Sacramento — Senator Bob Huff (R – Diamond Bar), hosted an Education Summit at Citrus College in Glendora.

The Education Summit provided a chance for the education community to hear from a panel of experts in various levels of education. Attendees had an opportunity to dialogue with the speakers and share their concerns about education issues in California, spanning from K-12 to Career Technical Education to higher education.

Kathryn Radtkey-Gaither, California Undersecretary of Education and one of the state’s leading education experts was the guest speaker at the Summit. Additionally, Senator Gloria Romero, Chair of the Senate Education Committee, spoke about the educational challenges California faces and about her committee’s priorities for the legislative year. Other panel participants included: Dr. Edmond Heatley, Superintendent of Chino Valley Unified School District, Mrs. Joanne Montgomery, Citrus College Trustee, and Dr. J. Michael Ortiz, President of Cal Poly Pomona.

"This event is a prime example of Bob Huff’s commitment to education and the students of his district," said Dr. J. Michael Ortiz, President, Cal Poly Pomona.

"The purpose of this summit was to provide a forum in which education advocates, business leaders, school board members, superintendents, teachers, community leaders and parents could come together to find solutions for the betterment of education in California," Senator Huff said.

"Every child in California should have access to the best education possible and be given the tools they need to succeed in life and achieve their dreams," commented Senator Bob Huff. "As Vice Chair of the Senate Education Committee, I remain committed to working together in order that we might make our education system the envy of the world as it once was."

Senator Bob Huff represents portions of Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties.

Beginning April 6, 2009 the U.S. Census Bureau will have volunteers out canvassing neighborhoods to verify addresses in preparation for the actual census on their hand held computers.

The volunteers will have identification badges to indicate they are employees of the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bureau will be holding press conferences on all the local news stations on April 6, to spread the word and let the community know they will be in your neighborhood, and not to be alarmed.

The Census Bureau will be canvassing beginning April 6, until the middle of June 2009.

Have you ever wondered how Earth Day came about or why it is important? Depending on what story you hear first, there are two different people that claim they started Earth Day. The first is a gentleman named John McConnell who made a name for himself as a peace activist. As the story goes, he first introduced the idea of the global holiday, "Earth Day," in 1969 at a conference in San Francisco and later to the City of San Francisco whom adopted the first Earth Day Proclamation. McConnell’s passion for the planet was rare at the time but he was inspired by the first picture of Earth from space printed in Life magazine. McConnell felt it necessary to create a worldwide holiday that celebrated the life and beauty of the planet as well as honor its fragility. The second gentleman with claim to the creation of Earth Day was Gaylord Nelson, a United States Senator from Wisconsin. On April 22, 1970, he called for an environmental teach-in, or Earth Day that was modeled after the frequent Vietnam War protests held on local college campuses. Nelson was known as a conservationist and recognized the need for exposure to the many environmental concerns that were being ignored both nationally and internationally. As a result, Nelson’s idea attracted approximately 20 million Americans with the common goal of bringing attention to the degradation of the environment.

Regardless of who you believe was the originator of Earth Day, 1969-1970 was an important turning point in history. Previous generations viewed natural resources as never ending and that the exploitation of these resources was without consequence. In the early 20th century, people accepted blackened skies and rivers of fire caused by intense and uncontrolled pollution.

Today, the situation is much different with more people realizing the importance of conservation and environmental protection. The origin of Earth Day marked the beginning of the modern environmental movement with a goal of a healthy, sustainable environment. On Earth Day, let’s remember to appreciate nature and learn ways to protect our environment. For some easy ways to help on Earth Day and every day, follow these ideas:

Recycle whenever possible – residents can recycle by placing appropriate items in their gray bins and green waste in green bins. Used oil can also be placed with bins on regular trash days for proper recycling.

Properly dispose of hazardous materials - items such as old paints, fluorescent lights, fertilizers, pesticides, expired pharmaceuticals, cleaners, and electronic waste should not be thrown in the regular trash. These items should be taken to a Countywide Household Hazardous Waste or electronic waste collection event (call 1-888-Clean LA for the next event).

