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elmonteexaminer.com
Arcadia Council Delays Vote on Highlands Projects BY JOE TAGLIERI Amid a tense atmosphere of angry homeowners and frustrated land developers who filled the Council Chambers Tuesday, the Arcadia City Council opted for more time to decide whether to approve or reject two proposed projects in the Arcadia Highlands neighborhood. Council members will again address the matter at their next regular public meeting Feb. 3. Their main reasoning was to allow for more time to vet newly received petitions from area residents and a detailed letter from an attorney representing a leading opponent of the developments that the city received last week. Both projects — one at 1600 Highland Oaks Drive, the other at 29 E. Orange Grove Ave. and both designed by Robert Tong of Arcadia-based Sanyao International Inc. — involve the demolition of vintage homes to make room for larger residences. Monrovia-based Bowden Development Inc. owns the Highland Oaks Drive property, and Arcadia developer Mur-Sol Construction Inc. owns the lot on Orange Grove Avenue.
John Wuo -Photo by Terry Miller
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Monrovia WEEKLY Temple MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 2015 - FEBRUARY 1, 2015 - VOLUME 2, NO. 4
Monday Edition of the
CITY
Tribune
WayStation Animals Still Need Your Help Los Angeles’ Wildlife WayStation’s Wayke Up crowdfunding web campaign is well underway but also desperately in need of more help.. The WayStation founder-director, Martine Colette, calls this ”the start of a new chapter” in the history of the nationally regarded, non-profit, sanctuary dedicated to the rescue and rehab of wild and exotic wildlife situated in the Angeles National Forest. The WayStation is currently home to 450 animals, cared for by Colette, her staff, and her volunteers. The crowdfunding web campaign will be run via IndieGoGo, between December 14th, 2014 and February 10th, 2015. Missing these days at the WayStation are the visitors and groups of children visiting from the LA area School Districts as part of the WayStation’s educational programs. Getting them back is the purpose of the Wayke Up campaign. Says Wayke Up hostess, actress-singer Nikki Reed (“Twilight”): “The
A baboon reflects on his future
campaign’s purpose is to raise money to renew the WayStation’s Conditional Use Permit (CUP) which has expired. The Permit allows the WayStation to be open for visitors and continue the all-important educational outreach programs that can inspire the next generation of children to protect our wildlife and the environment.
-Photo by Terry Miller
Reed also volunteers at animal shelters and works with the ASPCA. “Acquiring a conditional use permit is vital to our mission to once again share our home and vision with the world outside of Little Tujunga Canyon,” notes Colette. She created the Wildlife WayStation—”because there were no existing fa-
Monrovia Historical Museum to Honor Abolitionists for Black History Month Two receptions will be held for “The North Stars” installation, depicting U.S. reformers as saints. Mixed-media artist Hope Demetriades will give an inside look at her latest works portraying important U.S. abolitionists as saints at two receptions at the Monrovia Historical Museum during Black History Month. “The North Stars: Canonizing the American Abolitionists” aims to educate viewers about the bravery, sacrifice, vision, unity and triumph of reformers who banded together to help eradicate slavery in this country. The Q&A receptions, Sunday, February 8 and February 15, are open to the public.
A trip to a slaveholding, Louisiana plantation when she was 7, and a visit to the slave quarters at Mount Vernon when she was 10, contributed to the artist’s early, intense interest in racial unity. Later, after being bussed to innercity schools, she became aware of the still-lingering, powerful and destructive effects of slavery and racism in the United States. “Since then I have always wanted to work for the cause of racial unity, and hope that in some small way my artwork
can move us in the right direction. We are all one. When racism goes unacknowledged, the wounds fester rather than heal,” explains Ms. Demetriades. “The story of our American abolitionists is a beautiful example of oneness, which I believe we should celebrate and strive to embody as individuals living in an exquisitely diverse culture.” Before, during and after the Civil War, American abolitionists—men Please see page 4
cilities to take care of wild and exotic animals” - in 1965, the first exotic sanctuary to be established in the U.S. The WayStation was incorporated in 1976 and over the years has provided care and shelter to more than 76,000 animals, birds and reptiles. For many, it has been a lifelong home and many more have been returned, healthy, to a natural habitat, also part of the WayStation’s mission. “But this growing need results in a growing Waystation budget,” says Colette. “Fundraising becomes a necessity. We are supported solely through donations, bequests and sponsorship—nothing from either State or Government.” www.indiegogo.com/ projects/wayke-up Heart - raccoon: https://vimeo. com/116124202 Rowdy – Capuchin monkey: https://vimeo. com/116128157 Chloe – black bear: https://vimeo. com/116126121.
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Hate Crime Suspects Sought in West Hollywood During the early morning hours of Jan. 20, the victim exited a bus at the intersection of Fairfax Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood. As he was walking northbound, crossing Santa Monica Boulevard., he saw a white Audi Q4, facing southbound, waiting for him to cross the street. As he neared the curb, he heard the occupants yell numerous slurs related to his race and sexual orientation. The victim is African American. The suspects are three male Hispanic adults. The suspects parked and got out of the Audi and approached the victim on foot. When the victim stopped to adPlease see page 3
El Monte School Volunteer Pleads in Child Molestation Case A 20-year-old man pleaded guilty today to molesting six children from an El Monte school, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced. Johnny Beserra, 21,of El Monte pleaded guilty to six charges: two counts of continuous sexual abuse, and one count each of forcible oral copulation when the victim is under 14 years old, lewd act upon a child, child molesting and possession of child pornography in case KA106015. Beserra is scheduled to be sentenced March 2 at the Los Angeles County Superior Court in Pomona, Department H. Under the terms of the negotiated plea, the defen-
dant is expected to be sentenced to 30 years to life in state prison. Additionally, Beserra will have to register as a sex offender for life. Deputy District Attorney Michael Matoba, who prosecuted the case, said Beserra was a school volunteer at El Monte Christian Academy in the city of El Monte. The reported crimes occurred between August 2010 and May 2014 and included six victims between the ages of 7 and 17 when the crimes took place, the prosecutor said. Also, some of the incidents transpired at the school, the prosecutor added. The case was investigated by the El Monte Police Department.