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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2014 - NOVEMBER 30, 2014 - VOLUME 3, NO. 47
El Monte Airport renamed ‘San Gabriel Valley Airport’ Sunday
Gabe lopez gets his 1940 Stearman ready for action at the newly Christened San Gabriel Valley Airport - Photo by Terry Miller
BY TERRY MILLER County and local officials renamed Los Angeles County’s airfield in El Monte Sunday. Now it is officially known as the ‘San Gabriel Valley Airport’ Sunday during the annual air fair and open house. The airport was built in 1936, Los Angeles County Department of Public Works Aviation Di-
vision Chief Richard Smith said. Los Angeles County bought the airport in 1969 for $3 million. There are five Los Angeles county-operated airports — in El Monte, La Verne, Compton, Pacoima and Lancaster . The renaming of the airport was suggested years ago by Gabe Lopez, a pilot who flies his 1940 Stearman regularly out of the small
airport. Lopez felt that the more regional name would attract more people to do business and use the small airfield more regularly. Lopez and his father: The third annual El Monte Airport Fly-in and Open House Sunday at the small but exciting little airport included all kinds of vintage aircraft including such beauties as a 1929 Travel Air 4000, Curtis
Neighborhood Gleaning Organization Branches Out to Join Food Forward
Zach Selby- Photo by Terry Miller
Wright plane owned and operated by Gabe Lopez who showed his machines tovisitors at the airport Sunday. Lopez was also offering local flights. The emphasis at the Open House is always on young people hoping to explore aviation and aerospace as a career Lopez told Beacon Media. Gabe Lopez’ famous Stearman was in the TV se-
ries JAG for 10 years. Jennifer Schlueter’s first-person report follows: When we received an email from Gabe Lopez offering us a plane ride on his 1940 Stearman, I was stoked, and immediately signed up for it. I had never flown in such a fighter plane. When I arrived at the airport on a cloudy Friday afternoon, I met Gabe
and he kindly explained everything about his 1940 Stearman that I wanted to know. This plane was used as a training plane in World War II. Since it was known as the hardest plane to control, prospective pilots had 13 hours to master their craft on it. If they had proven their potential to their instructor, the pilots Please see page 3
Tips to Help Toddlers Keep Their Heads Warm On Cool Days BY LEANNE SOUTHALL
In 2010, an Arcadia high school student started ‘Fruit for All’, a family and neighbor-run organization that would send groups of volunteers out to harvest backyard fruit from local trees ( often called gleaning ), then donate 100% to food banks in the area. See Zach Selby, the founder, noticed how much fruit his family’s guava tree produced, but even after eating it and giving plenty away, they still had more than they knew what to do with. Not want-
All across America’s playgrounds, parents are chasing their toddlers, waving hats in the air, pleading and negotiating. While nature play is especially beneficial for children, with cooler weather upon us, it can be tempting to stay indoors and snuggle up! If your child is one of the many who seem to want to pull their hats off when they’re outside, here may be a few reasons why, and how you can help!
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-Courtesy Photo