Prevent storm water pollution - through the conduct of daily activities, various pollutants can enter the storm drain. Do your part by preventing the most common pollutants released into storm drains:

3 Fuel and motor oil leaking from cars

3 Household cleaning products

3 Improperly disposed paint and paint thinners

3 Paper, cups, and other litter

3 Yard waste and fertilizers

3 Animal waste left from household pets

Conserve our precious water supply – water is a very limited resource in Southern California so please be sure to not waste it. Don’t over irrigate landscapes and limit water use indoors by fixing leaky faucets or turning water off when not in use.

For further information on these and other environmental efforts by the City of La Verne, please contact Customer Service at (909) 596-8744.

The annual Cool Cruise classic car show will be held in Old Town La Verne, at D Street and Bonita Avenue, from morning to late afternoon, on Saturday, April 11th. This will be the 13th Cool Cruise event to be held over the last 10 years. The Cool Cruise is always by far the biggest annual event in Old Town and this year promises the same. Some 900 classic vehicles are anticipated, bringing in over 10,000 visitors to Old Town. Once again, The Answer will be on hand to play their brand of classic rock. The day is always a great one, so plan to attend.

Cool Cruise is sponsored by the Old Town La Verne Merchants and the City of La Verne. For more information, please contact the City of La Verne at (909) 596-8706.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman David Dreier (R-San Dimas, CA), Rules Committee Ranking Republican, voted against a massive increase in government spending and vowed to continue fighting for policies that will help working families and small business weather the current economic storm. Dreier opposed the conference report accompanying H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which passed the House 246-183, with one member voting present.

Altamonte Springs, Florida — Gale Pacific USA Inc., a leading marketer of pet and shade products, announced the launch of Aussie Pet Aid to assist with animal recovery efforts following the devastating bushfires in Victoria, Australia.

The bushfires represent the worst natural disaster in Australia’s history. While the tragedy is still unfolding, it is clear that hundreds of people have perished or were seriously injured. Over 700 homes have been destroyed.

Less visible but equally affected, are the untold number of animals that have been affected by the bushfires, including household pets that have been hurt and are homeless or in shelters.

Already, relief efforts are underway to support families directly affected by the bushfires and to assist with recovery efforts. President Obama has pledged U.S. aid as well as offered condolences to the bushfire victims.

Drawing attention to the large number of animals that will also require assistance, Gale Pacific is appealing for donations to assist with animal recovery efforts. 100% of the funds raised from the appeal will be used to get much needed supplies to animal rescue centers, including bedding and shading.

Donations can be made via the website www.aussiepet aid.com or directly at 1-800-560-4667.

A subsidiary of an Australian company, Gale Pacific USA Inc., has been involved with animal recovery efforts in the past, most recently providing assistance to the LA ASPCA following the devastation caused by Hurricane Ike in 2008.

For more information about Gale Pacific USA Inc. or Aussie Pet Aid please contact Martin Denney at 1-407 772-7900 EXT.211.

WALNUT — Mt. San Antonio College radio broadcasting students had their best year ever, with 90.1 KSAK winning six Golden Mike awards at the Radio and Television News Association of Southern California’s annual awards ceremony held recently at the Universal Hilton in Hollywood. KSAK’s six Golden Mikes this year tied for most awards with Southland stations KFI, KFWB, and KCLU.

Student Daniel Nolte (Walnut) won a Golden Mike for Best Radio Traffic Report in Division B for radio stations with fewer than five full-time staff. The award was Nolte’s fourth Golden Mike as a radio broadcasting student at Mt. SAC.

KSAK won the Best Documentary award for its "A Voice In Your Life" tribute to the late Don LaFontaine, known as the king of voiceovers. LaFontaine, who died in 2008, was the voice of more than 5,000 movie trailers and television and radio commercials estimated in the hundreds of thousands.

