SEE PAGE 4 FOR i-710 meetings held by community group
Pasadena Press
MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2014 - OCTOBER 26, 2014
pasadenapress.com
Rep. Chu praised by President Obama at declaration of newest national monument in San Gabriel Mountains
whose district includes much of the new monument and who has led the Congressional effort for more protections, attended the announcement and released the following statement: “This is a truly great day. Every day, I and millions of oth-
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By SHEL SEGAL just released in the theaters. “The Hero of Color City” tells the story of crayons who jump into their magical Crayon Box that transports them to their home in Color City, a world of dazzling hues, soaring fantasy and the whimsy of childhood. This land is fed by an enchanted rainbow and waterfall
California only state to see progress covering uninsured children
that provides the city and its citizens with color. Students from Willard had the opportunity to sing on the soundtrack for the film because of the school’s partnership with Islands Restaurant and the Crayon Collection, a national charity
ers in the Los Angeles area look to these mountains. They are a majestic backdrop and comprise 70 percent of the open space for the area. Naturally, their beauty and proximity at-
Willard Elementary students sing on movie soundtrack Those who stay for the credits at the movies this weekend might hear some local voices. Thanks to the nonprofit Crayon Collection, the Willard Elementary School choir in the Pasadena Unified School District was invited to sing for the closing credits of “The Hero of Color City,” an animated film that was
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Alex Johnson, Executive Director of the Children’s Defense Fund - California, released the following statement on the U.S. Census Bureau’s State Health Insurance Coverage Estimates: “Today’s health insurance numbers show more than a 6 percent drop in the number of uninsured children in California between 2012 and 2013 – which means 56,884 more children now have health coverage. Significant progress increasing the number of covered children nationwide has decreased the number of uninsured children to historic lows. These gains are mostly due to the strong coverage guarantees in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which last year provided comprehensive health and mental health coverage to more than 44 million children across the country, and more than half of California’s children. “Since 2011, CDF-CA in partnership with AASA, the School Superintendent’s Association in California has increased the capacity of school districts to identify uninsured children and link them to health coverage. California was the only state in the country to see a statistically significant decrease in the number of uninsured children in 2013. “However, even as we celebrate progress in providing children a healthy start, CHIP faces a very real threat. If Congress doesn’t take action, there will be
Obama signing the National Recreation Area - Photo by Jacon Bigley
In view of the San Gabriel Mountains, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27) was praised by President Barack Obama as he declared more than 346,000 acres of national forest land there the nation’s newest national monument this morning. Rep. Chu,
SEE PAGE 3 for nurses endorsing water bond
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Inaugural Laugh for Life slated Oct 25 Women’s Pregnancy Care Clinic (WPCC), a new Pasadena nonprofit helping women facing an unplanned pregnancy with medical services and support, is hosting its inaugural laugh for life October 25. The show, featuring “Clean Comedians” whose motto is “It doesn’t have to be dirty to be funny,” will feature the physical comedy of Cary Trivanovich, Kathy Westfield’s inspirational humor, urban edgy comedy from Gilbert Esquivel and magical illusions from host Adam Christing. Also
performing will be premier violinist Roddy Chong, who toured with Celine Dion, Shania Twain and performed for the Queen of England and…and even Oprah. The event will take place at Lake Avenue Church October 25 with a 3pm Family Show and 7pm Evening Show, children welcome. For tickets call 626-4409400 or go online at www.WPCCLaugh4Life.com. $20 adults, $10 children. All proceeds benefit WPCC. To learn more about WPCC visit www.pregnancycareclinic.net
Broadway goes west to San Gabriel Nov 8th at 3pm the San Gabriel Valley Music Theatre will be presenting an outdoor concert event as a part of their Broadway Series: Broadway Goes West! “A Celebration of the American Musical.” The performance will take place at the intimate Grapevine Park of the historic San Gabriel Mission Playhouse. This wonderful event will feature songs from memorable Tony Award winning shows such as Oklahoma, Annie Get Your Gun, Ragtime, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Showboat and Music Man performed by a company of SGVMT’s most talented performers. Immediately
following the show will be a BBQ Dinner with the Cast. Tickets are $50.00 and include the post-show dinner. To reserve your seats, please call (626) 272-2460 or email sgvmtboxoffice@earthlink.net for more information. Website: sgvmusictheatre.org The San Gabriel Valley Music Theatre has been producing hit shows such as Flower Drum Song, South Pacific: In Concert, Forever Plaid, Nunsense, Miss Saigon, The Sound of Music, among many others in the San Gabriel Valley since 2004. The organization is a volunteer run, 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit aimed at building our community one musical at a time.
