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For information on this photographer, see Art of the Matter on page 10.

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Serving BixBy KnollS, California HeigHtS, loS CerritoS, Wrigley and tHe City of Signal Hill Vol. 33 No. 42

Your Weekly Community Newspaper

SH homeowner gathers support from local Occupy movement in efforts to stop foreclosure eviction

Cory Bilicko/Signal Tribune

A front view of Rachel New’s foreclosed home on Freeman Avenue. A banner heralding a warning to Wells Fargo stretches across a second-floor balcony .

CJ Dablo Staff Writer

With the help from organizers of the local Occupy movement, a Signal Hill homeowner is still allegedly struggling to keep her home. The Occupy Long Beach movement organized a few demonstrations over the last week in an effort to call attention to Rachel New, a local resident who is fighting foreclosure after a request to modify her existing loan was reportedly not approved. New confirmed this week that she received a notice posted on her door that required her and her family to vacate the premises by Wednesday, March 21.

Occupy volunteers have rallied behind New’s efforts to keep her home located at 2083 Freeman Ave. It’s the first time the city of Signal Hill has seen a significant demonstration from the Occupy movement. According to an organizer estimate, about 40 supporters from Occupy Long Beach and other organizations took part in demonstrations at the city’s Wells Fargo Bank on Cherry Avenue and Willow Street on Friday, March 16. The following Monday, an organizer estimated about 20 to 25 protestors returned to the bank to continue their show of support for New and her family.

On Tuesday night, supporters erected tents on the front lawn of New’s two-story home located in one of Signal Hill’s hilltop neighborhoods.

Protestors have remained at New’s home since that time, anticipating that the

county sheriff may arrive at any moment to eject them from the property.

At press time on Thursday morning, the Los Angeles County Sheriff had not ejected New or the protesters from her home. According to a press release from the Occupy Long Beach movement, a court hearing is scheduled on Friday to consider a request to withdraw the order for a lockout.

“I saved up all my life savings without any vacation just to fulfill my dream to build a home, a nice home for my family,” New said in an interview Wednesday night.

Her house is located in an affluent neighborhood in the city, and the two-story home is comparable in size to the largest of homes in that neighborhood.

According to the City’s Community Development Department, the house’s building permit included 4.5 bedrooms with a significant amount of space. The building has 3,750 square feet of living area.

There is also 1,114 squre feet of garage space and a 1,040 squarefoot deck. New said that she also owns one other home in Signal Hill, but that home is currently being leased. The mortgage for that house is being paid by renter income, according to New. Her story of her home’s foreclosure is at least partially disputed by spokespeople from Wells Fargo and the company responsible for servicing the loan. New said Wednesday that she was see OCCUPY page 14

March 23, 2012

See our ad on page 16

Tina Hansen to take the lead as Signal Hill mayor CJ Dablo Staff Writer

At Tuesday’s Signal Hill City Council meeting, the Council unanimously voted to appoint Tina Hansen to serve as the city’s new mayor and appointed Councilmember Michael Noll to serve as the vice mayor.

“This upcoming year will truly showcase great achievements as we open our new police station, break ground on our library…and cut the ribbon at the EDCO trash-transfer station and corporate offices,” Hansen said during the meeting. She recognized that the City will still face challenges since the redevelopment agency has been dissolved and that the City will now navigate through a transition time with the successor agency. She also noted that the City Council will have another election in 2013.

Hansen emphasized the importance of community in her first speech as the new mayor.

“We are the little city that could and did,” Hansen said, quoting outgoing Mayor Larry Forester. Hansen added one more thought to her colleague’s often-repeated phrase in praise of Signal Hill. “I also believe that we are the community that can and will,” Hansen said. “We can come together, and we will overcome adversity and continue to move forward.” see SH COUNCIL page 7

File photo

Outgoing Signal Hill Mayor Larry Forester and incoming Mayor Tina Hansen

Five new nonprofits join the LB Center of Health and Human Services Stephanie Raygoza Staff Writer

It was a welcome ceremony filled with feel-good music and community support on March 21 for the five nonprofits that now have a home base at the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services Central Facilities Center (DHHS).

Sixth District Councilmember Dee Andrews, along with staff from the DHHS, formally introduced the nonprofits that will enhance and complement the already established health and human services for the neighboring community.

Andrews said the next focus to getting the added services recognized would be community outreach.

“A lot of these individuals want to get the service done, but they don’t know where to go,” Andrews said.

“Now they’re right in their own back yard.”

Ron Arias, department director for the DHHS, and Susan Price,

Stephanie Raygoza/Signal Tribune

From top left to right: Raymond Chavarria and Sara Pol-lim with the United Cambodian Community, First 5 L.A. leader Linda Alexander, New Generations leaders Alma and Aroldo Campos, 6th District Councilmember Dee Andrews, and Susan Burton from A New Way of Life Re-entry Project at Wednesday’s welcome ceremony during which time Andrews presented the new organizations’ representatives with certificates on behalf of his office

manager for the Bureau of Community Health, worked closely with Andrews in the selection process, and each provided acknowledgments

for the five organizations at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. see NONPROFIT page 14

NEWS

2 SigNAL TriBUNE

MArCH 23, 2012

Victim in 1974 murder identified as U.S. Marine, LB Port welcomes largest container but LBPD seeking more information from public ship to ever call to North America On Nov. 10, 1974, officers from the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) responded to a large condominium complex in the area of Spring Street near the 605 Freeway, where the nude body of a deceased adult male was found. The victim would remain unidentified and the official cause of his death undetermined until recently, when police made a significant break

Courtesy LBPD

Police now believe the nude body of a deceased adult male found in 1974 was that of U.S. Marine Oral Stuart, Jr., of Des Moines, Iowa.

in the case, taking it out of the coldcase files. Detectives now hope that the community can provide information to help identify a suspect.

The officers who responded to the complex in 1974 located the victim in the carport area of the complex. He had sustained blunt-force trauma and other injuries, but the L.A. County Coroner’s Office was not able to identify him or make a determination as to the official cause of his death at that time. Police investigators pursued leads and worked with the media in an attempt to identify the victim but were not successful. The case of “John Doe #155” was ruled an undetermined death and filed with those of other unidentified decedents, where it remained for several decades.

Utilizing grant funding from the National Institute of Justice, detectives with the LBPD’s cold-cases unit regularly conduct detailed research into unsolved homicides and undetermined deaths going as far back as the early 1970s. Cases with biological evidence suitable for DNA analysis are identified, and the grant funds cover the research, as well as the DNA testing of these cases.

While compiling the list of unidentified “Doe” cases, detectives discovered the case of John Doe #155, and as they re-examined the information, they suspected the victim might have been

Steve Shaw

in the military at the time of his death based on his physical description.

They contacted the U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Cold Case Homicide Unit at Camp Pendleton, California. Police investigators worked with the special agent in charge of investigating U.S. Marines who are considered missing and provided the physical description of John Doe #155 and details related to the discovery of his body in 1974.

NCIS identified the case of a U.S. Marine who was listed as a deserter on Nov. 22, 1974, just 12 days after the discovery of John Doe #155. The history statement of the U.S. Marine indicated specific tattoos on his arms, which matched tattoos observed on John Doe #155 during his autopsy.

NCIS identified the U.S. Marine as Oral Stuart, Jr., from Des Moines, Iowa. Stuart’s surviving family members were contacted and confirmed through photographs that John Doe #155 was in fact Oral Stuart, Jr., a U.S. Marine, who had been stationed at Camp Pendleton, California, at the time of his disappearance.

With John Doe #155 being officially identified as a U.S. Marine, and statements from surviving family members that indicated Oral Stuart, Jr., would not have voluntarily deserted his duties as a Marine, coldcase detectives suspected that Stuart’s death involved foul play, and the case was reviewed by the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office, which reclassified the death as a homicide.

With the victim identified, detectives are now turning to the public to help provide more answers to this case. Anyone with information is urged to call Long Beach Police Department Homicide Detectives Bryan McMahon and Mike Dugan at (562) 570-7244. Anonymous tips may be submitted via web and text by visiting tipsoft.com.

Courtesy Port of LB

The MSC Fabiola measures the length of four football fields and is capable of carrying more than 12,000 container units.

Last week, the Port of Long Beach welcomed the largest container ship ever to call to North America– the MSC Fabiola. The vessel, measuring 1,200 feet in length and capable of carrying more than 12,000 container units, docked at Pier T on Terminal Island.

“This is the largest container vessel now serving the U.S.-Asia trade, and the fact that it is calling to the Port of Long Beach is significant,” said Port Executive Director J. Christopher Lytle. “Few ports can handle these giant ships. Long Beach is big-ship ready, and we continue to invest so we’ll be ready for the next generation of larger, environmentally friendlier and more efficient cargo ships.”

The MSC Fabiola is capable of carrying 12,500 TEUs, or twenty-foot equivalent units, a measurement of cargo containers. The ship, which previously served Asia-to-Europe trade routes, is making its maiden voyage in the trans-Pacific trade. It came from the Port of Yantian in China. After unloading and then loading cargo, the ship departed Long Beach on Monday evening, March 19.

It is the first of what is expected to be a string of larger container ships to

be deployed by ocean carriers in Pacific Rim routes. Currently, the larger container ships typically serving Asia and North America have capacities of about 8,000 TEUs. The MSC Fabiola was built in 2010 and is operated by Geneva-based Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. The ship measures 1,200 feet long by 157 feet wide and can reach speeds of up to 24 knots. It’s scheduled to return monthly to the Total Terminals International facility on Pier T. Larger ships are more cost effective for ocean carriers and reduce impact on the environment by decreasing diesel consumption. However, few ports in the world have navigation channels deep enough to handle these massive ships. The Port of Long Beach’s main channel is 76 feet deep, the deepest in North America.

The Port of Long Beach is investing $4.5 billion over the next decade to modernize its facilities. Projects include the construction of the Middle Harbor terminal, the world’s greenest and most technologically advanced container terminal and the replacement of the Gerald Desmond Bridge with a higher span that will allow larger ships to reach the back channels.

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MArCH 23, 2012

COMMUNiTY

SigNAL TriBUNE

3

report on College Promise initiative shows improvement, though deep cuts in state funding may reverse progress

FOR THE BOY SCOUTS What Parking-lot rummage sale and electronic waste drive Who Hosted by Long Beach Boy Scout Troop 212 Where Grace First Presbyterian Church, 3955 Studebaker Rd., LB When Saturday, March 24 from 8am to 3pm More info Funds raised from the drive will go toward camping equipment and supply needs. Donations will be accepted on Friday, March 23 from noon to 6pm. Electronic waste will be accepted on Friday and Saturday. Call (562) 799-4009.

Courtesy LBUSD

During a news conference at Cabrillo High School Wednesday morning, LBCC student Christopher Padilla Flores, a College Promise scholarship recipient, speaks about the positive impact the scholarship has had on him. Flores is an Avalon School graduate who will be transferring to CSULB this fall.

• Since the establishment of the College Promise, CSULB transfer students from LBCC are retaining at a higher rate than nonlocal community college transfers admitted with more rigorous criteria.

Education leaders released the report during a news conference at Cabrillo High School in Long Beach Wednesday morning. Officials at the news conference also awarded 27 scholarships ranging from $50 to $250 to LBUSD eighth graders who have shown academic improvement.

The College Promise is an extension of the Long Beach Educational Partnership, which was created in 1994 and became a national model for its efforts to provide seamless education for Long Beach students from preschool to graduate school. The partnership also aligned academic standards, teaching methods an student assessment across institutions to improve student achievement and teacher quality.

View the full report on the College Promise at longbeachcollegepromise.org .

Metro Briefs

GATEWAY CITIES

SHIMMING TOWARDS BETTER HEALTH What Let’s Move Long Beach health and wellness fair Who Sponsored by the Long Beach Department of Health, Long Beach Parks and Recreation, Molina Healthcare, Long Beach Memorial Hospital, St. Mary’s Hospital and several others Where 604 Pine Ave., LB When Saturday, March 24 from 10am to 2pm More info The fair will feature more than 40 vendors of healthy and active living, a climbing wall, a bike rodeo and a free Zumba class that will begin at 11am. Call (562) 570-6919 or visit letsmovelb.com .

