“The addition of these new shuttles will vastly improve the quality of life for our community,” said Supervisor Knabe. “The residents of unincorporated Whittier will gain greater access to local and regional destinations including libraries, schools, parks, medical and social service providers, youth and senior community centers, and major shopping centers.”

The new Sunshine Shuttles were paid for with a $580,000 grant from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (2009 Call for Projects), a $50,000 a grant from the South Coast Air Quality Management District and approximately $250,000 from the Fourth District Proposition A Local Return Transit Program.

For more information about the Sunshine Shuttle buses, please visit LADPW.org.

“I am proud of the Fourth District choirs that are participating in Los Angeles County’s Annual Holiday Celebration,” said Supervisor Knabe. “This holiday event is an incredible tradition filled with rich culture, eclectic sounds, and fun for the entire family.”

Among the groups performing three are based in the Fourth Supervisorial District:

• Family Life Sanctuary Choir (Whittier)
• Second Samoan Congregrational Church Choir (Long Beach)
• South Bay Children’s Choir (El Segundo)

Holiday Celebration information is available online at www.holidaycelebration.org, Facebook.com/LAHolidayCelebration or by calling 213-972-3099.

Watch the Holiday Celebration video featuring some of the artists who will be performing in this year’s show http://youtu.be/9BxMG8yfScY.

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

Other event sponsors include Rose Hills Memorial Park and Mortuary, Orchard Dale Water District, PizzaMania Whittier, Frisco Bakery, First Family Church, All Level Sports, Eli Sports and Better Thru Basketball.

WHEN:           Thursday, November 17, 2011

TIME:             2:00 p.m to 7:00 p.m.

WHERE:         Adventure County Park,  10130 S. Gunn Avenue, Whittier, CA 90605

VISUALS:       More than 2,000 children and families receiving a free meal

For more information, please contact Dingo Mercado, Adventure Park Supervisor, on 562-698-7645.

Firefighters on the ground were aided by two Super Scoopers, one heli-tanker, and three helicopters, including one from Los Angeles Fire Department. Firefighters were able to knockdown the flames in one hour and 31 minutes, and reached full containment at 7:58 p.m. County Fire resources remained on scene overnight, and will remain on scene for mop-up and fire watch.

“Our Los Angeles County firefighters did an incredible job,” said Supervisor Don Knabe. Their quick action and assessment prevented many homes in the Friendly Hills area from being affected.”

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 and Job Festival between the hours of 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.  Adventure County Park is located at 10130 Gunn Avenue, Whittier, CA 90605.  Other activities available at the festival will include:

• Interview and Resume Workshop
• Various Health Screenings
• College Town
• Local Youth Entertainment
• Arts & Crafts
• Kids Zone
• Many Local Non-Profits
• Petting Zoo & Pony Rides
• Bouncers and Face Painting
• Los Angeles County Resources
• Local Community Based Organizations
• Free Food Drive

“This event continues to be a fantastic community festival that I am always thrilled to be a part of,” said Supervisor Knabe. “The response that we received from the community following last year’s event was incredible, and now with even more support, we expect this year’s to be even better.”

The festival is sponsored by Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe and the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation. Other sponsors include:  Pizzamania Whittier, Burrtec Waste Industries, Orchardale Water District and Santa Fe Springs Walmart.  For more information on the festival, please call Adventure Park at (562) 698-7645.

County officials shut down the dispensary in the unincorporated Whittier area on Friday because it didn’t have the proper County permits and licenses. The dispensary, located at 11331 La Mirada Boulevard near Leffingwell Road, was discovered to be operating illegally in late April by County officials who initiated immediate action to close it down.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors adopted the County’s medical marijuana ordinances in 2006, which allow medical marijuana dispensaries to operate within most commercial and manufacturing zones in the unincorporated areas of the County with a conditional use permit and a business license. Dispensaries cannot be located within a 1,000-foot radius of sensitive uses, such as schools, playgrounds, parks, libraries, places of religious worship, child care facilities, etc., and they may not be located within a 1,000-foot radius of other dispensaries unless a variance is obtained from the Regional Planning Commission. The County requires dispensary operators to have all required permits and licenses prior to opening their doors for business.

Representatives of the County Departments of Regional Planning and Treasurer and Tax Collector conducted on-site inspections of the dispensary in late April and issued notices of violation to the dispensary operators for not having the proper permits and licenses. The dispensary closed its doors after County Counsel contacted both the dispensary operators and the property owners, and told them that civil action may be pursued against them if the dispensary did not cease operations immediately.

This is a big victory for the County, said Supervisor Knabe. This is not about whether medical marijuana is right or wrong – the voters have already answered that question. What is most important is ensuring the safety of our children and our communities, and ensuring that properly-permitted dispensaries operate within the law. Closing this dispensary was a high priority and ensures we are keeping our neighborhoods safe.