Students sing on movie soundtrack Continued from page 1
-Photo by Terry Miller
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initiative that re-purposes millions of crayons every year. Billions of crayons are thrown away each year in the United States, and more than 200 million of those come from family-style restaurant chains. Crayon Collection pairs kidfriendly chain restaurants and other organizations with local Title I recipient schools that are in desperate need of supplies. Crayon Collection also uses the process of re-purposing gently used crayons as a tool for teaching young children the benefits of recycling, reusing and reducing waste. Consequently, those unused crayons from Islands Restaurant end up in the hands of Willard Elementary students.
Willard students can also be heard on a public service announcement for the Crayon Collection. Exodus Film Group and voices on the film, Owen Wilson, Jessica Capshaw and Christina Ricci, donated their time and voices to a public service announcement that is set to release at the end credits of “Hero of Color City.” The PSA will also appear in the film’s marketing initiatives, with the hopes of raising national awareness and further expanding the program across the country. (Shel Segal can be reached at ssegal@beaconmedianews. com. He can be followed via Twitter @segallanded.)
CA covers uninsured children Continued from page 1
no new funding for CHIP starting this time next year. If that happens, millions of children could lose their health coverage, and millions more would pay more for less coverage. Since CHIP’s bipartisan beginning in 1997, it has been a lifeline for millions of children in working families and has played a critical role in
reducing the rate of uninsured children by half. CHIP remains a crucial source of coverage for millions of children, even in the post- Affordable Care Act (ACA) world. Congress must act to extend funding for CHIP this year to ensure that children’s health coverage and outcomes continue to improve.”
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California nurses endorse water bond, Proposition 1 Citing the importance of stabilizing the state’s water supply in an era of drought and climate change as a public health priority, the California Nurses Association announced its endorsement of Proposition 1, the Water Bond measure, on the November 4 ballot. The measure would upon approval, enact general obligation bonds for state water supply infrastructure projects, such as public water system improvements, surface and groundwater storage, drinking water protection, water recycling and advanced water treatment technology, water supply management and conveyance, wastewater treatment, drought relief, emergency water supplies, and ecosystem and watershed protection and restoration. “Access to a clean and adequate water supply is vital for public health,” said CNA Copresident Deborah Burger, RN. “Water is life sustaining, critical for drinking, for hygiene, for cleaning our food, clothes, and living spaces. Lack of adequate and steady supplies of water can lead to unsafe sanitation and the spread of infectious diseases and pandemics.” “With the erosion of our water supply in the current drought – and the likelihood that more droughts, directly associated with the climate crisis – this becomes a critical issue for the future of all Californians. That’s why nurses are joining with Governor Brown and many state lawmakers and organizations in supporting Proposition 1,” Burger said. CNA, the largest state organization of nurses with 86,000 California members, said that Proposition 1 will clean up our contaminated groundwater which serves as a critical buffer against drought by providing additional water in years when there is not enough rainfall or snow. Proposition 1 provides funding for clean drinking water in communities where water is contaminated and will invest in new water storage increas-
-Photo by Terry Miller
ing the amount of water that can be stored during wet years for the dry years sure to come, said CNA. Proposition 1 protects California’s rivers, lakes, and
streams from pollution and contamination, which is also critical for public health, and provides for the restoration of our fish and wildlife resources.