The Mt. SAC station also won three Division B Golden Mikes for its "Sense on the Dollar" series, a consumer program that deals with how to save money and be environmentally responsible. The series won awards for Best Use of Sound, Best Business and Consumer Reporting, and Best Individual Writing.

KSAK operations coordinator Cason Smith (Rowland Heights) and students Karlo Sy Su (Walnut), Danny Saldana (West Covina), and Jeff Bowe (San Dimas) together won the Division B Best Radio Sports Segment award.

"Among these top-performing stations, only KSAK uses students in on-air positions," said Smith, who has been the operations coordinator at KSAK for eight years and also teaches broadcasting at Mt. SAC. "It’s really amazing when you consider the competition that this college radio station goes up against."

The Mt. SAC radio station has won 14 Golden Mikes in the past four years.

The Radio and Television News Association of Southern California annually honors the best in radio and television, ranging from the major networks to college stations.

The recent rains, although burdensome to drivers and those seeking to enjoy a warm day outdoors, is a welcome friend to water purveyors. However, even with what seems to be an immense amount of rain will in actuality do little to ease the need for conservation this summer.

"Too little too late" is likely the moniker that will plague California for years to come. California’s main water sources have been severely impacted by record dry conditions and court ordered pumping shut downs to protect endangered species. This double duo has been hurting water supplies for the last few years, but consumers haven’t yet noticed because reserves stored in reservoirs have been used to maintain regular supplies. Unfortunately, those reservoirs have all but emptied and are no longer available to supplement the growing thirst for water. The reality is that storms are welcomed but it would take several years of record precipitation to cure the ills that have taken place recently.

Water rationing and mandatory restrictions are likely this summer and La Verne like other surrounding agencies will be tasked with cutting back at least 10 to 20 percent compared to water usage last year. This amount of conservation will require all water customers to take considerable steps to meet this goal and will likely require some major changes in how consumers view water. It can no longer be viewed as something that can be taken advantage of but must be treated as a very precious resource.

Conservation is the only answer to the current "too little too late" dilemma and the only way to maintain the high quality of life that residents have come to enjoy.

Customers can visit www. bewaterwise.com for tips on how to conserve water and to find rebates on water saving devices. For other information on La Verne’s water supply and conservation efforts, please contact Customer Service at (909) 596-8744.

WASHINGTON D.C. — Congressman David Dreier (R-San Dimas, CA), House Rules Committee Ranking Republican, was joined by House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) in introducing a constitutional amendment that calls for the direct election of all U.S. Senators, including those filling out-of-cycle vacancies. The amendment has also been introduced in the Senate by Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI), John McCain (R-AZ), and Mark Begich (D-AK). Original co-sponsors in the House are House Judiciary Committee Ranking Republican Lamar Smith (R-TX), House Judiciary Constitution Subcommittee Ranking Republican Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and Congressman Pedro R. Pierluisi (D-PR).

There are times when "THANK YOU" seems inadequate to express appreciation and gratitude. My retirement from service as Mayor of the City of La Verne is one such occasion.

It has been an honor and privilege to be your Mayor. I’ve invested a great deal of time and energy; the return on this investment has multiplied many times, far beyond what I’ve put in.

La Verne is a wonderful city, mainly due to the people who live and work here. Together we’ve met many challenges; I’m sure there are many more to come. I’m absolutely confident that our City Council, staff, and community members will continue the teamwork which has developed a smooth, efficient, effective, and user-friendly local government.

There are several priorities which have been solid commitments during my service as Mayor. One has been a constant focus on quality of life, and all that this includes. Other major priorities have been teamwork and partnerships...working together in positive and productive ways. A final priority, influencing everything I’ve tried to do, is integrity. Hopefully these priorities are clearly evident.

I especially want to thank my wife Joan, and our two children, Laura and Todd. Their support, encouragement, patience, and understanding have greatly contributed to the joy which I’ve experienced as Mayor.

