BeaconMediaNews.com
4 | OCTOBER 8, 2012 - OCTOBER 14, 2012
Letter to the Editor Send your letters to tmiller@beaconmedianews.com Dear Editor: Measure H Means Higher Taxes and Too Many Questions Measure H on the El Monte ballot in November stands for “Higher” taxes, but beyond that, many of us are wondering just what this new tax really means for our community. There are at least two significant aspects of Measure H that leave many unanswered questions: How will the city spend the tax revenue, and how will it collect it? The city has said it will spend the Measure H funds on the most popular city services. But in fact the tax revenue goes into the city’s general fund and can be spent on anything the city council or mayor wants. That includes many city budget items that are not popular, like salary increases, pensions and other ser-
vices they haven’t named. As for how they will collect the Measure H tax from hundreds of small businesses, all the mayor and other officials have said is: they don’t know and that they’ll figure it out if the measures passes. That’s not an acceptable answer to the hundreds of small groceries, restaurants, food stands, convenience stores and more that will be subject to the tax and have to pay the extra accounting and other fees in addition to the Measure H tax itself – which could be as much as $7 million, according to the city’s own figures. Measure H is not as simple as the city wants you to believe. They like to characterize Measure H as a “soda” tax, when in fact it will affect hundreds of products found in stores, restaurants, cafes and cof-
fee shops across El Monte. So the tax will be reaching every shopper in El Monte one way or another. That’s $7 million out of the pockets of El Monte residents and small business owners. It’s too much in these tough economic times. It’s no wonder the city is having a tough time selling Measure H to the public, and that it had to rely on misleading ballot information to try to win votes. Measure H is too big a risk. It’s too much money from families and small business to bear. It’s not the right time when unemployment is high and paychecks are shrinking. And the city is not being honest with us about the tax. Edward Guerrero, (Edward Guerrero, an El Monte Resident and community leader, is a vocal opponent to Measure H on the November ballot.)
Tree Pruning Fundamentals Saturday - Oct. 13 Learn how and when to prune your trees from Dr. Jerry Turney PhD, certified arborist and licensed CA agricultural pest control advisor. Dr. Turney will cover the fundamentals of pruning following the guidelines established by the International Society of Arboriculture. The pruning of fruit trees (stone fruits, apple & pear, citrus, avocado, etc.) for increased fruit production and disease control will also be covered, as well as the major diseases that attack fruit trees.
Dr. Turney received his B. S. in Botany from California State Polytechnic University and his Ph.D. in plant pathology from the University of California at Riverside. He has served as the curator of the camellia gardens at the Huntington Library and Botanic Gardens, a research horticulturist at the Los Angeles County Arboretum, and is currently the plant pathologist for the Department of Agricultural Commissioner/Weights and Measures for the County of
Los Angeles. In addition, Dr. Turney was formerly a licensed landscape contractor, and is currently a licensed agricultural pest control advisor and an ISA certified arborist. His primary fields of expertise are plant pathology, mycology and arboriculture. 10am-Noon / Bamboo Room Dr. Jerrold Turney, instructor $25 Arboretum members $30 non-members Please call 626.821.4623 to register for the class. You may also pay at the door on October 13.
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The Doozies
Local RBAC Swimmers Break 22 Year-Old Southern California Swimming Record
Relay Team: Congratulations to the RBAC 13 - 14 girls RBAC Swim Team members (L-R) Heather MacDougall, Kirsten Vose, Kate Herrill and Tiare Coker on breaking two Southern California Swimming records! -Courtesy Photo
History was made at the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center on August 10 when the RBAC Girls 13 – 14 relay team broke two Southern California Swimming records, including one that was 22 years-old! The relay team includes Heather MacDougall and Tiare Coker, freshmen at CV High School and Kate Herrill, a freshman at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy and Kirsten Vose, a sophomore at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy. The team broke the 22 year-old record of 1:51.14 in the 200-meter Freestyle Relay with a new record time of 1:50.37. In the 200-meter Medley Relay the team timed a new record of 2:01.67, beating the 2 year-old record of 2:03.00. “We dreamed of
By Tom Gammill
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breaking these records and worked hard in our practices to push ourselves to do our best,” noted Kate Herrill. “We practiced together and helped each other build confidence in our abilities as individuals and as a team. Coach Jeff was so proud and I’m proud to represent the RBAC!” There are approximately 18,000 swimmers currently registered with Southern California Swimming, which spans from San Luis Obispo to San Diego. “The team performed better than we could ever have hoped,” exclaimed Jeff Julian, RBAC Head Coach, Swim. “They are all very strong individual swimmers and together they have impressive synergy. Each one was very
determined to do their best so the team would triumph.” About the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center Competitive Teams The Rose Bowl Aquatics Center is dedicated to providing the finest aquatic and fitness opportunities through instruction, training and competition. There are over 17 coaches, many with Olympic competitive and coaching experience, that provide direction for over 500 kids who work out daily on the swim team, 220 on the water polo team and 80 on the dive team. For more information about the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center Competitive Teams, email webmaster@rosebowlaquatics.org or visit www.rosebowlaquatics.org.
Rosemead Library Schedules Book Sale Friends of Rosemead Library will sponsor a Fall Book Sale on October 27, 30-31, and Nov. 1, from noon until 4 p.m. on those days, announced Friends of Rosemead Library member Julie Gentry. A large selection of used adult, juvenile, teen, and children’s books, books in different languages, as well as magazines and movies will be available at amazing pric-
es, emphasized Gentry. Persons purchasing items are asked to bring their own bag or box for items they purchase. Rosemead Library, County of Los Angeles Public Library branch, is located at 8800 Valley Blvd. (at corner of Ivar, two blocks west of Rosemead Boulevard). More information is available by calling 626-5735220.