EGGS WITH THE ELKS What Monthly breakfast Who Hosted by the Bellflower/Long Beach Elks Lodge 888 Where 16426 Bellflower Blvd., Bellflower When Sunday, March 25 from 8am to noon More info Breakfast is open to the public and costs $6.50 per person. The meal includes eggs as you like them, bacon, sausage, hash brown, biscuits with gravy, orange juice, assorted fruit, Belgian waffles and coffee.

The Solution To High Gas Prices? Go Metro.

With gas prices skyrocketing, there’s never been a better time to Go Metro. You can save more than $10,000 a year by taking public transit instead of driving. And with a Metro Day Pass, you can ride all day for just $5. Find out how easy it can be; check the “Getting Started” section at metro.net.

President Proposes $81 Million For Metro Projects President Obama's proposed FY13 budget includes $50 million for the Westside Subway Extension and $31 million for the Regional Connector Project. If approved by Congress later this year, the funds combined with Measure R revenue could jumpstart construction of both projects in 2013.

GRIM STORYTIME What Author talk and book signing Who Hosted by the Friends of the Signal Hill Library Where Signal Hill Park Community Center, 1780 East Hill St., Signal Hill When Monday, March 26 from 7pm to 8:30pm More info The free author talk will feature Kenneth McKenzie, who coauthored Mortuary Confidential: Undertakers Spill the Dirt, and Steve Goldstein, who wrote LA’s Graveside Companion: Where the V.I.P.s R.I.P. Donations will be accepted to support the organization’s programs. Autographed book will be available for purchase. Call (562) 822-5260 .

Get Breaking Metro News Online At “The Source” Now you can get instant updates on the issues and actions that keep LA County moving. Just go to “The Source,” an online news and feature service that is updated throughout the day on developments that a=ect Metro’s projects and services. Look for it at metro.net.

TRAVELING DOWN FROST’S ROAD What Celebrating Robert Frost’s birthday Who Presented by the Long Beach Shakespeare Company Where Richard Goad Theatre, 4250 Atlantic Ave., LB When Monday, March 26 at 8pm More info The celebration will include staged reading, poetry and music. $10 tickets may be purchased online or at the door.

It’s One-Stop Shopping For Commuters Find out just how much it costs you to commute alone in your car each year. Log on to the regional rideshare site at commutesmart.info and you’ll be amazed. The site will also show you public transit, carpool and vanpool options along with the money you can expect to save by >nding a rideshare partner.

CLEARING THE WATERS What Task force meeting Who Presented by the 5th District Lakes, Ponds and Wetlands Task Force Where Parks, Recreation and Marine, large conference room, 2760 N. Studebaker Rd. When Wednesday, March 28 at 7pm More info Topics to be discussed at the opening meeting will include: the El Dorado Park and Southern California Edison tree removal and replacement, the duck pond sinkage, scheduling a lake clean-up, an update on the department of fish and game violations and tree trimming. Call (562) 570-6932.

Riders Taking To Metro Silver Line Ridership on Metro’s Silver Line express bus service on the I-110 and I-10 between the South Bay, Downtown LA and El Monte has increased 60 percent since it opened in 2009. Frequent peak-hour, evening and weekend service to Downtown LA are a big part of that success. Find out more at metro.net/silverline.

If you’d like to know more, visit metro.net.

TOXIC AND E-WASTE BREAKDOWN What E-waste disposal event Who Presented by 5th District Councilmember Gerrie Schipske Where Long Beach Veterans Stadium, Clark Avenue and Conant Street, LB When Saturday, March 24 from 9am to 3pm More info The event will allow residents to dispose of toxic materials in addition to household hazardous and electronic waste.

READING TO THE PUPS What We Harte B.A.R.K. Who Hosted by 7th District Councilmember James Johnson Where Bret Harte Library, 1595 W. Willow St., LB When Saturday, March 24 from 11am to 12:30pm More info Johnson has partnered with Beach Animals Reading with Kids to encourage children to read by providing them with the opportunity to read aloud to friendly and attentive dogs. We Harte B.A.R.K. will be held every fourth Saturday of the month at the Bret Harte Library. Call (562) 570-7777 or email district7@longbeach.gov .

12-1583kg_gat-ne-12-010 ©2012 lacmta

A progress report released today on a four-year-old, local initiative to prepare more youngsters for college success revealed encouraging results, though education officials cautioned that California’s budget cuts threaten to curtail and reverse these gains.

Four years ago, leaders from the Long Beach Unified School District, Long Beach City College and California State University, Long Beach signed The Long Beach College Promise, committing the three institutions to providing local students with greater opportunities to complete their higher education.

“Against difficult odds, including hundreds of millions of dollars in state funding cuts to our three institutions, we see encouraging signs of success,” states the report signed by LBUSD Superintendent Christopher J. Steinhauser, LBCC Superintendent-President Eloy Ortiz Oakley and CSULB President F. King Alexander. “More high-school graduates here are enrolling in college, and more of those students are prepared for rigorous college-level classes. As we have stated with increasing urgency in prior reports like these, however, California must find a way to stabilize its volatile funding for K-12 and higher education. Without such a basic commitment of resources from our state, the College Promise is in greater peril than ever. In fact, state cuts already are impacting students in significant ways, and yet further cuts to education loom.”

The progress report highlights key steps that the three institutions are taking to prepare more students for success in college and in high-demand, high-paying jobs. Included in these efforts is a commitment to cover the cost of first-semester fees for every local high school graduate who enrolls directly at LBCC after graduation. The LBCC Foundation has raised more than $6.5 million and established an endowment to pay the enrollment fees in perpetuity. Thousands of students already have taken advantage of the tuition-free first semester.

The College Promise also guarantees LBUSD graduates admission to CSULB with minimum requirements. Today’s report shows that 729 LBUSD students entered CSULB as freshmen in 2011 – more students than ever before and a 40 percent increase from 2008 when the College Promise began.

Today’s report from the three institutions also shows: • Nearly three of four LBUSD graduates (74 percent) are pursuing post-secondary education within one year of graduation. Half of those students are enrolled at CSULB or LBCC. • LBCC fall 2011 enrollment of LBUSD graduates increased to 1,675 despite state funding cuts that have curtailed course offerings at LBCC. • LBUSD students’ college readiness in English and math proficiency, as measured by the Early Assessment Program (EAP), improved even as participation rates increased significantly.

• While the number and proportion of CSULB freshmen from LBUSD has grown, the percentage requiring math and English remediation has decreased.

• LBCC students from LBUSD continue to be much more likely to persist in college. LBUSD students’ persistence dramatically outpaces the persistence rate of students entering from other high schools.

REUNITING THE TOTS What California Heights preschool anniversary celebration and reunion Who Hosted by the California Heights Parent Participation Nursery School Where Somerset Park, 1500 E. Carson St., LB When Saturday, March 24 from 9am to 1pm More info The preschool will celebrate its 65th anniversary with a party that includes games, crafts, refreshments, photos and memorabilia from previous generations of students. Seventh District Councilmember James Johnson will help dedicate seven new flowering trees that the current class planted at the park. The celebration will be open to the community.

STAYING ZEN What Zazenkai (day of meditation) Who Hosted by the Long Beach Zen meditation group Where The Methodist Neighborhood Church, 507 Pacific Ave., LB When Saturday, March 31 from 7am to 5pm More info Attendees are invited to sit with the group for the whole day, part of the day or just a half hour of zazen. At 11am, Roshi will give a dharma talk titled “Negotiating the way” followed by a Q&A. The free event will include refreshments.

OPiNiON

4 SigNAL TriBUNE Thoughts from the

Publisher

by Neena Strichart My interest in politics began as a young teenager when my father ran twice for city treasurer in Signal Hill. I loved observing my dad go through the process: campaigning, behind-closed-doors practicing of speeches, meetings with local movers and shakers, and, most importantly, participating in family prayers where Dad would ask for divine guidance. I could not have been prouder on those election nights back in the 1970s.

Watching my father being named the winner of both his initial and then second term sent excitement through me that still makes me smile. Through the years my interests in politics have expanded, probably because of my career choice. Where Signal Hill politics used to be my primary focus, I now thoroughly enjoy following other local races as well. Long Beach City Council elec-

MArCH 23, 2012

tions are just around the corner, as are school board, assembly, and congress. I am watching closely to see what the candidates do and say and what their campaign literature proclaims about their candidacies. I read my own publication and well as other local new sources to keep up on the local races, attend forums when I can and personally meet as many of the folks running as possible.

Although I do not endorse political candidates, and never have, I find it interesting to see which individuals and organizations do endorse and who they choose. I then sit back and wonder how in the world they make those difficult decisions. The thought of endorsing a candidate scares the heck out of me. After all, who in the heck do I think I am to be such a perfect judge of character as to publicly come out and advise others to vote for this or that person? How are those choices made?

Friendship? Party affiliation? Special interest? A combination of all three? I recently had someone ask me for the REAL reason I don’t endorse. I had already given my above reason about not believing that I am a perfect judge of character, but he apparently felt my answer was a cop-out and told me so to my face. So, to make my

point, I said, “Hey, I’ve been married three times, so it is obvious that I don’t believe that what you see is what you get!”

I think he finally believed that I was giving him my honest opinion.

Watching the recent HBO movie Game Change about the Sarah Palin/John McCain presidential campaign made me feel better about my long-ago decision to not endorse. As was depicted in the movie, here was a group of seasoned politicians who worked very hard to do the best vetting of Palin that they could (albeit in a very short amount of time) before deciding to choose her as McCain’s running mate. As it turned out, there was much they did not know about her platform, knowledge of world events or, in some cases, her personal life and beliefs. If those guys, with all their connections and smarts, couldn’t find the perfect candidate, how in the heck could I? With that said, I encourage you to do your best to learn about the candidates and make your own decisions. Others opinions may be helpful, but in the end it is you, my gentle readers, who will be alone in those voting booths.

C O M M E N TA RY

Marking 115 years of firefighting service in Long Beach

By Rex Pritchard, President Long Beach Firefighters, Local 372 On March 16, 1897, the citizens of Long Beach recognized the need for a fire department, and the Long Beach Fire Department was born. So on this date, 28 charter members signed up as volunteer firemen and elected Brewster C. Kenyon as captain. From 1900 to 1907 the following Board of Trustees members were in office: C.J. Walker, president of the Board (Mayor); George Sanford; T.A. Stephens; C.H. Henderson; and R.S. Oakford. They recognized the need that some sort of a more permanent firefighting organization was mandatory.

On May 27, 1902, the Board of Trustees called a citi-

service, covering 52.3 square miles, seven miles of beaches and 22 square miles of waterways, safeguarding one of the world’s busiest seaports and a growing airport, with nearly 5 million visitors that come to Long Beach annually.

We are proud to celebrate this amazing history of firefighter service to the citizens of Long Beach. Long Beach firefighters hope to continue this tradition of service for many years to come.

Visit our Firefighter museum at 1445 Peterson Ave. or at lbfdmuseum.org .

zens meeting at City Hall, with Mr. Jacob Kuhrts, an experienced fire commissioner from Los Angeles, as the principal speaker. From his expert knowledge of the necessity of organizing a trained group for the purpose of combating fires, the trustees gave the go-ahead signal to organize the first fire department since Long Beach had become a city.

The city of Long Beach has grown tremendously since 1897. The nearly 400 Long Beach firefighters are proud to protect the 7th largest city in California with almost 500,000 residents. We respond to over 60,000 calls for

Five-person-staffed engine at Station 10, circa 1940s

Firefighter Jeff Ohs saving a child from a fire at 11th Street and Ohio Aveunue, in Station 10’s fire district, circa 2000. The child who was saved visits his savior every Christmas.

The Hancock Oil Refinery fire, which occurred on May 22, 1958, was one of the largest fires in California history, burning for 72 hours with smoke clouds that could be seen for several miles. The firefighting effort was one of the first instances of mutual aid among fire departments, with units from the Long Beach Fire Department, Signal Hill Fire Department, Los Angeles County Fire Department, and Vernon Fire Department responding.

Photos courtesy LBFD

ASSOCiATE PUBLiSHEr

MANAgiNg EDiTOr

PUBLiSHEr/EDiTOr-iN-CHiEF

Neena R. Strichart

Stephen M. Strichart

ADVErTiSiNg CONSULTANTS

Leighanna Nierle

ADMiNiSTrATiVE ASSiSTANT/WEBSiTE MANAgEr

Barbie Ellisen Jane Fallon CJ Dablo

DESigN EDiTOr

Cory Bilicko

Tanya Paz

STAFF WriTErS

Nick Diamantides Stephanie Raygoza COLUMNiSTS

Rachael Rifkin

Jennifer E. Beaver Carol Berg Sloan, RD

CULTUrE WriTErS

Daniel Adams Vicki Paris Goodman Gregory Spooner CONTriBUTiNg PHOTOgrAPHEr

Matt Sun

The Signal Tribune welcomes letters to the editor, which should be signed, dated and include a phone number to verify authenticity. The Signal Tribune reserves the right to edit letters for grammar, language and space requirements. The Signal Tribune does not print letters that refer substantially to articles in other publications and might not print those that have recently been printed in other

publications or otherwise presented in a public forum. Letters to the editor and commentaries are the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Signal Tribune or its staff.

Although the editorial staff will attempt to verify and/or correct information when possible, letters to the editor and commentaries are opinions, and readers should not assume that they are statements of fact. Letter-writers will be identified by their professional titles or affiliations when, and only when, the editorial staff deems it relevant and/or to provide context to the letter.

The Signal Tribune is published each Friday with a circulation of 25,000. Yearly subscriptions are available for $45. 939 E. 27th St., Signal Hill, CA 90755

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NEWS

MArCH 23, 2012

SigNAL TriBUNE

5

LBPD to establish DUi/drivers Long Beach Fire Chief Patalano announces his retirement Long Beach Fire Department ices, deputy chief of Operations, and Patrick West. license checkpoint this weekend (LBFD) Chief Alan Patalano deputy chief of Fire Prevention.

As Chief Patalano transitions to

On Saturday, March 24, from 6pm to 2am, the Long Beach Police Department’s (LBPD) Traffic Enforcement Unit will conduct a DUI/drivers license checkpoint in east Long Beach.

DUI checkpoints are a proven enforcement tool effective in reducing the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol-involved crashes, according to the LBPD. Research shows that crashes involving alcohol drop by an average of 20 percent when well publicized checkpoints are conducted often enough.

According to a press release isued by the department Tuesday, officers will be contacting drivers passing through the checkpoint for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment. Officers will also check for proper licensing and will strive to delay motorists only momentarily. Drivers caught driving impaired can expect jail time, license suspension, and insurance increases, as well as fines, fees, DUI classes, and other expenses that can exceed $10,000.

“Over the course of the past three years, DUI collisions have claimed 13 lives and resulted in 274 injury crashes, harming 388 of our friends and neigh-

bors,” said Sergeant Aaron Alu. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), checkpoints have provided the most effective documented results of any of the DUI-enforcement strategies, while also yielding considerable cost savings of $6 for every $1 spent. Checkpoints are placed in locations that have the greatest opportunity for achieving drunk and drugged driving deterrence and provide the greatest safety for officers and the public.

“Deaths from drunk and drugimpaired driving are going down in California,” said Christopher J. Murphy, director of the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS). “But that still means that hundreds of our friends, family and co-workers are killed each year, along with tens of thousands who are seriously injured.

We must all continue to work together to bring an end to these tragedies. If you see a drunk driver, call 9-1-1.”

Funding for the checkpoint is provided to the LBPD by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

announced his retirement Wednesday after 22 years of service to the City of Long Beach. Patalano was appointed Long Beach Fire Chief in May 2010.

He is the 16th chief in the LBFD’s 115-year history. Prior to assuming the Fire Department’s top post, Patalano served in multiple positions on the Department’s Command Staff, including as deputy chief of Support Serv-

Alan Patalano was appointed Long Beach fire chief in May 2010.

“I am extremely proud to have served as chief of the Long Beach Fire Department,” Patalano said. “The women and men who wear the Long Beach Fire Department uniform are truly the best in their class.”

During his career, Patalano was involved in multiple initiatives, including the development and implementation of the Basic Life Support (BLS) Transportation Program, which has been successful in providing emergency medical services to Long Beach residents in times of need. Patalano effectively managed the department through two years of difficult budget reductions, implementing the necessary reductions while continuing to manage fire resources on a daily basis to provide the highest level of service possible to the Long Beach community. He also led the reinstatement of the Joint Fire and Police Arson Investigation Task Force, which has led to the arrest of several arsonists in Long Beach.

“Chief Patalano will be greatly missed, and I'm incredibly appreciative of his service to the City and this community,” said City Manager

Three top online-dating service providers agree to principles that will protect their users Attorney General Kamala D. Harris announced this week that three of the nation’s leading online dating providers have issued a joint statement of business principles that those providers should follow to help protect members from identity theft, financial scams and sexual predators.

The agreement between the attorney general and online dating providers eHarmony, Match.com and Spark Networks (operator of such websites as JDate and ChristianMingle), states that the companies will protect their members through the use of online safety tools, including checking subscribers against national sex offender registries and by providing a rapid abuse reporting system for members.

The websites will also continue to proactively educate members about safe online dating practices and will supply members with online safety tips, including fraud-prevention guidance and tips for safely meeting people offline. These tips and financial scam warnings will be issued on an ongoing basis to registered members.

“I commend these companies for committing to these important consumer protections,” Harris said. “Consumers should be able to use websites without the fear of being scammed or targeted. It is a priority for this office to ensure consumers are protected online, and companies who are creating in the Internet space have a continued opportunity to innovate and thrive.”

Providers will continue their efforts to screen members for safety threats, whether financial or physical, using a number of protective tools, including looking for fake profiles and checking sex offender registries to prevent registered sex offenders from using their feebased services. Any member who is identified as a registered sex offender will not be allowed to use these services.

This joint statement also ensures that the online dating-service providers have rapid abuse-reporting systems, which give members access to a website, email address and/or phone number to report any suspected criminal activity, including physical safety con-

cerns and fraud. This agreement reflects best practices that these industry leaders are following.

“In the interest of protecting and educating users, I strongly encourage all online dating companies to adopt the same principles as these industry leaders,” Harris said.

Last year, Harris established an eCrime Unit to prosecute identity theft, data intrusions and crimes involving the use of technology. She will assign a liaison from the eCrime Unit to deal with reports of suspected criminal activity provided by the three onlinedating providers and other providers who adopt these principles.

In 2011, 40 million Americans used an online dating service and spent more than $1 billion on online-dating website memberships. Of couples married in the last three years, one in six met through an online dating service and one in five people have dated someone they met through an online dating site. “eHarmony has the greatest concern for the safety and security of our members. These types of practices have been part of our commitment to member safety and education for many years,” said eHarmony CEO Jeremy Verba. “We are proud to join Attorney General Harris, Match.com and Spark Networks in setting an example for the rest of the online dating industry.”

“We commend Attorney General Harris for working with us to communicate best practices for a safe and enjoyable online dating environment,” said Match.com President Mandy Ginsberg. “We have always been committed to setting the standard for positive consumer experiences in online dating, and we were happy to work with the Attorney General, eHarmony and Spark Networks to encourage best practices throughout the industry.”

“The safety of our members and integrity of our sites is of fundamental importance to us, and we have always taken a multi-faceted approach to creating and maintaining safe online communities like JDate and ChristianMingle,” said Greg Liberman, president and CEO of Spark Networks.

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“We are honored Attorney General Harris has recognized our efforts to date and look forward to our continuing collaboration with the Attorney General,

eHarmony, and Match.com to protect the safety and privacy of online daters and encourage others in the industry to follow our examples.”

retirement, he looks forward to spending more time with family and friends.

The City’s process to select a new fire chief will begin shortly and will consider both external and internal candidates.

Shadow

Shadow is a beautiful brown tabby with gloves to match. He’s about 4 years old and has been neutered. He’s an incredibly friendly, supersweet cat whose owner recently passed away.

His brother, Bubba, also a 4-year old brown tabby, would love to go to the same home, if possible—he keeps purring to the tune of “Me and My Shadow.” They’re at the Companion Animal Village at 7700 East Spring St. , (562) 570-PETS. Ask for ID#A461556 and # A461554, respectively.

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COMMUNiTY Keeping nonprofit groups well stocked is Food Finders’ mission 6 SigNAL TriBUNE

Nick Diamantides Staff Writer

When people living below the poverty level go to an organization that gives away free food, arguably the last thing they want to hear is, “Sorry, we are all out– come back another time.”

The truth is, however, that during times of economic recession, many such organizations and shelters must scramble for supplies, and sometimes they do run out.

Food Finders, a nonprofit group based in Signal Hill, exists to keep those organizations and shelters adequately supplied.

Diana Lara, vice president of operations, stressed that individuals and families cannot get food directly from Food Finders. “We don’t do that, but we provide them with lists of places where they can get food, based on their ZIP code,” she said.

Lara explained that most people that phone asking for assistance are referred to organizations that get a good portion of their supplies from Food Finders. “We are nondenominational so we give food to any agency that provides food to individuals as long as they have a valid nonprofit status,” she said. “Currently, we supply food to churches, food pantries, senior living agencies, and a variety of shelters.”

According to Lara, Food Finders has a 24-foot truck, a 17-foot truck and a minivan, and all of them are refrigerated. The organization’s two paid drivers use whatever truck is needed to pick up surplus food from restaurants, grocery stores, hotels, conventions centers and other donor sites. Once the food is picked up, the drivers take it directly to an agency that serves meals or provides food for people to cook in their homes.

“Our drivers do a tremendous job, but most of the day-to-day pickups are handled by an amazing network of about 150 volunteers,” Lara said.

“They go out seven days a week in their own vehicles and do the same thing that our truck drivers do, only on a smaller scale.” She added that when a person volunteers to do that, Food Finders makes every effort to keep the places of donation and delivery as close to the volunteer’s home as possible to make it convenient for them.

Lara also noted that except for nonperishable items like coffee or crackers, Food Finders rarely stores food. “We try to always deliver food directly to the agencies that give it to people,” she said. “We also try to stage it so that if an organization is going to distribute food on Friday, we deliver it to them on Thursday or Friday morning so that it is as fresh as possible.”

Counting Lara and Executive Director Patti Larson, Food Finders has seven paid staff members. “Our annual budget– which goes to salaries, vehicle costs, rent and other overhead– is $500,000,” Lara said, adding that Food Finders picks up and delivers $10.5 million worth of food annually. “Our budget comes from federal grants and donations from corporations and caring individuals,” she said.

Food Finders conducts food drives throughout the year, to encourage individuals, families and businesses to donate as much food as possible. During the drives, Food Finders staff takes buckets and containers to businesses acting as collection sites for donated food.

The largest drive of the year starts a few weeks before Thanksgiving and runs to the end of the year. “We put our buckets and containers in various businesses and even in all of the Long Beach branch libraries,” Lara said.

“During that time, we keep collecting food from drop-off locations and delivering it, but we do use our small warehouse in this building to store some of that food for a short time.”

Lara added that people can always drop food off at the Food Finders

headquarters or they can phone and ask for someone to pick up the food from their home. “They can also get their place of employment to have a food drive, and we will pick up the food from there,” she said.

Lara noted that she wishes the level of donations collected during the end-of-the-year food drive remained the same throughout the year. “We would love to be able to have that kind of food drive all year long,” she said. “People love to donate food during the holidays, but there are always low-income people who need food every day of the year.”

She explained that Food Finders gets calls every day from churches and other nonprofit groups that need help feeding hungry people. “But we are not able to bring on new recipients unless we get new donors,” she said. “We hate to put agencies on our waiting list because we do not have food to give them.”

Larson added that she researched local hunger statistics recently and found that about 20 percent of Long Beach’s population lives at or below poverty income. “That’s one out of every five people, and 32 percent of those people are children,” she said.

“So we have kids who are going to school, but don’t have enough food to eat.” She added that malnutrition negatively affects a child’s ability to learn, as well as his or her emotional development.

Lara explained that Food Finders rescues seven million pounds of food

MArCH 23, 2012

Courtesy Food Finders

Food Finders is always looking for businesses that are willing to put a basket such as this one in a conspicuous place to give customers and employees an opportunity to donate food.

a year, but in the Los Angeles area alone, seven million more pounds of good, edible food ends up in landfills.

“There is enough food to feed everybody, if everybody just cared enough to donate the food that they are throwing away,” she said.

