Duarte Chamber of Commerce Appoints Sheryl Lefmann as New President and Chief Executive Officer Pg. 2
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Los Angeles County Fair Petting Zoo Takes Over Metrolink And Union Station
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2017 - SEPTEMBER 20, 2017 - VOLUME 21, NO. 37
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Health Officer Advises Long Beach Residents to Take Precautions Against West Nile Virus After State Announces California’s First Deaths for 2017 The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced three confirmed deaths in California due to West Nile virus (WNV). The deceased persons were residents of Kern, Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. CDPH is unable to provide additional patient details including demographic information and name of hospital providing care to protect confidentiality. In light of the CDPH announcement, Long Beach Health Officer, Dr. Anissa Davis, is reminding residents to protect themselves from mosquitoes and West Nile Virus during the last months of summer when human cases begin to increase. Long Beach has documented three human West Nile virus cases and no deaths this year to date. The City has also documented positive activity in the form of positive birds, chickens and mosquitoes. “These first two deaths in California due to West Nile virus is a reminder of the serious risk of mosquito bites,” said Dr. Davis. “I would like to advise Long Beach residents to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites and minimize the risk of infection, especially during this time of year when the risk of infection is at its highest.” The Health Department is recommending residents protect against mosquito bites and West Nile Virus by taking a few simple precautions: • Avoid mosquito-infested areas, especially at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active. • Mosquitoes breed in standing water. Eliminate standing water on your property by dumping or draining water in neglected ponds, birdbaths, fountains, buckets, old tires
no symptoms; approximately one in 150 may develop more serious disease, such as brain inflammation or paralysis. Persons with these symptoms should seek immediate care. For further information, contact the City of Long Beach Health Department, Vector Control Program at (562) 570-4132, or online atwww.longbeach.gov/health by selecting “West Nile Virus” from the services directory. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook. com/lbdhhs. To report “day-biting” mosquitoes, call the Zika Hotline at (562) 570-7907. Report dead birds and dead tree squirrels to the California Department of Public Health by calling 1-877-WNV-Bird (1-877968-2473) or online atwww.westnile.ca.gov. Additional information about WNV may also be obtained at www.westnile.ca.gov, or at the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov/ncidod/ dvbid/westnile. About Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services The mission of the Long Beach Depart – Courtesy photo ment of Health and Human Services is to or anything that can hold water. Dumping or and windows to prevent mosquitoes from improve quality of life by promoting a safe draining water interrupts the mosquito life entering homes, and check to make sure win- and healthy community in which to live, dow screens are in good condition. cycle. work and play. Long Beach Health is one • Clean and chlorinate swimming of only three city-run health departments • Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants if you plan to be outdoors at dawn or pools, and drain water from pool covers. in California, which allows for better en• Limit the watering of lawns and gagement with residents, neighborhoods, dusk. • Use mosquito repellant containing outdoor plants, to avoid run off to gutters and businesses and community partners, and DEET, Picaridin, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, around sprinklers. fosters a greater understanding of the City’s West Nile Virus is typically transmitted strengths. For more information, visit us and follow instructions on the label. Consult a pediatrician for appropriate concentrations through the bite of an infected mosquito. Signs at www.longbeach.gov/health, “Like” us of DEET to be used on children under the age and symptoms of West Nile Virus may include on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and fever, body aches, rash, nausea, vomiting and Instagram. of two. • Keep tight-fitting screens on doors headache. Most people who are infected have
Temple City Offers Grants And No-Interest Loans
The City of Temple City is seeking residents to participate in its housing rehabilitation program, which offers grants and no-interest loans. Funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, loans and grants are available to low and moderate-income Temple City homeowners to make needed repairs to their property. “Many homeowners often face difficulty in financing necessary upgrades to their homes,” said Mayor Cynthia Sternquist. “These loans and grants will make it possible for all our residents to enhance their property and maintain Temple City’s safe
environment.” The loans and grants can be used for a number of improvements involving plumbing, electrical and HVAC upgrades; energy efficient windows and doors; new roofs or repairs; interior and exterior painting; and ADA modifications like entrance ramps and bathroom retrofits. The maximum amount for a loan is $35,000 while the maximum for a grant is $10,000. Grants and loans are restricted to owner-occupied single-family homes in Temple City. Loans do not need to be repaid until the property is SEE PAGE 3
Assemblymember Reyes To Host DACA Renewal & Citizenship Application Workshop In Colton
On Saturday, September 9th Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes will host a DACA Renewal and Citizenship Application Workshop in partnership with Senator Connie M. Leyva and various community-based organizations: Inland Empire-Immigrant Youth Collective, ACLU, Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice, CAIR – Greater Los Angeles Chapter, the Colton Joint Unified School District, San Bernardino Community Service Center, Inc. Russell Jauregui, Consulado de México en San Bernardino and
Consulado de Guatemala en San Bernardino. “We must work towards policies that help our immigrant community members become citizens, not policies that criminalize them,” said Assemblymember Reyes. “Providing these services for our residents is an important step towards the process of becoming a United States Citizen.” The Inland EmpireImmigrant Youth Collective will help DACA beneficiaries whose benefits will expire between September 5, 2017 SEE PAGE 3
Metrolink Kicks Off Rail Safety Month At Riverside-Downtown Station
Underscoring the need for motorists and pedestrians to be safety conscious around Metrolink trains, especially at railroad crossings, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies, Union Pacific and Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway police units this morning focused on citing violators at Mission Inn Avenue and 3rd Street rail crossings in Riverside. In a three-hour period between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m., officers issued six citations for violations ranging from trespassing and crossing when gate arms are down
with fines that could top $2,000. The intense law enforcement sweep kicks off Rail Safety Month initiated by the State of California in 2009 with the goal of decreasing rail-related accidents. “These laws exist to keep you safe,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff Captain Karl Schow. “We will continue to conduct weekly rail crossing enforcement operations throughout the Metrolink service area during Rail Safety Month and SEE PAGE 3