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ANAHEIM PRESS
MONDAY, JULY 7, 2014 - JULY 13, 2014
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Anaheim Ducks sign Clayton Stoner for $13 million over four years by Vickie Vértiz On Tuesday, July 1st, free-agent defensemen Clayton Stoner signed a four-year contract worth $13 million with the Anaheim Ducks. A lesser known pick than others, Stoner was previously a defenseman with Minnesota, but the Ducks hope that he will be a huge force for the team. At 6-foot-4 and 216-pounds, Stoner has quite an intimidating physical presence. He spent his entire National Hockey League (NHL) career with the Minnesota Wild and made $1.1 million last season, appearing in all of the 13 playoff games, even when they lost to Chicago in the second round. According to the Orange Country Register, Stoner, 29, should bring an added mean streak to the Anaheim defense lineup. “You’ll probably see me drop the gloves a few times to stick up for my teammates,” he said. To prove his point, last
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More than half a billion dollars targeted to upgrade transportation and drive job growth
New state budget also increases transportation funding by $351 Million
“This case is particularly egregious given that the defendant, a physician, had taken an oath to ‘never do harm,’” said Claude Arnold, special agent in charge for HSI Los Angeles. “Instead he chose to hurt and exploit innocent and vulnerable children through his consumption of Internet child pornography. This case shows that HSI works with the private sector as well as our law enforcement partners to investi-
The California Transportation Commission (CTC) has allocated $510 million to 83 transportation projects that will put people to work improving the state’s highways, bridges, and public transit. One of the highlights of the meeting was the CTC revising its funding estimate upward for the State Highway Operation and Protection Program (SHOPP) for the 201415 fiscal year from $2.2 billion to approximately $2.4 billion. The revision was in response to the new state budget, which provides $351 million in new transportation funding through the early repayment of loans made to the General Fund. The new funding includes $210 million for the SHOPP, which pays for transportation safety projects, pavement repair and preservation work, and upgrades bridges; $27 million for Caltrans maintenance projects; $100 million for city and county transportation; $9 million for bicycle and pedestrian projects under California’s new Active
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Clayton Stoner, still in his Minnesota Wild uniform. -Courtesy Photo
season he earned 296 penalty minutes in 227 NHL games. “I felt I learned a lot this year,” Stoner added. “Hopefully, I can just keep getting bet-
ter. I wouldn’t say I’m a late bloomer, but sometimes defensemen take a little more time.” Please see page 2
Former Orange County physician sentenced to more than 3 years on a child pornography charge A physician formerly employed by Southern California Permanente Medical Group in Anaheim was sentenced Monday to 41 months in federal prison for downloading and possessing child pornography depicting the sometimes sadistic abuse of young children. Robert Harold Dolin, 55, of Irvine, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing child pornography in January. He was sentenced Monday morning by U.S. District Judge James V. Selna, who wrote in his
SEE PAGE 4 for muralist improving communities
sentencing memorandum that “possession of child pornography – especially material that involves prepubescent minor and masochistic or violent conduct is a real crime with real victims. It is serious and it must be deterred.” The case is the result of a probe by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Orange County Child Exploitation Task Force, with assistance from Kaiser Permanente.
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Ducks sign Clayton Stoner Continued from page 1
Stoner said that at 29 years of age, the next few years in Anaheim should be the best years of his career. This last season, Stoner scored a goal, had four assists, and 84 penalty minutes in 63 games. Anaheim seems to be on the same page. “Anaheim made it known they were looking for more size, and they liked physical defensemen on the back end,” Stoner said, as reported by the Register. “My agent was pushing for Anaheim, too. When they were talking terms, it was either three or four years. Stoner also said that the Ducks initiated talks during the week-long recruiting period where teams discuss contracts with unrestricted free agents, negotiating terms that would convince them to playing with their respective teams. “I wanted four years, and they were willing. That was a big part of my decision. What the club has done in the past few years was something I was really looking forward to and trying to help.” The offer from the Ducks was a bit of a surprise considering Stoner has only played one full season, but given the extravagant amounts of money being given out that week, it was not an unusual deal. Stoner said other teams from Florida, Arizona, Cal-
gary, Colorado and Montreal had expressed interest in him, but made up his mind with an annual deal worth $3.25 million each of the four years. “As a player on a different team, you always look at Anaheim as being a beautiful place to live,” said Stoner. “But at the same time, it’s amazing what they’ve done as an organization. A lot of times, the warmer climates aren’t big hockey meccas, and sometimes the teams aren’t as good, but Anaheim goes completely against that.” “They won a Cup fairly recently and had a chance here in the past few years. My goal is to come in play a physical style and try to be a steady, stay-at-home defenseman who can be reliable and be counted on in key situations.” Three other Ducks’ players changed home teams. The Los Angeles Times reports that Goalie Jonas Hiller signed with the Calgary Flames, center Mathieu Perreault moved to Winnipeg for three years and $9 million, while defenseman Stephane Robidas reached a three-year agreement worth $9-million with Toronto. The deal with Stoner was announced by the Ducks on Tuesday, which was also the opening day of the NHL free agency time period.