Lara said one way to change that is for employees that work for businesses that throw away food to become food-rescue advocates.

“They can ask their employers to contact us, and we will be glad to talk to them and explain how donating food

is good for the company and good for the agencies that need it,” she said.

“People can also ask their employers to host food drives.”

Food Finders is located at 2301 East 28th Street in Signal Hill This article is the second in a two-part series.

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The Food Finders refrigerated mini van is used to pick up fresh, donated food and deliver it directly to organizations that serves meals or provide food for low-income families and individuals to take home.

City prosecutor, Animal Care Services hosting conference on preventing animal cruelty Long Beach City Prosecutor Doug Haubert and Long Beach Animal Care Services are joining forces to present a free educational event on March 29 aimed at preventing ani-

mal cruelty.

“Animal cruelty is a crime that often goes unnoticed and unreported,” said Haubert. “The goal of this conference is to raise awareness

about what constitutes cruelty and teach the public what they can do to help stop it.”

The conference will feature prominent speakers, including Eric Sakach, senior law-enforcement specialist for the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), and Deputy District Attorney Deborah Knaan, who supervises animal cruelty prosecution for the LA District Attorney’s Office.

According to one study of media reports gathered by the HSUS, 64.5 percent of all animal cruelty cases reported involved dogs, while 18 percent of reported cases involved cats.

The conference will be conducted from 6pm to 8:30pm on Thursday, March 29, at Skylinks at Long Beach, 4800 E. Wardlow Rd., (across from the Long Beach Airport). Light refreshments will be served.

The event is being funded through sponsorships and grants, including support from the HSUS, Golden State Humane Society, Friends of Long Beach Animals, and local businesses. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. RSVPs are recommended. For more information, call (562) 570-5626 or visit CityProsecutorDougHaubert.com .

MArCH 23, 2012

SH Council continued from page 1

This is Hansen’s fourth term as mayor of Signal Hill. She was originally elected to the Council in 1994.

The new mayor is the mother of sevenyear-old twins and also works as a prosecutor for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office.

Hansen said in an interview later Tuesday evening that she is prioritizing the library and police station projects.

She emphasized the importance of breaking ground this year for the library, citing the terms of the bonds that funded the construction projects that require the library to be completed in three years.

It’s a small tradition for various agencies and entities and the offices of local elected officials to honor Signal Hill’s outgoing mayor for his or her service over the last year. Councilmember Ellen Ward offered Forester high praise for his dedication.

“And I’ve never known any mayor to work as hard as Larry Forester, and I just want to thank you,” Ward said to Forester Tuesday night, before joking with him. “You’re like a paid staff person without any money.”

In his outgoing speech as mayor, Forester took the time to review the recent accomplishments of the City Council and the challenges the City has faced, particularly during an economic recession. He specifically noted that the Economic Reserve Fund had been used to balance the City’s budget in 2009 and 2010, but he also pointed out that with “prudent budgeting” last year, the City increased the General Fund Reserve to $4.7 million and the Economic Uncertainty Reserve to $4.4 million. However, he warned, the City still may face economic challenges and may need to use these reserve funds in the future.

“This Council has always taken a prudent and measured approach for our finances,” said Forester. “We have never resorted to unnecessary or major increases in taxes or fees on our residents in order to balance our budget.”

Forester also criticized the move to eliminate the redevelopment agency last Feb. 1. He warned that the community will be dealing with adverse impacts

COMMUNiTY from this decision for several years.

“We are the last City Council to have opportunity to use the tools of Signal Hill Redevelopment to improve the quality of the life of our community,” Forester said, as he credited the redevelopment agency for funding construction of the new police station and library.

Following the Council’s meeting, Hansen acknowledged Forester’s accomplishments and reflected on the City’s ability to handle challenges.

Hansen was asked to describe what she’s learned from Forester’s leadership over the last year.

“Even when we’ve got a hole in our budget, like we did many years ago, we’re creative. We look at…the big picture. We look outside the box,” Hansen said. “We always can find a way to maneuver through it, and I think that that’s what I’ve learned, that we’re resilient. … And Larry’s a tough act to follow. I’ll tell you that. He really is.”

Other City Council Highlights EDCO Transport Services The Council voted to continue a public hearing for a zoning ordinance amendment to April 3. The amendment deals with reduced setback for specific areas in the General Industrial Specific Plan as requested by EDCO Transport Services.

General Plan The Council unanimously approved the submission of the Annual Plan Progress Report of the General Plan to the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research and the State Department of Housing and Community Development.

Spring Street Corridor Joint Powers Authority (JPA) The City Council authorized the city manager to send a letter to the City of Long Beach that indicates that Signal Hill supports the continued existence of the JPA and suggest to Long Beach that it determine how to replace the redevelopment agency chair who formerly served on the JPA. The next Signal Hill Council meeting will be Tuesday, April 3 at 7pm at the Council Chambers.

7 Cubberley School brings in a ‘hair-razing’ $60,000 for childhood-cancer research SigNAL TriBUNE

Courtesy Cubberley School

Volunteers attended the fund-raising event as a “shavee” or barber, with the sole intention of shaving heads to show solidarity with children who have been stricken with various cancer-related illnesses.

Students, parents and teachers of Cubberley K-8 School hosted the 11th Annual St. Baldrick’s HeadShaving event on March 16, and, according to a press release issued by the office of 5th Disrict Councilmember Gerrie Schipske’s office, the school has been instrumental in its perennial collection of donations to help support childhood-cancer research.

Volunteers attended the event as a “shavee” or barber, with the sole intention of shaving hair off heads to show solidarity with children who have been stricken with various cancer-related illnesses.

Schipske spoke at the event to support St. Baldrick’s worthy cause and to distinguish the charitable actions of Cubberley’s faculty and students. “Today, Cubberley stands in

unison with St. Baldrick’s to support children who suffer from childhood cancers,” Schipske said. “Our students, parents and faculty share the same passion in helping children conquer this dreadful disease, and we will continue to lead the nation in attendance for St. Baldrick’s events.”

Cubberley has raised more than $480,000 over the last 10 years. The school has been recognized by Jerry Finklestein, who works with the Jaques Children’s Cancer Center in Long Beach, as the number-one school in the country for the largest student participation in their annual St. Baldrick’s event. This year, 200 volunteers had their heads shaved.

Half of them were children between first and eighth grade. SuperCuts, with its two 5th District locations,

contributed hair stylists to help sheer the locks off the participants. Total donations received today amounted to $60,000.

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers.

Founded in March of 2000, founders John Bender, Tim Kenny and Enda McDonnell turned a St. Patrick’s Day party into a head-shaving event that raised $104,000. The foundation has grown exponentially, now having raised $117 million.

The funds collected on Saturday go directly to the Miller Children’s Hospital and the Jonathan Jaques Children’s Cancer Center for life-saving research and programs for children with cancer.

CULTUrE

8 SigNAL TriBUNE

MArCH 23, 2012

LB Shakespeare Company gets ‘intimate’ with the most famous of star-crossed lovers Gregory Spooner Culture Writer

St. Patrick’s Day is usually associated with the Irish and green beer. This year, however, we celebrated it with the world’s most famous Englishman...

William Shakespeare! When my wife heard that we were going to see Romeo & Juliet, she was somewhat disappointed. “It’s my least favorite Shakespeare play,” she let me know as we hurried into the car on what proved to be a very wet St. Patty’s Day. On the drive to the theatre, we pondered the question, “What can one do with Shakespeare?” (Or more appro-

priately, “What hasn’t already been done with Shakespeare?”) The audience is undoubtedly familiar with the plot (as nearly all of us read it in high school… or at least watched the movie the night before the test!).

Many attempts have been made to modernize, bowdlerize, and/or sensationalize the Bard of Avon. Before we crept up the ivory tower of academia, my wife and I both managed movie theatres, and over the years we took in a potpourri of Shakespeare mash-ups.

There was Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 remake which paired Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes; an anachronistic combination of a modern

setting and the original, Shakespearean dialogue was a unique twist. Ian McKellen starred as Richard III in a 1995 remake, which hypothesized an alternate history in which 1930s England was a fascist state embroiled in civil war. Even as far back as 1961, Arthur Laurents re-imagined Romeo and Juliet in the streets of New York in West Side Story.

The desire to re-invent Shakespeare is understandable. We’re all too familiar with the plots. The Bard’s language, which sits on the cusp of (indecipherable) Middle English and Early Modern English, is only semi-comprehensible to us today. No wonder so

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many have reset these timeless plots in other times, places and vernaculars.

So perhaps, with this long tapestry of re-imagining Shakespeare, our misgivings would be justified?

As it turns out, they were not.

With so many attempts to reinvent the Capulets and Montagues, it turns out that everything old is new again.

The Long Beach Shakespeare Company’s (LBSC) faithful adaptation of this classic tale is not just everything you expect it to be; it’s much more.

The LBSC’s venue is an intimate setting, seating about 50; the cast takes full advantage of this. The proximity of the actors allows them to perform in a refreshingly realistic and natural manner. Emotions can be conveyed with a raised eyebrow or furtive glance rather than the melodramatic pantomime often necessitated by large theatres.

Both my wife and I were struck by how genuine the performances were.

Summer Blake and Nathan Dean Snyder played the star-crossed lovers with youthful abandon. Snyder squirms with adolescent exuberance when the balconied Juliet’s soliloquy betrays the object of her desire. Blake’s clandestine glances at Romeo while dancing with others let us know she is first intrigued, then enthralled. In a performance where the archaic vernacular is sometimes challenging, these subtle yet essential cues make the difference between mediocrity and excellence.

In marked contrast to the understated performance of the eponymous couple, Kyle Conley’s Mercutio is a brilliant, over-the-top, dandy, bringing humor and a dynamic presence to his performance. But perhaps the most pleasant surprise was Rebecca Rodriguez’s Nurse, who delivered every line in a convincing, clear and natural style.

There is one disadvantage to the

small venue: it utilizes a small cast, with four characters played by only two thespians, which lead to some small confusion in my head. “Wait… the friar is killed in a sword fight?! … then he comes back to life in the next scene?! [My wife informs me that it is merely the same actor playing two roles.] Ohhh… nevermind!”

Kudos must be given to director Helen Borgers (Yes… of KKJZ fame!) for breathing new life into this production. Her perspective is that this is not just a tragedy of the “impetuosity of youth…. All the other characters in the play stand in the way of the true, ideal love of Romeo and Juliet, and it is they, not the lovers, who behave impulsively and unreasonably.”

The British philosopher Bertrand Russell once said, "Shakespeare did not write with a view to boring schoolchildren; he wrote to delighting his audiences.” Too often, Shakespeare is delivered to us in a “serious,” somber, stiff, and, well… just plain boring and artificial manner. We must remember that these plays were, in their day, enjoyed by the common folk in an intimate setting. The Bard would be proud to know that, at least in our corner of the world, his tradition continues, and the audience was delighted, indeed.

So what can one do with Shakespeare?

Even today, 500 years later, with a faithful reproduction… one can do a lot.

Long Beach Shakespeare Company’s Romeo and Juliet will play at the Richard Goad Theatre, 4250 Atlantic Ave., through April 1. All performances are at 8pm except Sunday matinees at 2pm. Tickets are $20 general admission, $10 for students. For tickets and more information, call (562) 9971494 or visit lbshakespeare.org.

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Nathan Dean Snyder and Summer Blake in Long Beach Shakespeare Company’s production of Romeo and Juliet

NEWS

MArCH 23, 2012

SigNAL TriBUNE

9

Attorney general Harris appoints an independent monitor to protect interests of homeowners in California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris announced Tuesday the appointment of Professor Katherine Porter of the University of California, Irvine School of Law as the California monitor of the commitment by the nation’s five largest banks to perform as much as $18 billion worth of homeowner and borrower benefits in the state. Harris’s decision to appoint a California monitor was made independent of the national settlement, and Porter’s role is focused exclusively on ensuring compliance in California.

This California commitment is part of a national federal-state mortgage settlement penalizing robo-signing and other servicing and foreclosure misconduct that is currently pending approval in a federal court in Washington, D.C. Upon approval of the settlement, California’s monitor will assist the Attorney General’s office in holding the banks accountable for their commitments to the state and ensuring that the promised

Courtesy Attorney General’s office

Professor Katherine Porter of the University of California, Irvine School of Law has been appointed as the California monitor of the commitment by the nation’s five largest banks to perform as much as $18 billion worth of homeowner and borrower benefits in the state.

benefits are delivered to homeowners in full and on time.