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4 | OCTOBER 20, 2014 - OCTOBER 26, 2014
Community group to hold two I-710 meetings By SHEL SEGAL Members of the group “Connecting Pasadena” are planning on holding two community meetings to discuss how to design the long fought-over Interstate 710 gap between Valley Boulevard in Alhambra and where the freeway meets up with Interstate 210 and Highway 134 in Pasadena. The two sessions will be from 9 a.m. to noon on Oct. 25 and Nov. 8 at the Maranatha High School Student Union, located at 169 South St. John Avenue in Pasadena. The group has said it is open to suggestions, but it has plans to develop the area into a boulevard, park, business or residential developments or a combination of those options, according to a published report.
One of the areas in question is known as the 710 Freeway “stub,” which has remained a vacant ditch since Caltrans took ownership of the property decades ago to build the originally planned surface freeway from Alhambra to Pasadena, the report said. If the agency does not elect to build the tunnel, residents said they want to be prepared to put the 35-acre space to good use. Connecting Pasadena member Audrey O’Kelley said the land currently is not being put to good use and that people need to start discussing what to do with it. Caltrans and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority are studying five options for the
north extension: “No build,” traffic management solutions, bus, light rail and the tunnel. The draft environmental report is due to be released in February. The draft was originally scheduled for release last spring but was delayed, the report said. The freeway project has divided the region for decades. Cities like Alhambra, Monterey Park and San Gabriel support the freeway extension as a way to reduce traffic on city streets, while cities like La Cañada-Flintridge, Sierra Madre and South Pasadena have adamantly opposed the project, the report said. Many cities have set aside resources to respond to the draft document and have also spent money campaigning on
both sides. The Pasadena City Council has not taken a position on the tunnel, citing a voter initiative that bars them from taking a stand against it, the report said. However, the city recently formed a citizen-working group to develop a Pasadena “preferred alternative,” the report said O’Kelley said the Connecting Pasadena group plans to hand over the end product of their study to the working group for consideration by the end of the year. She said many people in the community and at the city have already expressed support for the idea. (Shel Segal can be reached at ssegal@beaconmedianews. com. He can be followed via Twitter @segallanded.)
Rep. Chu praised by President Obama at declaration of national monument Continued from page 1
tract families and individuals in search of fresh air or recreation on our vast trails alongside flowing rivers. But how to do so sustainably has been an active challenge for years. Now, after more than a decade of work, national monument designation will finally provide more means to protect our beautiful but under-resourced San Gabriel Mountains. Standing next to President Obama as this historic
declaration was signed, I felt the culmination of all these efforts and the realization of new opportunities for the San Gabriels. “Following the proud example of 16 presidents before him – dating back to Teddy Roosevelt – President Obama has used the Antiquities Act to guarantee continued access to our nation’s rich natural areas while upholding existing water rights, fire prevention, and land
usage for generations. Soon, the break from the bustle and crowding of city life afforded by the San Gabriels will be available to our underserved populations, connecting new visitors to this treasure. And when they arrive, they will no longer be greeted by graffiti or garbage. Already, there has been an incredible response from the community to join in the effort and we are seeing public-private partnerships springing up to contribute to the conservation and upkeep.” The effort to protect the San Gabriel Mountains started eleven and a half years ago with the introduction of a bill by then-Representative Hilda Solis. The result was a 10-year study by the National Park Service, which included 66 stakeholder meetings, and 16,800 public comments, most overwhelmingly in support of more resources for the San Gabriel Mountains and Rivers. After the release of the study, Representative Judy Chu spent one and a half
-Photo by Terry Miller
years drafting a bill on the San Gabriel Mountains and Rivers, conducting over 40 stakeholder meetings, earning the support of the San Gabriel Council of Governments and the San Gabriel Valley Water Association. The Antiquities Act of 1906 gives the President the authority to declare a national monument on federal lands, if they are historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest.