Issues

Paid Summer Internships For College Students Available Through Arts Internship Program

Summer job opportunities for 74 college students are now available through the L.A. County Arts Internship Program. Descriptions of and contacts for the internship positions are posted on the Arts Commission’s Web site. Go to www.lacountyarts.org, click on Internships, then 2010 Internship Positions.

Interested students should act as soon as positions are posted as there is stiff competition for a limited number of internships. Students apply directly to the organization offering the internship, not the Arts Commission. The organizations will want to move as fast as possible so their interns can start by May 31.

Graduating seniors who complete their undergraduate degrees by September 1, 2010 are eligible, as well as undergraduates. Applicants must have completed at least one semester of college by June 2010 and be currently enrolled (full-time) in a community college or a four-year university. Applicants must be a resident of and/or attending school in Los Angeles County.

The positions are for 10 weeks and pay $350 per week. Interns also take part in educational and arts networking activities. Through the program, interns gain real work experience to strengthen their resumes and develop business skills that can be put to use in their future careers.

To support the internships, Los Angeles County, through its Arts Commission, has given grants totaling $250,000 to 74 arts organizations throughout the County.

Through the program, interns gain a deeper understanding of the work involved in nonprofit arts administration and the role of the arts in a community and develop business skills that can be put to use in their future careers. Internship host organizations help mold and shape potential new arts leaders who may go on to hold positions on staffs, boards or as volunteers.

Knabe To Dedicate Avalon’s New Lifeguard And Paramedic Station

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe will join City of Avalon and Los Angeles County Fire and Lifeguard officials at the ribbon-cutting dedication of Avalon’s new state-of-the-art lifeguard and paramedic headquarters building. The ceremony will take place on Friday, April 30, 2010 at 12:30 p.m.

The $5.423 million project was constructed on a parcel of land adjacent to City Hall that was donated to the County by the City of Avalon. The building 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. Additionally, the Los Angeles County Arts Commission through its Civic Art Program commissioned artists Sandow Birk and Elyse Pignolet to create a ceramic tile mural for the fa cade of the new Avalon Lifeguard Paramedic Headquarters.

Los Angeles County lifeguards have faithfully and effectively served Catalina Island for 40 years, said Fire Chief P. Michael Freeman. With the completion of this state-of-the-art facility, their base of operation and commitment to the Avalon community is solidified. We are very appreciative of the collaboration with the City of Avalon and Supervisor Don Knabe to accomplish this important project.

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.

I am very excited about this new station, which was a truly collaborative effort between the City and County, said Supervisor Knabe. I know that the lifeguard station will enhance current operations here in Avalon. Currently, the housing we do have for our lifeguards is in short supply so this new station will allow our lifeguards to have the housing that they need to provide critical services to the both the residents and visitors of Avalon.

County’s New Conversion Technology Project Promises A “Greener” Future

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has given the green light to a series of demonstration projects designed to convert non-recyclable waste into clean energy. As approved by the Board, the Southern California Conversion Technology Demonstration Project will use state-of-the-art methods to break down virtually all solid, non-recyclable waste into renewable material, such as biodiesel and ethanol fuel.

The project will use a variety of processes, including anaerobic digestion, pyrolysis, and gasification to convert currently untreatable waste into re-useable material. Once the demonstration phase has been successfully completed, the technology will eventually be installed at other County waste facilities.

While conversion technology has been implemented in Japan, Europe and Canada, the County’s demonstration sites will be the first of their kind in the United States.

The demonstration project phase will be undertaken at three waste facilities, two in Riverside County and one in Orange County. They include an anaerobic digestion project operated by Arrow Ecology and Engineering and CR&R in Perris, a gasification project operated by Entech Renewable Energy Solutions and Rainbow Disposal Co., Inc. in Huntington Beach, and a pyrolysis project operated by International Environmental Solutions and Burrtec Industries in unincorporated Riverside. Additional project sites are also being identified in Los Angeles County.

The Board of Supervisors has been at the forefront of efforts to evaluate and promote the development of conversion technologies as environmentally friendly alternatives to landfill disposal. About 135,000 tons of trash are sent to California landfills every day.

Conversion projects have the potential to reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfills, create local green jobs, produce renewable energy and turn trash into a resource. The demonstration project is supported by a broad coalition of local governments, residents, waste management agencies and environmentalists.

Terry O’Day, Executive Director of Environment Now, said that the future of trash management would see a dramatic shift away from landfills. As we make the shift, we should always look to see if the waste can be reduced, recycled and disposed of in the least harmful way, O’Day said.

These new technologies hold promise to reduce greenhouse gases, reduce diesel emissions, reduce the need for waste transport through our neighborhoods, and supply a source of base power that facilitates our transition to renewable energy. The demonstration projects should provide very useful data to evaluate these potential benefits, he added.

The projects are expected to be operational by 2012.

Funding Continues For Fourth District Paratransit Shuttle Service

Supervisor Don Knabe today announced that the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved $708,000 in funding for the continuation of paratransit shuttle service for eligible patrons in the unincorporated areas of the Fourth District for Fiscal Year 2010-2011.

The program will include the following paratransit shuttle services: La Rambla, Marina del Rey, Rancho Los Amigos, Teen Mother, and the Whittier Islands.

“I am pleased to be able to secure the funds for this service,” said Supervisor Knabe. “Many of our transit dependent residents utilize public transportation and these shuttle services are a vital component of their livelihood.”

The County will provide funding through the Fourth District’s Proposition A Local Return Transit Program. The financing continues the successful shuttle service for eligible patrons of the unincorporated areas of the Fourth District, improving mobility for transit dependant patrons.

County To Continue Improving San Gabriel River Bike Path In Lakewood And Cerritos

Several sections of the San Gabriel River Bicycle Trail will soon be reconstructed in the Cities of Cerritos and Lakewood, Supervisor Don Knabe announced today. The project will be completed in four separate phases, and is being funded with over $2.5 million in Fourth District Capital Improvement funds. The reconstruction will also remove sharp turns and improve the sight distance, which will improve the level of safety for trail users.

Phase 1, which was completed on February 12, 2009, realigned and reconstructed 350 feet of the trail, at Del Amo Boulevard in City of Cerritos. Phase 1 also consisted of the relocation of the existing access gates and power poles, and the installation of trail signage, yellow centerline striping, and pavement markings.

Next is Phase 2, which will cost an estimated $336,000, will realign and reconstruct another 460 feet of the path just south of Del Amo Boulevard. Additionally, the existing reclamation waterline and street lights will be relocated, and trail signage, yellow centerline striping, and pavement markings will be installed.

Phase 3 has a budget of $1,080,000 and consists of the reconstruction of an approximately one mile segment of the trail and widening the existing bike trail from 10 feet to 12 feet wide from Del Amo Boulevard to Carson Street in the City of Lakewood.

Finally, Phase 4 will cost an estimated $1,350,000, and will realign and reconstruct a tunnel and 125 feet of the path at 183rd Street in the City of Cerritos. A new access ramp will be constructed on the north side of 183rd Street, which will follow the alignment of the current tunnel approach.

It is important that the bike paths along our riverbeds are safe, said Supervisor Knabe. The improvements will enhance the safety and increase enjoyment of the numerous residents and visitors who use the San Gabriel River Bike Trail.

This project is part of a larger capital investment plan that Supervisor Knabe announced during his annual State of the County address on November 4, 2009. At the event, Supervisor Knabe unveiled over $42 million in Fourth District Capital Projects that would be built in communities across the Fourth District in 2010.

Los Verdes Golf Course To Begin Capital Improvement Project

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe, the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation and American Golf, Los Verdes Golf Course Operator, are pleased to announce the commencement of the driving range practice facility renovation project at Los Verdes Golf Course located in Rancho Palos Verdes.

American Landscape Construction, the project contractor, anticipates the project to begin on May 17, 2010 and to be completed within ninety working days. The renovation project which costs $432,000 is funded by the Los Verdes Golf Course Capital Improvement Fund.

We look forward to the course improvements, said Supervisor Knabe. We know golfers and the surrounding community eagerly await this exciting project funded by the capital improvement fund that’s generated from a portion of all green fees paid by golfers. This facility will continue to provide the community with an excellent recreational facility for many years to come.

In 1998 the County of Los Angeles renovated the Los Verdes Golf Course driving range. An artificial turf was installed on the approximately four acre facility. Because of the natural elements such as sun, wind and rain, that surface has outlived its useful life.

County Continues Funding Palos Verdes Shuttle Service

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors recently approved the disbursement of $408,200 to the Palos Verdes Peninsula Transit Authority to continue public transit services for the Fiscal Year 2010-2011, Supervisor Don Knabe announced.