“Hundreds of thousands of California homeowners will benefit from the commitments of up to $18 billion extracted from mortgage lenders. We must enforce full and timely compliance with these commitments, and the appointment of Professor Porter as our California monitor is central to that enforcement,” Harris said. “Professor Porter’s wealth of experience and knowledge will protect the interests of homeowners and ensure the settling banks deliver on their promises.”

“I will work hard to make sure banks hold up their promises to change troubling practices so that families and communities across California see the benefits of the settlement,” Porter said. “Part of repairing the damage of the mortgage crisis is restoring public confidence that our largest financial institutions will treat consumers fairly and follow the law.”

Porter specializes in commercial and consumer law, including mortgage foreclosures and bankruptcy, and just released the book Broke: How Debt Bankrupts the Middle Class. In 2007, Porter authored an empirical study that offered some of the first systemic evidence of the problems in mortgage servicing that harmed homeowners. She has worked with other government entities, including the Federal Trade Commission and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, on issues relating to mortgage servicing.

Upon approval of the settlement, Porter will verify the extent and timeliness of lenders meeting their obligations to California homeowners.

Using information obtained by the national monitor of the mortgage settlement, former North Carolina Commissioner of Banks Joseph Smith, Porter will review lender filings,

homeowner reports and complaints, and other compliance documents to ensure that benefits committed by the banks are performed and result in meaningful relief to California borrowers. She will regularly report the results of her findings to the Attorney General’s Office.

The appointment of Porter as the state's monitor is one of a series of enforcement mechanisms to ensure transparent compliance with the national settlement and the separate California agreement. Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and JP Morgan Chase will face significant financial penalties if they do not meet their guarantee of a minimum of $12 billion in principal reductions and short sales for homeowners within the state.

Unlike the larger national agreement, which is only enforceable in a federal court in Washington, D.C., the agreement reached with California empowers Harris to enforce the penalty provisions in California state court.

California secured the estimated $18 billion in borrower benefits and relief as part of a national multistate settlement to penalize robo-signing and other bank servicing and foreclosure misconduct. The agreement comes after California departed from the multistate negotiations last September when the relief to California was estimated at $4 billion. Harris insisted on more relief for the most distressed homeowners, on stronger enforcement provisions, and that California and other states preserve key investigations into mortgage misconduct.

California’s separate commitment also creates important incentives to ensure that banks will reduce the principal mortgage balance of underwater homeowners in California’s hardest-hit counties and that the principal reductions in these and other California

Attorney General Kamala D. Harris with homeowners at a recent roundtable to discuss the mortgage fraud crisis.

communities will occur within the first year of the settlement. Professor Porter will ensure that both the Californiaspecific and national settlements are properly implemented in the state.

“The California commitment provides a path for thousands of struggling homeowners in California to retain their homes, while preserving our ability to investigate banker crime and predatory lending,” added Harris.

“This is one important stride in our ongoing efforts to address the mortgage and foreclosure crisis that has devastated too many California communities.”

Harris earlier this month joined Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez, Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and other state legislators to unveil the California Homeowner Bill of Rights, designed to protect homeowners from unfair practices by banks and mortgage companies and to help consumers and communities cope with the state’s urgent mortgage and foreclosure crisis. The legislation would make permanent and available to everyone the interim reforms agreed to as part of the California

commitment, including a single point of contact for mortgage-holders and restrict the unfair and inherently deceptive system of dual-track foreclosures. State legislators authoring key components of the Homeowner Bill of Rights include Assemblymembers Wilmer Carter, Mike Davis, Mike Eng, Mike Feuer, Holly Mitchell, Nancy Skinner, Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, and Senators Mark DeSaulnier, Loni Hancock, Mark Leno, and Fran Pavley.

Harris also continues her work to have the Federal Housing Finance Agency authorize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac– holders or guarantors of over 60 percent of California mortgages– to participate in targeted programs of principal reduction that will benefit struggling homeowners, stabilize the country's housing market, and benefit taxpayers.

The state’s Mortgage Fraud Strike Force continues its work to crack down on all forms of mortgage misconduct. Earlier this month, three prominent attorneys were arrested and are accused of running a loan modification scam.

CULTUrE

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MArCH 23, 2012

Michael Cavanaugh returning to Long Beach Chorale and Chamber LB Arena for Elton John tribute Orchestra to present Haydn’s The Creation

Courtesy LB Chorale

Director Eliza Rubenstein will lead the Long Beach Chorale and Chamber Orchestra in a complete performance of Haydn’s oratorio The Creation this weekend.

Courtesy LBSO

Michael Cavanaugh will perform hits by Elton John, Chicago, Paul McCartney, The Eagles, and more, featuring the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra.

“Your Song,” “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fightin’,” and “Bennie and the Jets” are just a few of the classic Elton John songs scheduled to be performed by guest artist Michael Cavanaugh when he joins the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra (LBSO) POPS! for Michael Cavanaugh in Concert: The Songs of Elton John and More on Saturday, March 24, at The Long Beach Arena.

The concert will feature Principal POPS! Conductor Steven Reineke alongside guest artist Cavanaugh, who performed with the Orchestra POPS! in The Music of Billy Joel and More.

Cavanaugh will perform hits by Elton John, Chicago, Paul McCartney, The Eagles, and more, featuring the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra.

This will be Reineke’s final concert with the LBSO as principal POPS! conductor.

“Our audiences have been fortunate to have enjoyed the remarkable conducting and programming of Steven Reineke for three seasons,” says LBSO Executive

Director Robert C. Jones, “but it is now time to wish him well as he focuses his attention on his impressive, and growing, major East Coast orchestra relationships. He has a standing invitation to return as a guest conductor in future seasons. In Steven’s short tenure, he has set a new standard for your Orchestra POPS! for which we thank him and wish him the very best.”

Michael Cavanaugh in Concert: The Songs of Elton John and More will begin at 8pm at the Long Beach Arena, 300 East Ocean Blvd. Doors open at 6:30pm for picnicking. Tickets start at only $21. Student rush tickets are available for $10 with valid I.D. Audience members are welcome to bring their own food and beverages with them to enjoy during the concert, or purchase them at the Arena. Audiences may enjoy the concert from one of 300 cabaret tables on the Arena floor, or from the theater-style seats in the loge or balcony. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (562) 4363203, or visit LBSO.org.

The Long Beach Chorale ’s spring performance of Haydn’s The Creation features renowned soloists and a full orchestra in a setting that showcases the ensemble’s mission– providing great music, up close.

Director Eliza Rubenstein will lead the Long Beach Chorale and Chamber Orchestra in a complete performance of Haydn’s oratorio The Creation at 7pm on Saturday, March 24 and at 4pm on Sunday, March 25 at Grace First Presbyterian Church, 3955 Studebaker Rd. The oratorio, written in the late 1700s, is the crowning achievement of Franz Joseph Haydn’s long career. The chorale and full orchestra will be

joined by soprano Harriet Fraser, tenor Robert MacNeil and bass-baritone David Stoneman. The performance also features use of a fortepiano, a historical instrument with a different sound from the modern piano.

“Haydn's sense of humor, love of surprises, and ear for cheerful melodies make The Creation a thoroughly delightful adventure for the performers and the audience alike,” Rubenstein said. “Not often do music lovers have the opportunity to hear the entire work live, so this concert, featuring an expanded chorus, a full orchestra, and three world-class soloists, is must-hear music.”

Rubenstein has directed the Long

Beach Chorale since 2003. In December, the Long Beach Chorale had the honor of giving the United States premiere performance of Cecilia McDowall’s Magnificat.

The audience is invited to join members of the Long Beach Chorale and Chamber Orchestra for a reception after the performance. Refreshments and desserts will be available, and guests can bid on raffle prizes. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for students, available online or at the door.

MORE INFORMATION longbeachchorale.org (562) 427-1931

Art of the Matter

Greg Jacobs is a reluctant photographer.

While the California Heights resident’s been shooting photos since high school– a hobby he picked up from his camera-bug grandfather–he put down his lens sometime around college and left it there for a good long while. It was only after touring and working with a couple of rock bands back around 2008 that Jacobs jumped back into photography with a passion. He picked up a digital SLR and was hooked– again.

After a learning curve that mostly involved ignoring the camera’s owner’s manual– and taking a “getting to know your camera” class at Tuttle Cameras in Bixby Knolls– Jacobs now considers himself an observational street photographer who prefers to document in pixels the characters who inhabit everyday

life. Sure, he likes to shoot palm trees, power lines and rock shows, but the street is where his viewfinder is drawn.

“One of the things I love about street photography is that it makes me uncomfortable. It takes me out of my element,” Jacobs says. “When an image comes out, it’s very rewarding. There’s something awesome about being nervous and awkward while still being able to press the shutter button and frame an interesting shot of a fascinating character. I hear a lot of people say, when discussing street photography, they see beauty in everyday life and want to document it. This sounds kind of cliché, but it’s true. Let’s face it, some people are awesome-looking.

Their faces are so descriptive, and to capture them in a natural and nonposed setting is just amazing.”

Since returning to the lens, Jacobs has launched a photo blog, ribshots.wordpress.com, where people can view his images and follow his updates. Not content with his current skills, Jacobs regularly attends photo classes and workshops in Long Beach and Los Angeles where he can hone his technical abilities and techniques. “I have a long way to go with street photography, but I really love it,” he says. “There's a great community of local street photographers out there that I’m honored to call myself part of– or at least hang around with on the periphery.”

Greg Jacobs may be contacted at 103degreesman@gmail.com .

MORE INFORMATION ribshots.wordpress.com

CULTUrE

MArCH 23, 2012

georgie’s Place is the neighborhood restaurant with something for everyone

Cory Bilicko/Signal Tribune

Georgie’s Place offers a relaxing patio featuring numerous tables with umbrellas.

Cory Bilicko Culture Writer

Georgie’s Place Greek and American Grill, 3850 Atlantic Ave., is one of those go-to places that offer consistently good food, a variety of options to please everyone in your party and a casual atmosphere so that you’re able to eat comfortably no matter where you’re coming from, where you’re headed to, or how you’re dressed.

I recently went to Georgie’s Place with my friend Rocky, on our way to see a play aboard the Queen Mary.

Since we needed to get to the theatre by a certain time for the performance, Georgie’s was a nice choice, as it is conveniently located in the heart of Bixby Knolls, and we were able to order our food at the counter then relax on the patio for a few minutes before our food was brought to us– no stressing about waiting for a table, waiting to place our order, or waiting to pay our bill. (And, if you’re really in a hurry, Georgie’s will gladly take your order over the phone.)

I ordered the Chicken Gyro and Greek Salad, a filling yet light meal ideal as pre-theatre fare. I love that hot chicken paired with the cool, creamy tzatziki. The freshly chopped vegeta-

bles with the crumbled feta (one of my favorite cheeses) is always the perfect complement.

Rocky had the Lamb Chops with Greek Salad, which I later asked him to describe. “The dish I ordered was deelish,” he said. “At first glance, this looks like a typical burger joint, but don’t let that fool you. The menu is diverse with eats like pancakes and kabobs. I had the Greek Salad and meaty Lamb Chops. It was tender enough that the meat pulled off the bone without effort.”

As Rocky mentioned, the menu at Georgie’s Place is indeed a diverse one. Breakfast choices, which are served all day, include, but aren’t nearly limited to, such offerings as: the Carne Asada Breakfast Burrito, the Polish Sausage Sandwich, the Mediterranean Omelet, and Chocolate Chip Hotcakes.

For non-breakfast palates, the gamut, which includes 12 different kinds of salads, also consists of items such as: Beef Brochette, Fish & Chips, Philly Cheese-Steak Sandwich, Carne Asada Tacos, and Turkey Burgers.

They also have breakfast specials (from 7am to 11am), an extensive kids menu, and, last but certainly not least, ice cream. As Rocky said, “It’s good for bringing your picky grandmother and grade-school kids.”

Hungry yet?

Georgie’s Place can be reached at (562) 426-9115. To check out their menu, visit georgiesplacelongbeach.com .