Cast a net for new business at July 9 Leads Lunch There is an old adage, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” The Anaheim Chamber will not only feed you for a day at the next Leads Lunch held at McCormick and Schmick’s Grille on July 9, but we will also help you catch business for the future with this networking opportunity. Come prepared to give a 30-second introduction and bring business cards to help land some new clients or discover contacts for services that you need. Each McCormick & Schmick’s restaurant is uniquely designed to create an inviting, original and relaxed atmosphere, where guests can enjoy the highest quality dining experience. Each McCormick & Schmick’s
Seafood Restaurant’s menu is printed twice daily, featuring the signature “Fresh List” highlighting an impressive number of fresh seafood varieties, in addition to aged steaks, poultry, entrée salads and pasta. McCormick & Schmick’s commitment to local freshness is apparent in the seasonally inspired dishes and regionally inspired preparations offered. We hope to see you at McCormick & Schmick’s Grille for our next networking adventure! You can register online at http:// anaheimcacoc.weblinkconnect. com/events/Leads-Lunch_-1465/ details Time: 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at McCormick & Schmick's Grille, 321 W. Katella Ave. Cost: $15 members/$20 non-members.
Physician sentenced for child pornography Continued from page 1
gate those who sexually exploit our children to ensure these individuals feel the full weight of the law.” In March 2008, Kaiser Permanente alerted HSI that its routine monitoring of employee-assigned computers indicated that a computer assigned to Dolin was being used to access child exploitation websites. HSI special agents subsequently executed search warrants at Dolin’s Irvine home and Anaheim office, seizing multiple computers and electronic storage, both corporate and personal. The investigation revealed that from January through April of 2008, Dolin received over 1,000 electronic images of child pornography via his work computer. The images depicted the abuse of prepubescent children – often sadistically – in addition to images of infants, toddlers and pre-schoolaged children being sexually abused. This investigation was conducted under HSI’s Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since
the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 10,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2013, more than 2,000 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative. HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its tollfree 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST. For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI’s Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page.
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Transportation upgrade and job growth Continued from page 1
Transportation Program; and $5 million to mitigate environmental effects of proposed transportation improvements. The $510 million in CTC funding allocations include nearly $163 million for “fix it first” projects that will repair bumpy pavement, preserve roads that are in good condition from deteriorating and upgrade bridges to make them safer and stronger. Most of California’s highways are more than a half-century old, and they carry nearly half of the nation’s container freight – heavy loads that pound our highways more than any other state. “To get the most bang for the buck for taxpayers, Caltrans targets dollars where they are most effective - pavement preservation,” Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty said. “Every $1 spent on preventive pavement maintenance saves Californians $11 that would have been spent on expensive pavement repairs.” The allocations also include $104 million from Proposition 1B, a transportation bond approved by voters in 2006. To date, more than $17 billion in Proposition 1B funds have been put to work statewide for transportation purposes. Here are some of the significant projects that will improve and/or preserve California’s valuable investments in its transportation system that received allocations: $71 million - Fairway Drive Grade Separation Project - Construct a roadway underpass on Fairway Drive and a doubletrack railroad bridge in the city of Industry. $5.8 million - Washington Boulevard Widening and Reconstruction – Widen Washington Boulevard from two lanes to three lanes in each direction, upgrade traffic signals and street lighting, and improve sidewalks in the city of Commerce.
