BeaconMediaNews.com
8 JANUARY 12, 2012 - JANUARY 18, 2012
Recycle Used Oil & Filters! Do you change your car’s motor oil? Did you know that used motor oil and oil filters are recyclable? Used oil can be re-refined or processed into new motor oil. Currently only 46% of used motor oil is being recycled, which means 20 million gallons may be illegally entering California’s waterways via stormwater systems, posing a great risk to the environment. One gallon of used oil can contaminate a million gallons of drinking water; polluting our waterways and threaten fish and aquatic life. Prevent pollution; recycle used motor oil and filters!
Portantino Blows the Whistle on Legislature’s Lack of Whistleblower Protection Introduces Measure (AB 1378) to Protect Employees of State Legislature
Local collection centers you can take Used Motor Oil and Filters to be recycled: ARCADIA Racetrack 76 C&L Collision Center 701 West Huntington Drive 132 Las Tunas Dr. (626) 358-2591 (626) 445-6630 RFG Oil Inc. Firestone 3 E. Duarte Rd. 1500 S. Baldwin Ave. (626) 574-7138 (626) 446-2164
MONROVIA BMW of Monrovia 1425 S. Mountain Ave. (626) 358-4269
Jiffy Lube 5 W. Huntington Dr. (626) 446-7980
O’Reilly Auto Parts* 723 E. Huntington Dr. (626) 303-2637
O’Reilly Auto Parts* 37 Las Tunas Dr. (626) 447-0748
Oil Stop* 746 E. Huntington Dr. (626) 357-6711
Homer’s Auto Service* 148. Lemon Ave. (626) 358-6259
Pep Boys* 201 W. Huntington Dr. (626) 303-3906 Pick-a-Part Auto* 3333 S. Peck Rd. (626) 445-2922 Sierra Autocars, Inc.* 1450 S. Shamrock Ave. * Accepts used oil filters (626) 359-8291 * Accepts used oil filters
SIERRA MADRE & BRADBURY Sierra Madre and Bradbury residents are invited to use any of these certified collection centers.
Call for hours of operation and quantities accepted. DO NOT LEAVE OIL/FILTERS UNATTENDED AFTER HOURS
1-888-CLEAN LA
“ZERO WASTE - YOU MAKE IT HAPPEN!”
Funded by a Grant from the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle)
Life
Anthony Portantino -Photo by Terry Miller
Each year, thousands of Californians do the right thing by reporting waste, fraud, violations of law, and political corruption. When they do the right thing, they are protected from retaliation under the California Whistleblower Protection Act. In most state houses in the nation those who witness and report these abuses are also covered with protection. Not in California. Folks who work for the State Legislature have no such protection. Assemblymember Anthony Portantino (D-La
Cañada Flintridge) is introducing legislation to change this disparity and offer the same protections to Legislative staffers as those offered to employees in the Governor’s office, other state agencies and appointees to state boards or commissions. “This is another selfserving protection that the legislature enacted that needs to be repealed. Workers should know that when they do the right thing they won’t have to face the threat of retaliation. Repealing this exemption show’s we are seri-
ous about finding waste and fraud. It’s the right thing to do,” commented Portantino. AB 1378 marks the first time legislative employees will have legal protection from reprisals for reporting government wrongdoing. It’s part of Portantino’s broader efforts to ensure openness, transparency and accountability in state government. According to the Wall St. Journal, 34% of working Americans have seen “wrong-doing” at their jobs. But, it has only been in the last few decades that workers have been able to come forward and report that wrongdoing without fear of losing their jobs. AB 1378 would require the Rules Committees of both the Assembly and Senate to designate an officer to receive written complaint and the state Auditor will investigate complaints. Those found guilty of retaliation could face fines up to $10,000 and a year in county jail. The bill will be heard Tuesday at 9 a.m. in Assembly Judiciary Committee.
The 4th Annual Pasadena Festival of Women Authors to be Held on Saturday, March 3
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The 4th Annual Pasadena Festival of Women Authors will be held on Saturday, March 3, 2012. This prestigious event, featuring four award-winning Southern California authors – Heidi Durrow, Fannie Flagg, Michelle Huneven and Susan Straight - will take place at the Pasadena Senior Center, 85 East Holly Street, Pasadena, Calif. (9:30AM – 1:30PM). Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey, author of A Woman of Independent Means, will
serve as moderator. The Pasadena Festival of Women Authors brings together a group of diverse and well-published Southern California female authors to discuss their work with a group of enthusiastic people whose love of literature inspired the event. The festival provides an intimate setting where authors and guests will be able to interact with each other and authors will be available to answer questions and sign their books for
guests. Proceeds from the event benefit the Pasadena Senior Center. In the last three years, the Pasadena Festival of Women Authors has made more than $60,000.00 in donations to benefit the programs and services there. Tickets for the festival are $85 per person and include lunch. Reserved tables of 10 are $850. Visit www.PasadenaFestivalofWomenAuthors. org for more information.
Santa Anita Kicks Off Racing Season With New Events And Hollywood Ties New HBO series ‘Luck' Brings New Features to the Historic Racetrack Santa Anita Park, “The Great Race Place”, will hold true to its name this season with a host of new events and big changes in the commencement of
its annual meet, Monday, Dec. 26. Festivals, a new Kids’ Zone and the opening of a lounge inspired by HBO’s hit new show, “Luck” will add to a full
calendar of events complementing world-class Thoroughbred racing. The Hollywood
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