I love La Verne, and I’ve loved being your Mayor. My wife and I plan to continue living in La Verne, spending more time together, enjoying family and hobbies, and travel. This has been a wonderful, rewarding, and challenging experience, for which I extend my deepest and most sincere Thank You!

From Jon Blickenstaff

Ginger just called him Jail Bird. Maybe it hurt his feelings, maybe not. But regardless, that’s what she called him. Of course there was a reason for the name - a pretty good reason actually. He was fresh from the Colorado State Prison in Canon City.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressmen David Dreier (R-San Dimas, CA), House Rules Committee Ranking Republican, and Adam Schiff (D-Pasadena, CA) introduced a resolution commemorating the fifth anniversary of the successful Mars Rovers landing, which was executed in January 2004 by the La Canada Flintridge-based Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which is managed by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).

"JPL is a tremendous source of local and national pride and I am proud to sponsor this resolution recognizing their tremendous achievements," Dreier said. "The Rover missions have exceeded expectations and brought us excellent research and unforgettable images over the past five years. I congratulate the people of JPL for their achievements and wish them continued success in the years ahead."

"In January 2004 I had the privilege of being in the control room at JPL when Spirit landed in Gusev Crater," Schiff said. "It was an amazing experience to watch the utter joy of dozens of scientists and engineers who had worked so hard and for so long on the Rover project. I am honored to work with JPL to maintain its leading role in our space program and I look forward to celebrating the end of their sixth year on the surface in January 2010."

The resolution, H. Res. 67, points to the fact that as of January 2009, the Spirit and Opportunity Mars Rovers Missions will have passed five years of successful operation on the surface of Mars, far exceeding the original 90-Martian mission requirement by a factor of 20, and they are continuing their missions of surface exploration and scientific discovery.

The resolution states: "the House of Representatives commends the engineers, scientists, and technicians of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Cornell University for their successful execution and continued operation of the Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity and recognizes the success and significant scientific contributions of NASA’s Mars Exploration Rovers."

In the summer of 2008, Haiti had been hit by one tropical storm or hurricane one after another. The collapse of an elementary school in Port-au-Prince was one of the tragedies that occurred during that time. Between November 25-27, Tzu Chi visited Haiti to assess the needs of the people in the country and was received by President Mr. Preval who promised full support.

The San Dimas Rodeo Board of Directors unanimously voted to award $5,000 in academic scholarships to 2009 high school graduates and students currently enrolled at Cal Poly, Pomona or Mt. San Antonio College with a major in Animal Husbandry or Agriculture. High School Seniors must attend San Dimas High School or reside in San Dimas, La Verne or Glendora. Since its inception ten years ago, the program as provided over $60,000 in scholarships with individual awards ranging from $250 to $2,500.

The first step of the scholarship selection process will require completing an application and writing an essay. The panel of judges will select approximately 15 candidates to participate in an oral interview. "It is our intention to offer this opportunity to as many students as possible," said Janie Graef, Chairperson of the Scholarship Committee. "Academic rating is not our first priority. We plan to utilize various criteria in selecting the recipients – career goals, participation in school activities, contributing to the community, etc. And, we are not limiting these scholarships to individuals planning to attend four year colleges or universities. Students looking forward to attending a Trade School, Technical College or Community College are encouraged to apply."

Joining Janie on the Scholarship Committee are Patricia Anderson, Executive Director, La Cañada/Flintridge Chamber of Commerce; Ward Calaway, President of Calaway & Brooks, an electronic consulting firm in Upland; Donna Clark, Executive Director, San Antonio Regional Occupational Program, and Banking/Finance Instructor for Baldy View ROP; Gary Enderle, former CEO of the Rodeo; Katherine Markgraf, Recruiting Assistant Director, Tax for Ernst and Young LLC; Misty Reiss, Animal Behavior Counselor for the Inland Empire Humane Society; and Kris Ronchetti, Administrative Manager/Marketing Director for Imperial Medical Imaging.

