driving in traffic and finding parking.”

This year marks the 38th year of the program that runs during the entire 72-event concert season from June through September.

Park-and-Ride Shuttles in the Fourth District depart from Downey, Lakewood, Rowland Heights, Torrance and Westchester.  The program is made possible in part with funding from the County of Los Angeles and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

“It is important that we look into ways to improve road quality and motorist safety throughout the County,” said Supervisor Knabe. “By making these improvements to Pathfinder Road and Alexdale Lane, not only will the residents of Rowland Heights benefit, but so will the residents of neighboring cities and our other unincorporated communities who drive these routes every day.”

The project will reconstruct and repave Pathfinder Road-Alexdale Lane to 300 feet west of the Brea Canyon cutoff in Rowland Heights. Additionally, the project includes reconstruction of adjacent curbs, gutters, curb ramps and sidewalks. The project is funded by the Fourth Supervisorial District’s Road Fund Budget. Construction is expected to begin in March 2011 and be completed by July 2011.

Aaron Espinoza went to the bench for his Star Scout status. The park bench, that is.

He and a team of 16 volunteers repainted and refurbished about a dozen benches at Schabarum Regional Park in January and for his efforts was awarded the rank of Star Scout and was lauded Tuesday night by Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe.

“When you give back to your community it makes you feel great,” Aaron, 12, said. “It feels good to make our public areas look better.”

He organized the service project with the help of his parents, Maria and Tony Espinoza, to receive his Star Scout ranking and be on a accelerated path toward his ultimate goal: Eagle Scout.

His 16 helpers consisted of parents and boys from his troop, which meets Monday nights at Faith Lutheran Church in Whittier.

Revamping the benches took participants seven hours. The paint and primer for the project was supplied by the park, while the boys brought scrapers and brushes.

Knabe presented Aaron and four other boys with a certificate for their hard work at the opening ceremony of Schabarum Regional Park’s Summer Concert Series.

“The Scouts have been a major part of the overall improvement of Schabarum Park,” Knabe said. “These young men were able to successfully rally over 100 volunteers to help with the projects, and I couldn’t be more thankful for their service and dedication.”

Aaron used the opportunity to thank Knabe for paying for buses that took Boy Scouts to the Puente Hills Skyline Trail, a 20-mile hike through La Habra Heights and surrounding areas. Aaron has completed the hike twice over the past year.

Aaron has been in Boy Scouts since age 6 and is working hard to attain his goal of Eagle Scout, the highest rank in Scouting, before he turns 14. More important to the eighth-grader at Rancho Starbuck Intermediate, he wants to become an Eagle Scout during President Barack Obama’s first term.

“Obama is a hero to me,” Aaron said. “He’s the United States’ first black president, and he’s a very intelligent man and great speaker. Whatever he wants, he goes and gets it.”

Aaron is on track to receive his Eagle Scout rank within a year, just in time for his birthday and the end of Obama’s first term.

His Whittier Regional Troop 54 leader, Lonnie Wold, is proud of all Aaron has accomplished.

“Aaron is a very good-natured young man,” Wold said. “He has received a great honor, and I feel very proud of him.”