Planning and Public Utilities win awards The Planning Department won the Public Engagement Award for its series of “Visualizing the Code” videos, currently airing www.YouTube.com/CityofAnaheim. This award recognizes new and innovative ways to engage the public. The bilingual video series functions as an educational tool to provide residents unlimited access to instructional videos designed to communicate common Zoning Code requirements as applicable to residential properties. The series provides on-demand, immediate access to information that meets the needs of customers seeking information regarding development process. The Public Utilities Department won the Energy/Environmental Quality Award for its innovative partnerships with local schools
in supporting energy and environmental sustainability through technical assistance, financial incentives, and student education. Public Utilities partners with public and private schools to conduct energy efficiency and water conservation activities which reduce the schools’ utility costs. In addition, students learn the importance of conservation and the science behind energy efficiency, solar energy and water conservation. As a result of the programs offered by Public Utilities, which include conservation rebates, free shade trees and solar energy systems, Anaheim schools are saving approximately $1.2 million per year in utility costs, and the reduced emissions equate to taking 916 vehicles off the road.
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Levi Ponce: A talented muralist envisioning community improvement through painting By JENNIFER schlueter A close friend recommended I check out Levi Ponce’s art (www.leviponce.com). Thrilled about what I saw, we set up an interview at the location of his next mural on a Sunday. In the afternoon, I arrive at Plaza de la Raza in Lincoln Heights, where Levi and his crew had already been working for two hours on a memorial painting for Mexican –American starlet Jenni Rivera who died in a plane crash 2012. Approximately a dozen people stand around the shaded spot where Levi is painting alongside his father and a few
da Vinci. When I ask him if he prefers realistic styles, he says no; he loves everything that looks good: sculpture, graffiti, pop art, etc. In 2011, the artist, who works in visual effects for his day time job in the film industry, started to use his art to bring the community of his hometown Pacoima together. When he paints, he invites everyone to join. Together with his father and many other volunteers, he transformed graffiti marked walls of his neighborhood into what is now called the “Mural Mile.” The strip on Van Nuys
“I've always been the kid with the paint brush in his hand” - Levi Ponce other artists he had invited to join, including Rivera’s son Mike. While Levi’s father is coloring the yellow flowers at the bottom of a painting, Levi stands on a ladder shading Rivera’s face. The bilingual artist tells me that he has been painting since he was 4 and that he has “always been the kid with a paint brush in his hand.” Levi idolizes his father with whom he regularly paints, and legendary Classics such as Salvador Dali, Michelangelo, and Leonardo
Boulevard between Arleta and Herrick Avenue now hosts more than 20 murals depicting Levi’s interpretation of Mona Lisa, a tribute to Michelangelo, several portraits, etc. According to a Huffington post article, Kevin Taylor, chairman of the Reseda Neighborhood Council, praises Levi’s and his work: “Levi is without a doubt one of the most important artists in Los Angeles right now, “ he said. “With the work he’s doing, his skill level, talent, the speed with which he works
Levi Ponce painting with his father -Photo by Jennifer Schlueter
and the positive messages he brings to his murals, what he’s bringing to communities that need his work ... To have the opportunity to have him painting here in Reseda is a huge honor, and the murals that he’s leaving here are treasures.” However, the Cal State Northridge graduate does not limit his murals to the San Fernando Valley. With his art, he wants to “paint cities, not walls,” as he says. His murals and paintings are all over Los Angeles, but also on the east coast. His eyes light up when Levi tells me about his ultimate goal to tour the world while painting, but especially in Brazil, where they have “a mean street art game,” as he describes it.
When I ask the artist for a message that he wants to get out, he says: “You don’t need your city’s permission if you want to do something positive.” He is not interested in starting his own organization to help communities, but would rather have existing organizations work closer together instead of competing with them by starting his own. After all, “I just want to paint,” he states. Levi does not get paid for his murals; he finances them out of his own pocket. By painting them, he not only beautifies communities, but also engages them to work together. More information about Levi Ponce and his art can be found on www.leviponce.com.