Scholarship applications are available at local high schools, the Agriculture and Veterinary Departments at Cal Poly Pomona and Mount San Antonio College, and Bonded Cleaners, 409 West Bonita, San Dimas, or applications may be obtained by accessing the Rodeo’s website www.san dimasrodeo.com, or by calling (909) 394-RODEO (909) 394-7633. The deadline for submitting completed applications is Monday, March 16, 2009.

City of La Verne/Office of the City Clerk

La Verne City Hall, 3660 "D" Street,La Verne, CA 91750

Passport services are available Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., or by appointment on a limited basis. To make appointments, applicants should call (909) 596-8726.

Cost of a U.S. passport for those 16 years of age and older is $97 – a $67 passport fee and a $30 execution fee. Applicants under 16 years of age pay $82 — $52 for the passport and a $30 execution fee. On-site passport photos service will not be provided; however, a list of La Verne businesses providing passport photo service is available upon request. After filing, applicants should receive their passports by mail in approximately six weeks. Overnight Delivery with Expedited Services (ensures receipt of passport within two weeks) is also available for an additional fee.

By the time this newspaper reaches your home we will be less than two weeks away from the scheduled digital television evolution. On Tuesday, February 17 all high-power television stations are scheduled to drop their analog signals, the signals we have all watched since commercial television began. From February 17 forward television will be broadcast only in a digital format.

There is a chance that President Obama will attempt to persuade congress to postpone the transition.

POMONA — Cal Poly Pomona provost Marten denBoer has announced that Dr. Carol P. Richardson, professor at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, has accepted an offer to become the new dean of the College of Letters Arts & Social Sciences. On Jan. 1, 2009, she began her leadership of the college and began a six-month transition from her responsibilities in Michigan.

With an extensive background in music education, Richardson has served on the faculty in the School of Music, Theatre and Dance at the University of Michigan for 12 years, teaching music education and research methods and overseeing theses and dissertations. For six years, she also served as chair of the Music Education Department, leading a curriculum review, redesign and implementation for the undergraduate and graduate programs and establishing continuous assessments.

"The important role of CLASS within the campus and external communities makes this a marvelous opportunity," said Richardson. "To be charged as its next steward is humbling and I look forward to beginning my transition."

In addition to teaching, Richardson has worked with the Office of the Dean to facilitate planning processes in the School of Music, Theatre and Dance. Richardson also assisted in the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of Michigan.

"Carol will continue a legacy of energy and passion in the leadership of CLASS," adds denBoer. "Her vision for the future gives me great confidence that we will continue to elevate the work of these important faculty, staff and students."

Richardson’s previous teaching experience also includes serving on the faculty at School of Music and Music Education at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, School of Music at Northwestern University, Ill., and the Music Department at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

For her undergraduate education, Richardson attended Valparaiso University in Indiana, majoring in music education. She received her master’s degree in music from Northwestern University and her doctorate in music education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She also was an American Council on Education (ACE) Fellow (2004-2005), working with Chancellor Nancy Cantor (Syracuse University) and President Mary Sue Coleman (University of Michigan).

Dr. Garbis Der Yeghian, Past Rotary International District Governor, will address La Verne Rotarians on Thursday, January 8th, 2009 at 12:00 noon. Dr. Der Yeghian will present an overview of the current situation in the Middle East and the Caucasus, especially Armenian-Turkish relations, sharing his impressions of his most recent visit to the region. The lecture will be complemented by a power-point presentation.

Dr. Der Yeghian joined the Rotary Club of La Verne in 1981 and served as its president in 1984-85. In addition to the District Governorship, he has occupied numerous high-ranking positions in Rotary International. In June 2002, he was recognized as "Rotary International Champion and Most Distinguished District Governor" at the Rotary International Annual Convention held in Barcelona, Spain. In 2007, he received Rotary’s highest honor, the "Service Above Self" award in appreciation of his global peace efforts. Dr. Der Yeghian is a distinguished educator. He served as President and Dean of the American Armenian International College at the University of La Verne, 1976-1992, and currently serves as President of Mashdots College in Glendale, California and the global American University for Humanities. He and his family have been La Verne residents since 1976.

