E xaminer EL MONTE
Monrovia Weekly Temple Tribune ArcAdiA Weekly Monday, APRIL 30 - MAy 6, 2012 Volume xVIi, No. XVIiI
Monday Edition of the
CITY
El Monte Held its 27th Pee Wee Cheerleaders’ Jamboree
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Gold Line Sets Goals to Claremont Full Ahead OK Given to Azusa by susan motander
El Monte’s 27th Annual Pee Wee Cheerleaders’ Jamboree. -Photo by Dena Burroughs
by dena burroughs The benches inside the Lambert Park Bernie Boomer Gymnasium were overflowing last week with parents, grandparents, and siblings attending El Monte’s 27th Annual Pee Wee Cheerleaders’ Jamboree. Groups of girls attending
3rd to 6th grade represented four of the city’s parks – Fletcher, Mt. View, Lambert, and Zamora. The energetic girls twirled their pom poms, danced, and jumped to popular tunes like Lady Gaga’s while wearing bright outfits displaying the initials of the park they rep-
resented. It was certainly a charged atmosphere with the girls cheering for the parents and the parents sending the love back to their girls. It was all great fun, but it was also a competition. At the end, the team from Lambert Park received the Sweepstakes Trophy
Council Community Dialogue Shifts Approves into Heated Debate on Police Relaxing Staffing, Pension Reform by jim e. wilburn Certificate city offi- munity conversation shifted of Occupancy cialsSanhostedGabriel a community dramatically toward staffing conversation event at the and retirement issues for Inspection Church of Our Saviour on members of the San GabriThursday, Apr. 19 to en- el Police Department. Process courage dialogue between Police Management To improve the business community environment, the El Monte City Council has approved a resolution authorizing the relaxation of the City’s Certificate of Occupancy Inspection Process on a temporary basis for certain minor changes in business activities or use for certain businesses operating in the City. City Staff recommended the resolution at Tuesday’s Please see page 2
members of the public and their elected leaders. Hosted by Mayor Kevin Sawkins, Council Member Juli Costanzo, and School Board Members Denise Menchaca and Philip Hu, nearly 60 residents turned out to ask questions about their neighborhood, schools and local government. However, after talking up such news as fundraisers and San Gabriel’s centennial celebration, the com-
and took first place in the Group Free Style competition. Fletcher Park won the Cheer Group category and the Spirit Stick. The Pee Wee Cheerleading Program is organized by the El Monte Community Services Department. Throughout the years it has proven to
be an excellent way for girls of this age bracket to make friends, participate in parades, perform at city events, and more. Any girl in the city can become part of the program. Those interested can call (626) 580 – 2200 for information.
Two major events have occurred recently regarding the Gold Line. First a “Full Notice to Proceed” was given to the Foothill Transit Contractors to complete work on the Gold Line out to Azusa. The second was the approval on Tuesday, May 24 of the budget and timeline for the extension of the line out to Claremont. Before the Full Approval, the joint venture of Kiewit and Parsons had only been given an Interim notice. This new approval allows the company to implement all aspects of the design-build contract. This means that the company can now move forward on the construction of the 11.5 miles of track, the six stations, the maintePlease see page 4
Arcadia 15 Year to Compete in Olympics 10th Grade Westridge Student Going to London
Group Vice President Sgt. Jeff Whitney said that he saw recruitment as a problem because the city was currently down four police officers, soon to be five, and that four or five more officers were expected to retire at the end of the year. “It takes time to recruit,” Whitney said. “You're saving $118,000 per officer; however, my problem is that you're stripping us down to Please see page 6
15 year old Erica Wu earned a spot at North American Table Tennis Olympics Trial in Cary, North Carolina last weekend She will represent US to compete in the 2012 London Olympics. -Courtesy Photo