The funds for the disbursement come from the Fourth Supervisorial District’s allocation of Proposition A Local Return Transit Program funds.

"This shuttle service on the Palos Verdes Peninsula has been very successful throughout the years, said Supervisor Knabe. The allocation of these funds will aid many students and seniors on the Peninsula who need an effective way of getting around."

For more information about the Palos Verdes Peninsula Transit Authority visit. http://www.palosverdes.com/pvtransit

County Seeks To Create 15,000 Summer Youth Jobs

Los Angeles County will soon be expanding its Summer Youth Employment Program, Supervisor Don Knabe announced today. The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion by Supervisors Knabe and Zev Yaroslavsky to significantly increase the number of youth eligible to get a summer job. The expanded program could employ as many as 15,000 youth throughout the County.

State rules allow for local governments to utilize American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds to provide summer youth employment for a specific group of qualifying young people, including those in CalWORKs families, in foster care or emancipating from foster care. It is estimated that the County could draw down as much as $30 million in federal funds to create the 15,000 summer jobs. The expansion of this important program is made possible by the successful partnerships that the County already has in place.

Just over a year ago the Board of Supervisors approved a plan to develop employment opportunities for up to 10,000 County residents, utilizing American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds. As a result, an unprecedented collaboration emerged between Los Angeles County and the Workforce Investment Boards across the County, and yielded employment for over 11,000 adults and youth.

There is a tremendous need for our youth to be meaningfully engaged in positive activities in our communities, and employment is vital to that experience, said Supervisor Knabe. We will continue to take full advantage of every opportunity to provide summer jobs to thousands of young people, which for many is their only chance to learn and practice the skills needed to transition into a self-sufficient adulthood.

Click here for more information or to apply visit the County’s Summer Youth Employment Program website.

County Will Make Improvements To Hacienda Boulevard

Hacienda Boulevard in the unincorporated community of Hacienda Heights will soon undergo significant improvements, Supervisor Don Knabe announced today. The project is part of Los Angeles County’s ongoing effort to provide improved infrastructure in its unincorporated areas.

The $345,623 project will reconstruct and repave Hacienda Boulevard’s roadway between Richview Drive to Glenmark Drive. Additionally, the project includes constructing adjacent sidewalks, ramps, curbs, gutters, signage, landscaping, and an irrigation system. The funds for this project are included in the Fourth Supervisorial District’s Road Fund Budget. This project is scheduled to start in June 2010 and be completed in July 2010.

It is important that we constantly look for ways to improve the roads and increase motorist safety in our County, said Supervisor Knabe. By improving Hacienda Boulevard, not only will the residents of Hacienda Heights benefit, but so will the residents of neighboring cities and our other unincorporated communities that travel this route.

Renaissance Faire Returns To Los Angeles County

The 48th Annual Original Renaissance Pleasure Faire, Where Fantasy Rules! returns to the Los Angeles County Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area on Saturday, April 10, 2010. The Original Renaissance Pleasure Faire will take place every Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. from April 10, 2010 through May 23, 2010.

The Renaissance Pleasure Faire has always been one of our more popular events and something people from far and near come to attend, said Russ Guiney, Director of County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation. I am pleased about the continued success this celebration has experienced at our very own Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area.

The Original Renaissance Pleasure Faire initially moved to the lush, shady Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area six years ago and garnered instant recognition with thousands of fans who warmly welcomed the Faire back to Los Angeles County. In 2008, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a five-year contract allowing the Original Renaissance Faire to call Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area home until 2012.

The Renaissance Pleasure Faire embodies the 16th Century Elizabethan period with its presentation of a true English port-town faire and marketplace throughout 20 acres of shaded pavilions and thoroughfares. The 360 degree spectacular recreation of the Port of Deptford England casts 2,000 brightly costumed characters to delight the audience and to celebrate with laughter, savory foods, hearty ales, juices, games of skill and chance, hand powered rides, demonstrations of lost arts, such as glassblowing, by skilled artisans. Seven Parades cross the Faire grounds daily and 12 stages entertain continuously throughout the day.

In addition to producing the Faire, the organizers of the event also host a School Day program, which opens the Faire to more than 10,000 children from the Los Angeles School District. The Faire format on School Day will be tailored just for kids in an interactive structure.

Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area, which is located at 15501 East Arrow Highway in Irwindale, is a United States Army Corps of Engineers’ Facility and a part of the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation. For more information about Faire programming please call (626) 969-4750.