La Verne Rotarians extend a cordial invitation to interested individuals to attend this most interesting luncheon meeting. The Rotary Club of La Verne meets at the Sierra La Verne Country Club, 6300 Country Club Drive. For reservations or further information, contact Matthew Neeley at (909) 392-4321.

SACRAMENTO – Assemblyman Anthony Adams (R-Hesperia) announced that he has been appointed by Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines to serve as a Chief Republican Whip for the 2008-10 legislative session.

"I’m honored to have been selected as a Chief Republican Whip and I’m ready to help lead our caucus as we enter a new legislative session," said Adams. "California faces many challenges such as a growing budget deficit and a declining economy, but I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and work with my Republican colleagues to craft the solutions that will bring our state back to prosperity."

Adams served as a Republican Whip in the 2006-08 legislative session. Chief Republican Whips help devise legislative floor strategy and provide direction and guidance to the Republican Whips as they work to advance the Republican caucus position during Assembly floor sessions.

"Anthony Adams is an effective advocate for his constituents and hard-working families throughout the state," said Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines, of Fresno. "He has served ably as a member of my leadership team these past two years and his experience in the Assembly and in local government will be of great help as we fight for our pro-jobs and pro-growth agenda that will jumpstart our economy."

Assemblyman Adams represents the 59th Assembly District, which includes the San Bernardino County communities of Apple Valley, Hesperia, Lake Arrowhead, Crestline, San Bernardino, Highland and Mentone. He also represents the Los Angeles County communities of Claremont, La Verne, Glendora, San Dimas, Sierra Madre, Monrovia, Bradbury, Arcadia and La Crescenta.

Forgiveness in a relationship is essential—and forgiveness is one of the most powerful and freeing emotional gifts we can grant to ourselves. But often we are confused or conflicted about what it means to forgive. We may think that forgiving is condoning what our partner has done—or may let them off too easily.

Glendora — The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors thanked Senator Bob Huff for his work on transportation at the OCTA Board meeting December 8th. The OCTA Board issued a resolution, presented to Senator Huff by OCTA Chairman Chris Norby that specifically thanks Senator Huff for his work on Assembly Bill (AB) 2906. AB 2906 eliminated the requirement to maintain a four-foot buffer between the High Occupancy Vehicle ( HOV) lanes and the general purpose lanes of the Costa Mesa Freeway, SR-55.

It is the start of a new year and, as usual I will be exhorting you to protect your PC with antivirus software. But, this year I have some good news.

We have all witnessed it and yet many of us don’t notice it as a large problem? However, when you combine the 4.5 trillion cigarette butts that are littered annually worldwide, it is a little easier to realize there is an issue. In fact, cigarette butts littered on streets, sidewalks, beaches, and waterways are not just ugly but they are also a huge environmental problem. Discarded butts cause harm to water quality and animals alike because of the toxins they contain and they also are often mistaken as a tasty treat by local wildlife.

WALNUT. — The threat of rain couldn’t deter a record 900 students and their families from attending the Cash for College event at Mt. San Antonio College recently.

The event, one of several held countywide in the past month, provided one-on-one assistance for college-bound students to complete and file the complex Federal Student Aid and Cal Grant financial aid forms for the 2008-09 academic year. The event also helped students maximize their financial aid prospects by meeting the early financial aid deadlines. The state financial aid deadline was March 2.

One of the most monumental challenges facing a marriage is the task of healing infidelity. When a person discovers an affair it can be one of the darkest times of their life. And because affairs shatter trust, many seriously contemplate ending the marriage.

Claremont — The Claremont Community School of Music (CCSM) will be holding its fourth annual FAMILY FUN NIGHT with Spaghetti Dinner, Perform-athon and Instrument Petting Zoo on Friday, May 2nd from 4 to 9 p.m.

