2015 Readers’ Choice Ballots - Vote for Your Local Favorites, P. 4
Thursday, April 9, 2015 - April 15, 2015
LOCAL NEWS
Madrid Middle School Principal Wins $7,500 School Lounge Makeover P. 16
elmonteexaminer.com Community News, Arts & Opinions Since 1996
Climate Conditions Have “Exposed Our House of Cards” Says JPL Scientist
Construction Begins on Garvey Media Center in El Monte P. 17
SPORTS
Serrano’s R.J. Peace Shuts Out Monrovia 0-3 P. 31
South Pasadena Volleyball Sweeps San Marino in Conference Rivalry P. 31
ENTERTAINMENT Our American Cousin: Parson’s Nose Offers Taste of a Classic P. 15 Classic Rock Legends Wishbone Ash to undertake Pilgrimage North America P.14
BUSINESS
Lincoln Avenue Nursery P. 22
Post Office Screws up P. 8
EDUCATION
Mt. Sierra College Educating Through Hands-On Courses P. 29
Pasadena Bar Association Accepting Applications for 5th Annual Speech Scholarship Contest P. 28
Volume 19, No. 15
- Photo Courtesy California Dept. of Water Resouces
Senator Bob Huff to Seek Michael Groundwater Drilling Damaging Antonovich’s 5th District Seat CA’s Future
Even as the worst drought in decades overwhelms California, and its cities face mandatory cuts in water use, crops like oranges, tomatoes and almonds, eager for a constant supply of water, manage to get into stores nationwide, despite the dearth of the state’s longest drought in history. According to an article in the New York Times on the weekend, how California farmers have pulled off that feat is a case study in “the unwise use of natural resources, many experts say.” According to the Times, farmers are drilling wells at “a feverish pace and pumping billions of gallons of water from the ground, depleting a resource that was critically endangered even before the drought, now in its SEE PG. 19
Bob Huff will announce his bid for Antonovich’s seat this Thursday afternoon in Monrovia. Huff is the Senate Republican Leader and has represented Los Angeles County in the State Legislature since 2004. Prior to his service in the Legislature, Bob served on the Diamond Bar City Council from 1995 to 2004. He has nine years of experience in local and regional government, and ten years in the State Legislature representing Los Angeles County. The California League of Cities named Senator Huff their “Legislator of the Year” for his efforts to protect local government’s authority to create economic opportunity for their residents. SEE PG. 9
City Empowers Youth Through Leadership Program
El Monte Greets Police Chief Reynoso With Warm Welcome By Nick Kipley Tuesday night’s meeting of the El Monte City Council found the council chambers packed with citizens, city staff, and members of El Monte’s Finest who all turned up to witness what Mayor Andre Quintero described as a historic first in the city’s 100 year history. Camera shutters clicked and cameraphones made digital camera-shutter-noises as David Reynoso, El Monte native and 25-year veteran of the Baldwin Park Police Department, stood proudly before the crowd gathered in the chamber. At City Manager Raul Godinez II’s request, Mr. Reynoso’s wife Marina pinned the badge of the El Monte Chief of Police to his chest, ending what Mr. Godinez called, “A very rigorous executive search.”
- Photo by Nick Kipley
As the cameras and phones flashed and clicked to document the moment, a photograph of a smiling David Reynoso being sworn in earlier that day by City Clerk Jonathan Hawes appeared
on the Council Chamber’s three projection screens. Then, with the badge securely in place, Chief Reynoso took the podium SEE PG. 17
BALLOTS ARE HERE! VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL BUSINESS
The City of El Monte’s Junior Recreation Leader Volunteer Program (JRLVP) has already reached the half-way mark in its inaugural year of existence. Spearheaded by the City of El Monte’s Parks and Recreation Division, the program was initially launched Sept. 2014 to help mentor youth and offer job training. Thus far, it has been a great success. “This program gives teens a proactive and creative outlet,”
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SEE PG. 17