SigNAL TriBUNE

11

First Congregational Church to host Fauré’s Requiem for Mozart Festival On Sunday, March 25 at 3pm in its 1914 historical landmark church, the Board of Cultural Arts of the First Congregational Church of Long Beach, in affiliation with the Long Beach Mozart Festival, will present Gabriel Fauré ’s Requiem performed by the First Congregational Church Choir under the direction of Curtis Heard. It will be accompanied by a chamber orchestra and Dr. Marc Dickey on the 70-rank Möller pipe organ. In addition, three Mozart Festival finalists will perform.

Pianist Quenna Nguyen, who at age 6 has already won several piano competitions including first place in a Mozart piano competition, will play Chopin’s Waltz in A Minor and Waltz in D flat Major.

Pianist Audrey Jaehee Yim is 16 years old and won first place in the Mozart Festival Concerto Compe-

tition as well as first place in the West Covina Symphony Young Arts Concerto Competition and the Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition, which led to her debut performance at Carnegie Hall at age 11. She will play the Second and Fourth Movements of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 11.

Soprano Alyssa Wills, a student at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University, Long Beach, won first place in the Opera 100 Competition and second place in the Mozart Festival Vocal Competition. She will be performing works by Strauss, Puccini, Britten and Mozart.

This is a public event open to the community. There will be no admission charge but a free will offering will be taken with a $15 suggested donation.

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PUBLiC NOTiCES TST4009 NOTICE OF TRUSTEE'S SALE TS No. 10-0141714 Title Order No. 10-8-508633 Investor/Insurer No. N/A APN No. 7215-020-021 YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST, DATED 04/22/2005.

UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER." Notice is hereby given that RECONTRUST COMPANY, N.A., as duly appointed trustee pursuant to the Deed of Trust executed by LATEEF T FRANKS, A SINGLE MAN, dated 04/22/2005 and recorded 5/2/2005, as Instrument No. 05 1017867, in Book , Page ), of Official Records in the office of the County Recorder of Los Angeles County, State of California, will sell on 04/02/2012 at 11:00AM, By the fountain located at 400 Civic Center Plaza, Pomona, CA 91766 at public auction, to the highest bidder for cash or check as described below, payable in full at time of sale, all right, title, and interest conveyed to and now held by it under said Deed of Trust, in the property situated in said County and State and as more fully described in the above referenced Deed of Trust.

The street address and other common designation, if any, of the real property described above is purported to be: 2244 SEA RIDGE DRIVE, SIGNAL HILL, CA, 90755. The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the street address and other common designation, if any, shown herein. The total amount of the unpaid balance with interest thereon of the obligation secured by the property to be sold plus reasonable estimated costs, expenses and advances at the time of the initial publication of the Notice of Sale is $1,259,545.50. It is possible that at the time of sale the opening bid may be less than the total indebtedness due. In addition to cash, the Trustee will accept cashier's checks drawn on a state or national bank, a check drawn by a state or federal credit union, or a check drawn by a state or federal savings and loan association, savings association, or savings bank specified in Section 5102 of the Financial Code and authorized to do business in this state. Said sale will be made, in an ''AS IS'' condition, but without covenant or warranty, express or implied, regarding title, possession or encumbrances, to satisfy the indebtedness secured by said Deed of Trust, advances thereunder, with interest as provided, and the unpaid principal of the Note secured by said Deed of Trust with interest thereon as provided in said Note, plus fees, charges and expenses of the Trustee and of the trusts created by said Deed of Trust. DATED: 02/02/2011 RECONTRUST COMPANY, N.A. 1800 Tapo Canyon Rd., CA6-914-01-94 SIMI VALLEY, CA 93063 Phone: (800) 281 8219, Sale Information (626) 927-4399 By: - Trustee's Sale Officer RECONTRUST COMPANY, N.A. is a debt collector attempting to collect a debt. Any information obtained will be used for that purpose. ASAP# 4211155 03/09/2012, 03/16/2012, 03/23/2012 TST4015 NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE Trustee Sale No. 741124CA Loan No. 0702030966 Title Order No. 100205417-CA-MAI YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST DATED 07-13-2005. UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDINGS AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER. On 04-09-2012 at 11:00 A.M., CALIFORNIA RECONVEYANCE COMPANY as the duly appointed

MEMBER

Better Business Bureau

Trustee under and pursuant to Deed of Trust Recorded 07-21-2005, Book , Page , Instrument 05 1722497, of official records in the Office of the Recorder of LOS ANGELES County, California, executed by: STEPHEN D. BURTON, AN UNMARRIED MAN, as Trustor, WASHINGTON MUTUAL BANK, FA, as Beneficiary, will sell at public auction sale to the highest bidder for cash, cashier's check drawn by a state or national bank, a cashier’s check drawn by a state or federal credit union, or a cashier’s check drawn by a state or federal savings and loan association, savings association, or savings bank specified in section 5102 of the Financial Code and authorized to do business in this state. Sale will be held by the duly appointed trustee as shown below, of all right, title, and interest conveyed to and now held by the trustee in the hereinafter described property under and pursuant to the Deed of Trust. The sale will be made, but without covenant or warranty, expressed or implied, regarding title, possession, or encumbrances, to pay the remaining principal sum of the note(s) secured by the Deed of Trust, interest thereon, estimated fees, charges and expenses of the Trustee for the total amount (at the time of the initial publication of the Notice of Sale) reasonably estimated to be set forth below. The amount may be greater on the day of sale.

Place of Sale: BY THE FOUNTAIN LOCATED AT 400 CIVIC CENTER PLAZA, POMONA, CA 91766. Legal Description: PARCEL 1: LOT 31 OF TRACT NO. 53228-1, IN THE CITY OF SIGNAL HILL, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AS PER MAP RECORDED IN BOOK 1265 PAGES 13 TO 19 INCLUSIVE OF MAPS, IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY RECORDER OF SAID COUNTY. EXCEPT ALL OIL, GAS, MINERALS AND OTHER HYDROCARBON SUBSTANCES IN, UNDER AND/OR THAT MAY BE PRODUCED FROM A DEPTH OF BELOW 100 FEET FROM THE SURFACE OF SAID LAND, EXCLUDING HOWEVER, ANY USE OF OR RIGHT IN OR TO ANY PORTION OF THE SURFACE OF SAID LAND TO A DEPTH OF 100 FEET BELOW THE SURFACE THEREOF, AS RESERVED AND/OR GRANTED IN VARIOUS DEEDS OF RECORD, ONE OF SAID DEEDS BEING ONE RECORDED IN BOOK 27761 PAGE 274 OF OFFICIAL RECORDS. PARCEL 2: EXCLUSIVE AND NON-EXCLUSIVE EASEMENTS AND RIGHT FOR USE, ENJOYMENT, ACCESS, INGRESS AND EGRESS, ENCROACHMENT, MAINTENANCE, REPAIR, DRAINAGE, SUPPORT AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES, ALL AS AND TO THE EXTENT DESCRIBED AND PROVIDED FOR IN THE DECLARATION, RECORDED FEBRUARY 9, 2001 AS INSTRUMENT NO. 01-218545 AND ANY AMENDMENTS THERETO. Amount of unpaid balance and other charges: $789,890.44 (estimated) Street address and other common designation of the real property: 2540 HILLCREST STREET SIGNAL HILL, CA 90755 APN Number: 7214-014-104 The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the street address and other common designation, if any, shown herein. The property heretofore described is being sold "as is". In compliance with California Civil Code 2923.5(c) the mortgagee, trustee, beneficiary, or authorized agent declares: that it has contacted the borrower(s) to assess their financial situation and to explore options to avoid foreclosure; or that it has made efforts to contact the borrower(s) to assess their financial situation and to explore options to avoid foreclosure by one of the following methods: by telephone; by United States mail; either 1st class or certified; by overnight delivery; by personal delivery; by e-mail; by face to face meeting. DATE: 03-13-2012 CALIFORNIA RECONVEYANCE COMPANY, as Trustee BRENDA BATTEN, ASSISTANT SECRETARY CALIFORNIA RECONVEYANCE COMPANY IS A DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY

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Prior results do not guarantee a future outcome. We may associate with local firms in states wherein we do not maintain an office. If no recovery, no fees or costs are charged, unless prohibited by State Law or Rule. Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C. is a registered Law Corporation with the California State Bar, cert.#18529

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MArCH 23, 2012

INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. California Reconveyance Company 9200 Oakdale Avenue Mail Stop: CA2-4379 Chatsworth, CA 91311 800-892-6902 For Sales Information: (714) 7302727 or www.lpsasap.com (714) 573-1965 or www.priorityposting.comASAP# 4209555 03/16/2012, 03/23/2012, 03/30/2012 TST4023 T.S. No. 11-6128-55 Loan No. 1011081377 NOTICE OF TRUSTEE'S SALE YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST DATED 3/13/2008. UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER. A public auction sale to the highest bidder for cash, cashier's check drawn on a state or national bank, check drawn by a state or federal credit union, or a check drawn by a state or federal savings and loan association, or savings association, or savings bank specified in Section 5102 of the Financial Code and authorized to do business in this state will be held by the duly appointed trustee as shown below, of all right, title, and interest conveyed to and now held by the trustee in the hereinafter described property under and pursuant to a Deed of Trust described below. The sale will be made, but without covenant or warranty, expressed or implied, regarding title, possession, or encumbrances, to pay the remaining principal sum of the note(s) secured by the Deed of Trust, with interest and late charges thereon, as provided in the note(s), advances, under the terms of the Deed of Trust, interest thereon, fees, charges and expenses of the Trustee for the total amount (at the time of the initial publication of the Notice of Sale) reasonably estimated to be set forth below. The amount may be greater on the day of sale. Trustor: YANELA J MORGAN AND ANGELLO A MORGAN WIFE AND HUSBAND AS COMMUNITY PROPERTY WITH RIGHT OF SURVIVORSHIP Duly Appointed Trustee: THE WOLF FIRM, A LAW CORPORATION Recorded 03/19/2008 as Instrument No. 20080468939 of Official Records in the office of the Recorder of Los Angeles County, California, Date of Sale: 5/3/2012 at 09:00 AM Place of Sale: At the Vineyard Ballroom, Doubletree Hotel Los Angeles-Norwalk, 13111 Sycamore Drive Norwalk, CA. 90650 Amount of unpaid balance and other charges: $297,966.99, estimated Street Address or other common designation of real property: 2296 GAVIOTA AVE UNIT 2 SIGNAL HILL, CA A.P.N.: 7215-007-063 The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the street address or other common designation, if any, shown above. If no street address or other common designation is shown, directions to the location of the property may be obtained by sending a written request to the beneficiary within 10 days of the date of first publication of this Notice of Sale. NOTICE TO POTENTIAL BIDDERS: If you are considering bidding on this property lien, you should understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a trustee auction. You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property itself. Placing the highest bid at a trustee auction does not automatically entitle you to free and clear ownership of the property.

You should also be aware that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior lien. If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the property. You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority, and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder's office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a fee for this information. If you consult either of these resources, you should be aware that the same lender may hold more than one mortgage or deed of trust on the property. NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: The sale date shown on this notice of sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about trustee sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and, if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property, you may call (800) 280-2832 or visit this Internet Web site www.auction.com, using the file number assigned to this case 11-6128-55. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the Internet Web site. The best way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale. Date: 3/21/2012 THE WOLF FIRM, A LAW CORPORATION 2955 Main Street, 2nd Floor Irvine, California 92614 Foreclosure Department (949) 720-9200 Sale Information Only: (800) 280-2832 Auction.com Renae C. Murray, Foreclosure Manager P933644 3/23, 3/30, 04/06/2012 TST4016 NOTICE OF TRUSTEE'S SALE TS No. 10-0056186 Title Order No. 10-8-227073 Investor/Insurer No. 114984247 APN No. 7214-017-132 YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST, DATED 10/21/2005. UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER." Notice is hereby given that RECONTRUST COMPANY, N.A., as duly appointed trustee pursuant to the Deed of Trust executed by DENISE C SMITH, A SINGLE WOMAN, dated 10/21/2005 and recorded 11/1/2005, as Instrument No. 05 2632439, in Book , Page ), of Official Records in the office of the County Recorder of Los Angeles County, State of California, will sell on 04/09/2012 at 11:00AM, By the fountain located at 400 Civic Center Plaza, Pomona, CA 91766 at public auction, to the highest bidder for cash or check as described below, payable in full at time of sale, all right, title, and interest conveyed to and now held by it under said Deed of Trust, in the

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property situated in said County and State and as more fully described in the above referenced Deed of Trust.