The evening will be filled with many fun and educational family activities, including the very popular Instrument Petting Zoo where everyone can try out any instrument from drums to saxophone or violin to kazoo! There will also be a live Juke Box, where live musicians will perform requested selections. And at the heart of the event will be our student performance marathon or "Performathon" in our pleasant André Watts Recital Hall. Many more fun activities include juggling and face painting, and there will a fabulous spaghetti dinner to complete the evening!

You will not want to miss the opportunity to bid on silent auction items (from sports gear and games to skyboxes for LA’s best area sports teams!), enter a raffle to win themed raffle baskets, and the Opportunity Drawing for a $1,000 tuition scholarship.

FAMILY FUN NIGHT 2008 is CCSM’s biggest fundraiser of the year. Monies raised at this event will help the school continue to provide music education to all.

The mission of the Clare-mont Community School of Music is to enrich the lives of individuals and the community through music; to provide outstanding instruction for amateur and aspiring professional musicians of all ages; to reach out to the community through diverse programs and public performances; to promote and nurture a lifelong passion for music; to make music education available to all.

Pomona — Cal Poly Pomona’s renowned W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center will host two special shows on Thursdays, April 10 and May 1. Though the shows are timed ideally for youngsters on field trips and groups, anyone can attend. Reservations are required.

WALNUT—The Mt. SAC Relays Youth Days will welcome its 280,000th participant as an estimated 7,000 young athletes from more than 160 schools are expected to compete in the annual track and field event to be held April 4 and 5 at Mt. SAC’s Hilmer Lodge Stadium.

WALNUT — The Mt. San Antonio College Art Gallery is presenting an exhibit inspired by the land of Amazon, "Art of the Rainforest," which runs through May 8 at the Mt. SAC Art Gallery. This exhibit is free and open to the public.

The La Verne Heritage Foundation and the City of La Verne will jointly host this great Summer in the Park series. This year's series returns with a line up of top bands appealing to all ages.

A stent is a tiny metal mesh tube that is inserted into a narrow or blocked artery to open it and restore blood flow. The most common use of the stent is to open an artery that is partially blocked by plaque, which builds up on the inner artery walls and slows blood flow to the heart. The stent holds the blood vessel open until the body can coat it with its own blood vessel cells, which stops the risk of blood clot formation. This healing process normally takes about six months to complete, although the stent remains in place permanently.

     Since the introduction of cardiac stents, millions of patients have been treated with this new technology and, in many cases have avoided open heart surgery to correct blockage of blood vessels leading to the heart.
The insertion of a stent during or following a cardiac angioplasty procedure helps relieve chest pain and related symptoms by increasing blood flow to the heart muscle. However, not all patients with atherosclerosis and narrowed or blocked arteries will benefit from stent placement. Some patients cannot undergo the procedure to insert the stent, and others cannot tolerate the antiplatelet medications that must be taken for a year or more after the stent is inserted.

DRUG ELUTING STENTS
About six million patients worldwide have been implanted with drug-eluting stents, which became available in 2003. Each year, two million additional people will receive a drug-eluting stent, with one million of theses in the United States. During the procedure, a stent is inserted through a large artery in the arm or groin and is threaded up into to the narrowed artery over a balloon catheter. In some cases, the balloon is inflated and the stent opens, propping open the artery and restoring blood flow. In other cases, the balloon opens the artery and the stent is inserted immediately afterward.

EARLY AND LONG TERM COMPLICATIONS:
Complications, including bleeding, blood clots, or infection, can occur as a result of stent placement. Rarely, a blood vessel can tear during procedure. Some patients are allergic to the stent material or the drug coating on the stent. After the stent has been placed, it can move out of place. The artery can become blocked again after the stent has been in place. The artery can become blocked again after the stent has been in place for a period of time – a condition known as restenosis. To prevent restenosis and to help healing, patients who have received a stent take anticlotting medications for specific periods of time, as prescribed by their doctors. Most patients take aspirin for the rest of their lives and likely will take an additional antiplatelet drug, such as clopidogrel (Plavix), to prevent blood clots for a year or even longer. Doctors are now trying to determine the proper length of time that patients with bare metal and drug-eluting stents should take clopidogrel to avoid the risk of blood clot formation.