The street address and other common designation, if any, of the real property described above is purported to be: 2263 WESTWIND WAY, SIGNAL HILL, CA, 907553865. The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the street address and other common designation, if any, shown herein. The total amount of the unpaid balance with interest thereon of the obligation secured by the property to be sold plus reasonable estimated costs, expenses and advances at the time of the initial publication of the Notice of Sale is $1,229,749.10. It is possible that at the time of sale the opening bid may be less than the total indebtedness due. In addition to cash, the Trustee will accept cashier's checks drawn on a state or national bank, a check drawn by a state or federal credit union, or a check drawn by a state or federal savings and loan association, savings association, or savings bank specified in Section 5102 of the Financial Code and authorized to do business in this state. Said sale will be made, in an ''AS IS'' condition, but without covenant or warranty, express or implied, regarding title, possession or encumbrances, to satisfy the indebtedness secured by said Deed of Trust, advances thereunder, with interest as provided, and the unpaid principal of the Note secured by said Deed of Trust with interest thereon as provided in said Note, plus fees, charges and expenses of the Trustee and of the trusts created by said Deed of Trust. DATED: 08/07/2010 RECONTRUST COMPANY, N.A. 1800 Tapo Canyon Rd., CA6-914-01-94 SIMI VALLEY, CA 93063 Phone: (800) 281 8219, Sale Information (626) 927-4399 By Trustee's Sale Officer RECONTRUST COMPANY, N.A. is a debt collector attempting to collect a debt. Any information obtained will be used for that purpose. A-4214143 03/16/2012, 03/23/2012, 03/30/2012

not begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on February 29, 2012. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code). Pub. The Signal Tribune: March 2, 9, 16, 23, 2012.

TST4006 / 2012 031952 FICTITIoUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: 1.

EMERALD SMALL BUSINESS SOLUTIONS, 2.

EMERALD SBS, 500 Ximeno Ave. #322, Long Beach, CA 90814. Registrant: MICHAEL STOKESBERRY, 500 Ximeno Ave. #322, Long Beach, CA 90814. This business is conducted by: an Individual.

I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Michael Stokesberry. The registrant has not begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on February 27, 2012. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code). Pub. The Signal Tribune: March 2, 9, 16, 23, 2012.

TST4003 / 2012 031451 FICTITIoUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: 1.

REMCO, 2. A REAL ESTATE & MANAGEMENT COMPANY, 3. A REAL ESTATE AND MANAGEMENT COMPANY, 4. REMCO A REAL ESTATE AND MANAGEMENT COMPANY, 2020 Cherry Ave., Signal Hill, CA 90755. Registrant: A REAL ESTATE & MANAGEMENT COMPANY, INC., 2020 Cherry Ave., Signal Hill, CA 90755. This business is conducted by: a Corporation. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Drew C. Baker, President. The registrant has not begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on February 24, 2012.

NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code). Pub. The Signal Tribune: March 2, 9, 16, 23, 2012.

TST4010 / 2012 028853 FICTITIoUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following persons are doing business as: SPOTNPHOTO, 934 Belmont Ave., Long Beach, CA 90806.

Registrant: 1. PABLO TAILANIAN, 2. SUSANA P. OCHOA-TAILANIAN, 934 Belmont Ave., Long Beach, CA 90806. This business is conducted by: a Husband and Wife. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Susana P. OchoaTailanian. The registrant has begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. The registrant started doing business under this Fictitious Business Name on October 1, 2011. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on February 21, 2012. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code). Pub. The Signal Tribune: March 9, 16, 23, 30, 2012.

TST4011 / 2012 033133 FICTITIoUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: PANTOMIME LION JEWELRY, 5259 Deeboyar Ave., Lakewood, CA 90712. Registrant: NICOLE LOCKHART, 5259 Deeboyar Ave., Lakewood, CA 90712. This business is conducted by: an Individual. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct.

Signed: Nicole Lockhart. The registrant has begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. The registrant started doing business under this Fictitious Business Name on December 1, 2010. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on February 28, 2012. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code). Pub. The Signal Tribune: March 9, 16, 23, 30, 2012.

TST4012 / 2012 034656 FICTITIoUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: LEMON IN A CUP, 401 W. 5th St. #3C, Long Beach, CA 90802. Registrant: LISA ROCHELLE CARPENTER, 401 W. 5th St. #3C, Long Beach, CA 90802. This business is conducted by: an Individual. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Lisa Rochelle Carpenter. The registrant has not begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein.

This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on March 1, 2012. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code). Pub. The Signal Tribune: March 9, 16, 23, 30, 2012.

TST4002 / 2012 024506 FICTITIoUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: E.R. CLEANING SERVICES, 2109 Ohio Ave., Signal Hill, CA 90755. Registrant: BLANCA JAUREGUI, 2109 Ohio Ave., Signal Hill, CA 90755. This business is conducted by: an Individual. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Blanca Jauregui. The registrant has not begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on February 10, 2012. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code). Pub. The Signal Tribune: March 2, 9, 16, 23, 2012.

TST4019 / 2012 038817 FICTITIoUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: LA LUNE PALACE, 2801 E. Spring St. #300, Long Beach, CA 90806. Registrant: CYCLO LLC, 2451 Lemon Ave., Signal Hill, CA 90755. This business is conducted by: a Limited Liability Company. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct.

Signed: Sean C. Saing, President. The registrant has not begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on March 7, 2012. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code). Pub. The Signal Tribune: March 16, 23, 30, & April 6, 2012.

TST4007 / 2012 033450 FICTITIoUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: HOT JOBS, 646 W. Pacific Coast Hwy. #10, Long Beach, CA 90806. Registrant: BOB S. TURNER, 646 W. Pacific Coast Hwy. #10, Long Beach, CA 90806. This business is conducted by: an Individual. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Bob S. Turner. The registrant has

TST4017 / 2012 037921 STATEMENT oF ABANDoNMENT oF US oF FICTITIoUS BUSINESS NAME The following person has abandoned the use of the fictitious business name: IT TAKES TU, located at 10403 Park St., Bellflower, CA 90706. The fictitious business name referred to above was filed on September 7, 2011, original File No. 2011095286, in the County of Los Angeles. Registrant: GLORIA SONG

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TST4020 / 2012 037466 FICTITIoUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: 1BIXBY SKATE, 2 LONG BEACH SKATE, 3. BIXBY ROLLER SKATE, 4. LONG BEACH ROLLER SKATE, 3709 Falcon Ave., Long Beach, CA 90807. Registrant: NATALIE MCPHERSON, 3709 Falcon Ave., Long Beach, CA 90807. This business is conducted by: an Individual. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Natalie McPherson.

The registrant has not begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on March 6, 2012. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code). Pub. The Signal Tribune: March 23, 30, & April 6, 13, 2012.

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TST4026 / 2012 047991 FICTITIoUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: 1. DARE TO CARE FOR KIDS, 2. DARE TO CARE FOR SENIORS, 4508 Atlantic Ave., Suite 186, Long Beach, CA 90807. Registrant: CARE TO CARE FOR THE HOMELSS, INC., 4508 Atlantic Ave., Suite 186, Long Beach, CA 90807. This business is conducted by: a Corporation. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Jose Rodriguez, President. The registrant has not begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on March 21, 2012. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fic-

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CiTY OF SigNAL HiLL TST4018 NoTICE INVITING BIDS A-1 Sealed bids will be received at the office of the City Clerk, City of Signal Hill, California, until 10:00 a.m. on April 3, 2012, and on the same day shortly thereafter, they will be publicly opened and read for the “2012 Pavement Management Project, No. 670”, in accordance with the Specifications therefore. Bids must be made on the forms provided for this purpose, addressed to the City Clerk, City of Signal Hill, marked "Bid for," followed by the title of the project and the date and hour for submitting bids. Bids are required for the entire work as described in the Bid Schedule and the Specifications.

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TST4024 / 2012 045457 FICTITIoUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: BAJA SONORA #2 LLC, 3502 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach, CA 90807. Registrant: BAJA SONORA #2 LLC, 3502 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach, CA 90807. This business is conducted by: a Limited Liability Company. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Michael S. Mendelsohn, Manager. The registrant has begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. The registrant began using this fictitious business name on June 13, 2004. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on March 19, 2012. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code). Pub. The Signal Tribune: March 23, 30, & April 6, 13, 2012.

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TST4022 / 2012 042191 FICTITIoUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: PRO BUILT R/C, 4412 Snowden Ave., Lakewood, CA 90713. Registrant: GEORGE BERNHARDT, 4412 Snowden Ave., Lakewood, CA 90713. This business is conducted by: an Individual. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: George Bernhardt. The registrant has not begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on March 13, 2012. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date.

The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code). Pub. The Signal Tribune: March 23, 30, & April 6, 13, 2012.

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TST4025 / 2012 045458 FICTITIoUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: CALVARY INCOME TAX, 3553 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach, CA 90807. Registrant: KAREN RODRIGUEZ, 3553 Atlantic Ave. #551, Long Beach, CA 90807. This business is conducted by: an Individual. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct.

Signed: Karen Rodriguez. The registrant has not begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on March 19, 2012. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code). Pub. The Signal Tribune: March 23, 30, & April 6, 13, 2012.

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TU, 10403 Park Ave., Bellflower, CA 90706. This business is conducted by: an Individual. Signed: Gloria Tu. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on March 7, 2012. Pub. The Signal Tribune: March 16, 23, 30, & April 6, 2012.

titious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code). Pub. The Signal Tribune: March 23, 30, & April 6, 13, 2012.

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TST4021 / 2012 044274 FICTITIoUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person is doing business as: CEREMONIES BY CAROLYN, 4121 Hathaway Ave. #5, Long Beach, CA 90815. Registrant: CAROLYN LEAL, 4121 Hathaway Ave. #5, Long Beach, CA 90815. This business is conducted by: an Individual.

I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Carolyn Leal. The registrant has not begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. This statement was filed with the county clerk of Los Angeles County on March 15, 2012. NOTICE: This fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code). Pub. The Signal Tribune: March 23, 30, & April 6, 13, 2012.

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The work to be accomplished under this contract includes the rehabilitation of various streets in the east portion of the City per the Project Street Map, Sheet 1 with the application of Type II slurry seal, polymer modified asphaltic emulsion chip seal with Type II slurry seal, construction of asphalt concrete pavement, berm, and sidewalk, removal and reconstruction failed pavement sections, replacement of concrete curb and gutter, cross gutter, and driveway, and installation of street traffic striping, pavement legends, and pavement markings. Specific construction activities are described in the quantity sheets for each street segment following the project.

A-2 All work must be completed within thirty (30) working days after receipt by the Contractor of the notice to proceed from the City. The contract documents, which include the Specifications, may be obtained at the City of Signal Hill Department of Finance for $25, or $35 if requested by mail. The documents are entitled “2012 Pavement Management Project, No. 670.”

A-3 Bids will not be received unless they are made on a proposal form furnished in the Contract Documents by the City of Signal Hill. Each bid must be accompanied by cash, certified check, cashier's check or bidder's bond, made payable to the City of Signal Hill for an amount equal to at least ten percent (10%) of the amount bid, such guarantee to be forfeited should the bidder to whom the contract is awarded fail to enter into the Contract.

A-4 All bids are to be compared on the basis of the lump sum or itemized bid items shown in the Bid Schedule(s). Bids will not be accepted from the contractors who are not licensed in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 9, Division III of the Business and Professions Code of the State of California. The Contractor shall be required to possess a Class A or Class C-12 license at the time the contract is awarded.

A-5 Attention is directed to the provision in Section 1777.5 of the labor Code concerning the employment of apprentices by the Contractor of any subcontractor under the Contractor.

A-6 Before a Contract is entered into with the successful bidder, the bidder shall present evidence in writing to the City Clerk, City of Signal Hill, that he has a current combined single limit liability policy with aggregate limits for Bodily Injury and Property Damage in the amount of two million dollars ($2,000,000).