5k fun run/walk will benefit Lupus International

Join the La Verne community in participating in its first “La Verne Loop” 5k run/walk on Saturday, April 21, 2007 at 8 a.m. at University of La Verne’s Sneaky Park. The event encourages participants of all ages to take part in the event with the emphasis on fun and personal achievement.

“La Verne Loop” is a fun run/walk that was inspired by two ULV seniors, Jamie Mahoney and Gabriela De La Cruz, as part of their senior project. The run will help raise money for Lupus International to fund vital research to find the causes and cure of Lupus, as well as create awareness about the disease.

Race participants will receive free bagels, fresh fruit, water and a t-shirt and free run bag filled with sponsor products. Trophies will be awarded to the top male and female runners. Awards also will be given to the top three fund raisers.

Entry fee for the 5K run is $10 for students, $15 for adults and $20 on the day of the race. Registration can be done through the mail, over the phone or online. Checks may be payable to Lupus International, 17985 Sky Park Circle, Suite J, Irvine CA 92614. To pay with a credit card or for more information about Lupus International, please call toll free at (888) 532-2322.

Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease that can affect various parts of the body, especially the skin, joints, blood, and kidneys. It is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system, for unknown reasons, becomes hyperactive and attacks normal tissue. This attack results in inflammation and brings about symptoms.

University of La Verne (www.ulv.edu) is one of the nation’s leading private universities. Located in La Verne, CA, the university gives students exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary study and close collaboration with faculty through its unique curriculum

The New Year brought a greater cash incentive for Californians to recommit to recycling and preserving the environment.  January 1, 2007, marked the first day of an increase in the cash refund consumers receive when they take their empty California Refund Value bottles and cans to recycling centers.  For the first six months of the year, the recycling refund will be larger than the amount of CRV consumers pay at the checkout stand for most beverages in aluminum, glass and plastic containers.

California Transportation Commission’s  latest Revised Proposition 1B Funding Recommendations

 “The California Transportation Commission’s (CTC) latest revised funding recommendations are fantastic news for all of L.A. County. Voters can finally feel confident that if they support transportation bonds, that funding will make its way to their end of town.
It is now safe to say that L.A. County is receiving its fair share of Proposition 1B monies – and that means that the work of the Los Angeles lobbying delegation that pounded the pavement in Sacramento last week has paid off. The bottom line is: Because of our teamwork, the total amount of funding allocated to L.A. County has more than quadrupled.

“I have always felt that the 405 Freeway carpool lane and the 5 Freeway widening project warranted full funding – but I felt just as strongly that San Gabriel Valley residents deserved their fair share, too. Thankfully, the CTC demonstrated that they, too, understand this fact. Now, the commission has assured us that the 605-10 Freeway connector in Baldwin Park – which is undoubtedly the San Gabriel Valley’s version of the 405-101 Freeway interchange – is slated to receive $71 million in Caltrans funding, which is within the CTC’s discretion. Though the state still opted not to fund the 10 Freeway carpool lane, as MTA Chair, I will make it a priority to find local dollars for this critical project. The San Gabriel Valley still has reason to celebrate, though – as do San Fernando Valley residents now that the CTC has pledged close to $50 million for the 5 Freeway carpool lane from Route 134 to Route 170. All in all, this decision is a victory for L.A. County.”

La Verne – An excellent country breakfast at Flo’s Café, Chino Airport, followed by an enlightening seminar given by real participants in Capt. Jimmy Doolittle’s raid on Tokyo during World War II.  That’s what several men and guests of First Baptist Church of La Verne enjoyed on Saturday, March 3.   

The San Dimas Festival of Arts invites you to “Follow Our Trail to the Future” at the 31st Annual National Western Art Exhibition & Sale.