A-7 Pursuant to the provisions of Section 1773.2 of the Labor Code of the State of California, the minimum prevailing rate of per diem wages for each craft, classification or type of workman needed to execute the contract shall be those determined by the Director of Industrial Relations of the State of California which are on file with the City Clerk of Signal Hill and copies will be made available to any interested party on request. A copy of the Contractor's certified payroll, as well as those of all subcontractors shall be submitted with each invoice.

A-8 Attention is directed to Public Contract Code Section 22300 permitting the substitution of specified and approved securities for contract retention of funds.

All such securities shall be subject to the review and approval of the City Attorney of the City of Signal Hill.

A-9 The successful bidder will be required to furnish a payment bond in an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the contract price and a faithful performance bond in an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the contract price, and said bonds shall be secured from a surety company satisfactory to the City Attorney of the City of Signal Hill.

A-10 The City of Signal Hill reserves the right to reject any and all bids, or delete portions of any and all bids or waive any informality or irregularity in the bid or the bid procedures and shall be the sole judge of the bids received.

By order of the City of Signal Hill.

Posted at Signal Hill City Hall on: March 16, 2012 Published in the Signal Tribune on: March 16 and March 23, 2012

COMMUNiTY

14 SigNAL TriBUNE Occupy continued from page 1

denied a home-loan modification, and a day later, during an auction, Wells Fargo sold the home back to itself for $585,000. She is asking Wells Fargo to sell the house back to her for the $585,000 and to modify her loan to a two-percent rate, a rate she says is affordable.

When she first started building her home, New’s husband also had a business, and the couple had two incomes. New said she had initially put down $450,000 to buy the land and design the building. She then took out a loan of $1 million for the construction. But by 2009, New said her home was underwater– the house was worth less than half of what she had put into it. She added that her husband’s business went downhill and then he didn’t have a job. She is now separated from her husband.

Occupy organizer Sharon Cotrell defended the Occupy movement’s decision to help a resident keep an

expensive home.

“I thought a lot about that, you know, because it is a wealthy home.

But it’s her home,” Cotrell said. “She came from these incredible circumstances…She worked hard. She put herself through school. She’s had a job.

She’s saved… She had a dream, and she earned it. She did it, and why should she be victimized any more than a person of more modest means?” she added. Cotrell said that no one else is asking the organization to help save their homes from foreclosure.

New, 44, said she immigrated from Cambodia, where she said she left behind a tragic past. She told Occupy Long Beach organizers that she personally suffered violent beatings and starvation and witnessed the gruesome deaths of her family members at the hands of the Khmer Rouge.

It was also confusing at first for New to determine who was responsible for her loan. During an interview Wednesday, New said she had understood at the time of the demonstrations that Wells Fargo held her loan, but she

says Occupy volunteers who were investigating the circumstances behind her foreclusure indicated that the bank serves only as a “trustee” for the loan.

Representatives from both Wells Fargo and Rushmore Loan Management Services, a company that services the loan for the property, dispute New’s account of the foreclosure, specifically refuting New’s claims that Wells Fargo had repurchased the property at an auction.

A spokesman for the loan-servicing company said that Rushmore, not Wells Fargo, had been servicing the loan account. Wells Fargo was acting as a “trustee” only. Rushmore would not offer specific details surrounding New’s case, but Margaret Blankers, a spokesman for Rushmore, did release a statement through email Wednesday night.

“Unfortunately, in many cases, a borrower cannot afford to remain in his/her house even if the payments are significantly reduced,” said Blankers.

“We cannot discuss the specifics of any borrower’s situation; however, we can say that the company has been

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attempting to work with this borrower and the borrower’s representatives for nearly two years. We have considered all available options based on the information provided by this borrower and had proposed a number of options.

“Wells Fargo Bank does not own the property, nor has it ever had any financial interest in the loan or the property,” Blankers continued. “It has never at any time had any authority to approve any modification of the loan, nor does it have authority to take any action.”

A spokesman for Wells Fargo also issued a brief statement that confirmed the bank’s trustee role. “Wells Fargo has never owned this home, nor are we involved in the foreclosure proceedings,” said Elise Wilkinson in an emailed statement. Wilkinson serves as the vice president and communications manager for Wells Fargo Securities and Wells Fargo & Co. Wilkinson also addressed the question of whether New’s home was repurchased by the bank at an auction. “The Occupy statement is incorrect,” Wilkinson said.

“We are the trustee handling administrative matters for the trust.”

New, a mother of two daughters, said she has lived in that home for almost three years and works two jobs. She said she has been sharing her home with her daughters and a large family that also includes two brothers, along with her mother and aunt, who are both disabled.

In a Wednesday afternoon telephone interview, Signal Hill Police Chief Michael Langston described the demonstrations as peaceful. According to Langston, the police department gave instructions to the protestors who rallied at the bank last Friday, and the protestors complied. When the demonstrators returned to the Wells Fargo bank the following Monday, officers were not called to the bank to address the protestors, Langston said.

Langston confirmed that his department is monitoring the demonstration activities, but officers are not maintaining a constant presence at New’s home. ß

MArCH 23, 2012

Nonprofit continued from page 1

“We all came together and came up with an aligned vision for how we were all going to work together to improve the community overall,” Price said. “It was very empowering to see them all come together in that way.”

The five nonprofits were selected through a questionnaire process, and the candidates whose services were felt best suited for the community were selected. “This can almost be a little one-stop community, and that’s really what we’re eventually trying to do,” Andrews said.

The newly added nonprofits include: the United Cambodian Community (UCC), which will provide mentoring, tutoring, youth leadership classes and translation services; New Generations, which will offer leadership, mentoring and sports programs for youth; St. Mary Medical Center, Families in Good Health/Educated Men with Meaningful Messages (EM3), which is a Southeast Asian male involvement program; A New Way of Life Re-entry Project, which is a program to support women and girls to lead healthy lives; and the First 5 L.A. program that was established to improve the health of children.

The DHHS center, located at 1133 St., was established to provide childcare services managed by the Long Beach Unified School District, public health services and community services. The five nonprofits will join the already existing Child Development Center, Helpline Youth Counseling, Inc; Women, Infants and Children (WIC); and the Sixth District City Council Field Office.

Andrews said the five nonprofits had already made their mark on the community long before the induction and now hopes that they’ll continue to grow at the center. “This program will help individuals get some kind of insight to say, ‘Look, all hope is not lost,’” Andrews said. “That’s what is really exciting.”

NEWS

MArCH 23, 2012

SigNAL TriBUNE

15

rain fails to dampen spirits at WrD’s Fifth Annual groundwater Festival Nick Diamantides Staff Writer

Ironically, it rained on the Fifth Annual Groundwater Festival hosted by the Water Replenishment District (WRD). But that didn’t stop about 1,000 people from attending the free event, dubbed the Treasure Beneath Our Feet Festival. It took place last Saturday in the WRD headquarters parking lot at 4040 Paramount Blvd. in Lakewood.

The festival featured more than 40 exhibitors including: water agencies; federal, state and local nonprofit agencies; the Aquarium of the Pacific; Cabrillo Marine Aquarium; and many others.

The event coincided with National Groundwater Awareness Week– which ran from March 11 to 17– recognizing the importance of groundwater as a valuable and renewable resource across the nation. Locally, groundwater supplies 40 percent of the water used within the WRD service area, which is home to 10 percent of the state’s population.

WRD is the regional groundwater management agency responsible for protecting and preserving the quantity and quality of groundwater for two of the most utilized urban basins in California.

The WRD service area encompasses 43 cities in southern Los Angeles County, including Long Beach, Lakewood and Signal Hill.

The festival included games, prizes, educational-interactive displays, and free In & Out hamburgers served at the restaurant chain’s catering trucks. While the event provided fun and entertainment for everyone who attended, its underlying purpose was to educate the public on the importance of what WRD does. At one of the booths, WRD hydrogeologist Benny Chong talked to visitors about how the agency puts water back into the underground aquifers from which local cities pump water. Pointing to a large poster, he explained what happens at the agency’s spreading grounds.

Chong said that WRD puts storm water, recycled water from treatment plants, and water purchased from the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) into ponds located in the spreading grounds. That water percolates into the aquifers.

Chong stressed that WRD tests the storm water to make sure it is safe before putting it in the ponds. “We also have injection wells where we actually inject fresh water into the ground,” he said. “We do that to recharge the aquifers and to prevent sea water intrusion.”

Another WRD hydro-geologist, Mat

Kellinher, outlined the water-testing process. He said samples are taken from 50 different locations containing a total of 300 individual wells. “We take samples from specific depth intervals in the aquifer and look for a variety of contaminants,” he said. “The water is basically clean, although iron and manganese are present in some of the wells.”

Kellinher added that water drawn from a small number of WRD wells contains tetrachloroethane– a solvent that is a known carcinogen. “But we have groundwater treatment systems that remove it,” he said. “For the most part all the groundwater is in good shape.” He added that the treatment systems remove substances that people do not want in their drinking water.

During the event, the WRD Board of Directors presented the WRD Groundwater Ambassador Awards to the following advocates of groundwater protection for their contributions to water conservation and other water issues in the region: ABC7; Rob Beste, public works director for the City of Torrance; Jeanne-Marie Bruno, general manager of Park Water Company; Tom Coleman, general manager of the Orchard Dale Water District; Christina Dixon, analyst for the City of Huntington Park; James Glancy, director of Water Resources for the City of Lakewood; Adriana Figueroa, administrative services manager for the City of Norwalk; Paul Rowley, district manager for the Golden State Water Company; and Kevin Wattier, general manager of the Long Beach Water Department.

“It’s always been a pleasure working with WRD,” Wattier said. “We appreciate all the hard work they do to protect our groundwater.” He noted that 60 percent of Long Beach’s water comes from WRD and 40 percent comes from MWD. “WRD was formed in 1959 because overpumping was depleting some of the aquifers at an unsustainable rate,” Wattier explained. “If not for the replenishing efforts of WRD, some of the wells in this region would have dried up years ago.”

Wattier noted that Long Beach pays a $244-per-acre-foot replenishment assessment to WRD for groundwater pumped by the City, and when water treatment costs are added, Long Beach spends a total of $450 to $500 per acrefoot of WRD water. By contrast, MWD water, which is imported and already treated, costs the City $900 per acrefoot.

WRD Board Member Lillian Kawasaki, who is also a candidate for

Buckets of rain falling from the sky did not deter approximately 1,000 people from attending the Water Replenishment District’s Fifth Annual Groundwater Festival last Saturday.

Photos courtesy WRD

The Groundwater Ambassador Awards Ceremony during last Saturday’s Groundwater Festival gave special recognition to those who advocated for water conservation or groundwater protection. From left: Paul Rowley, Rob Katherman, Sergio Calderon, Lillian Kawasaki, Kevin Wattier, Rob Beste, Tom Coleman, Christina Dixon, Jean-Marie Bruno, Eileen Frere and Albert Robles. (Katherman, Calderon, Kawasaki, and Robles are WRD Board members. Award recipients James Glancy and Adriana Figueroa were not able to attend the event. Frere was master of ceremonies and accepted the award for ABC7.

the 8th District Long Beach City Council Seat, said she is pleased with the turnout at the festival. “It’s a good opportunity for people to learn about how we can all conserve water,” she added. “I am also glad we are getting all this rain, which is helping to replenish the aquifers upon which all the cities in the region depend.”

Jesus Mejia-Gayton, a Long Beach resident, brought his daughter Shallan, and his 6-year-old grandson Elijah to the festival. “I want my grandson to learn about taking care of the environment,” he said. “The people at the festival did an outstanding job of that.”

Another Long Beach resident, Sheri Repp-Loadsman, brought her two sons, 15-year-old Nicholas and 13-year-old Alexander, to the festival.

“It was a good opportunity for both of them to learn about water conservation and how to protect our water resources,” she said. Repp-Loadsman

Squirt the Waterdrop, the Water Replenishment District’s mascot, entertained and posed for pictures with kids at the Treasure Beneath our Feet Festival last Saturday. is the director of planning for the City of Carson.

Albert Robles, president of the WRD Board of Directors, said he was glad to see so many people at the festival. “Given the very rainy conditions that we had today, we had a very good turnout,” he said, “The purpose of this

event is to communicate to our constituents and stakeholders the importance of conserving water, and protecting our water supplies.”

MORE INFORMATION wrd.org

MArCH 23, 2012

SigNAL TriBUNE

16