Baldwin Park Press_5/29/2023

Los Angeles Mayor Bass signs $13 billion city budget

By City News Service

the council for “locking arms” with her and approve a budget that “will bring the urgency to the crisis we face.”

Krekorian said the budget invests in “basic infrastructure and quality of life.” The budget will fund the basic services that people in Los Angeles need, such as improving the environment and lays the foundation for economic recovery post COVID, he added.

Councilman Curren Price reiterated the budget represents “our shared valued, shared commitment and sheer determination to get the job done.”

unprecedented $1.3 billion to address housing and homelessness and about $3.2 billion for the Los Angeles Police Department.

Krekorian said in a statement that the council “built on the broad outline of the mayor’s proposed budget” with amendments to ensure “transparency and accountability” in the city’s spending. The 2023-24 budget tops $13 billion for the first time, a $1.31 billion, or 11% increase, form the prior fiscal year and includes $566 million in a reserve fund.

disappointed with the outcome of this process. When we have a budget that has 25% of our money going to policing, we’re not creating a budget that is reflective of our values and the demands that we get every day from our constituents.”

Bass said she has not been able to talk with Hernandez about the budget, as the councilwoman was visiting Vienna alongside Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson to learn about different housing models.

Mayor Karen Bass on Friday signed the city’s revised $13 billion budget for fiscal year 2023-24, which she said charts a new course for the city — one that is “stronger, happier, healthier and safer.”

The budget will take effect July 1.

“Just last month, I stood in this room and said that the budget was being presented as a reflection of our values

and invest in the most critical needs,” Bass said. “I also said that I was confident that the relationship that we had built with a City Council that we would have a collaborative process.

“That’s what we have here today — that we come together united to sign the budget.”

There is a difference between spending and investing, she added, and this budget

makes investments to bring people inside, improve public safety and other areas that will “net a return in terms of lives saved, in terms of the quality of life and better neighborhoods, and that will save the city in the long run.”

She thanked City Council President Paul Krekorian and Councilman Bob Blumenfield, chair of the council’s Budget, Finance and Innovation Committee, and the rest of

The mayor signed the revised $13 billion budget following the City Council’s vote earlier this week to approve its amended version of her originally proposed spending plan earlier this week.

After weeks of deliberations, hours of public comment and final revisions, the council voted 13-1 on May 18 to approve its amended version of the mayor’s budget. The final version includes an

Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez was the lone “no” vote. She said while there are some “important investments” in the budget, it “fell far short” of meeting the needs of Angelenos.

“We talked over and over about how we can uplift and fund these desperately needed programs and services because we wanted to create something that reflected the needs of a very diverse city,” Hernandez told her colleagues the day of the vote.

“I have to say that I’m

Other council members supported the budget and applauded the investments outlined within. Councilman Hugo Soto-Martinez in a statement said it was the “most progressive budget in the history of Los Angeles.”

He noted direct funding for the LAPD decreased by about $22 million compared to last year, and the budget will invest $16 million in funding for alternative crisis response programs, compared with just $8 million last year.

DA’s Office clears man who spent 33 years in prison for shooting

Aman who spent 33 years in prison for a Baldwin Park shooting was proclaimed innocent Thursday by Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón, who said the man was wrongfully convicted of attempted murder.

Daniel Saldana was convicted in 1990 for an Oct. 27, 1989, shooting that targeted six high school students who were driving after a football game. According to prosecutors, the suspects mistook the group for gang members and opened fire, injuring two of them.

Saldana, who was 22 at the time, was charged along with two other people with six counts of attempted murder and one count of shooting at an occupied vehicle. He was convicted and sentenced to 45 years to life in prison.

According to Gascón, another defendant in the case disclosed during a 2017 parole hearing that Saldana was not involved in the shooting, and was not even present at the time. That information was finally relayed to the District Attorney’s Office in February of this year, prompting an

By City News Service

investigation that ultimately determined Saldana to be innocent.

“I just knew that one day this was going to come,” Saldana said at a news conference Thursday with Gascón. “I’m so grateful. I just thank God.”

Gascón lamented the delay in the parole board notifying prosecutors about the information disclosed in the 2017 parole hearing. But he stressed the importance of justice being served, even when delayed.

“As prosecutors, our duty is not simply to secure

convictions but to seek justice,” he said in a statement. “When someone is wrongfully convicted, it is a failure of our justice system and it is our responsibility to right that wrong. We owe it to the individual who was wrongfully convicted and to the public that justice is served.

“Not only is it a tragedy to force people into prison for a crime they did not commit, every time an injustice of this magnitude takes place, the real people responsible are still out there to commit more crimes. Our job

hold

they cause harm,

Teenager arrested in connection with stabbing of Metro bus driver

Public defender seeks to recuse DA from jail escapee case

LA County District Attorney George Gascón, at podium, announces the exoneration of Daniel Saldana, third from right, after 33 years behind bars. | Photo courtesy of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office

Mayor Karen Bass — joined by, from left, Councilman Curren Price, Council President Paul Krekorian and Councilman Bob Blumenfield — completes signing into effect the city’s 2023-24 budget. | Photo courtesy of MayorOfLA/Twitter

Public defender seeks to recuse DA from jail escapee case

Attorneys for a 19-yearold killer who has escaped custody twice filed a motion to recuse the Orange County District Attorney’s Office from prosecuting him based on multiple news releases and public comments that the defendant is “extremely dangerous and violent,” according to court records obtained Tuesday.

Ike Souzer was indicted in December on single felony counts each of possession of a deadly weapon by a prisoner and a prisoner manufacturing a deadly weapon. A hearing on the motion is set for June 2 in the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana.

Souzer could face up to four years and eight months in prison if convicted of the charges at trial. He made headlines in April 2022 when he freed himself of his electronic monitoring device and escaped custody in a halfway house in Santa Ana.

Souzer was convicted of voluntary manslaughter for stabbing his mother to death in 2017, when he was 13 years old, by Orange County Superior Court Judge Douglas Hatchimonji. While in custody, he was convicted in

December 2021 of attacking three correctional officers, according to prosecutors.

He was ordered to wear an electronic monitor for the remainder of his sentence until it expired on July 9, 2023, and was released to a halfway house in Santa Ana, prosecutors said.

While on trial in juvenile court for the killing of his 47-year-old mother, Barbara Scheuer-Souzer, he escaped juvenile hall in Orange shortly after midnight April 12, 2019, and was arrested the next day at a McDonald’s restaurant in Anaheim.

Souzer stabbed his mother in their residence in the 11000 block of Gilbert Street in Garden Grove on May 4, 2017. She told authorities before she died in a hospital that her son was the one who attacked her.

“During the defendant’s juvenile proceedings involving the death of his mother, (prosecutors) released confidential information about the juvenile court proceedings stating the defendant escaped while on trial for murdering his mother, following the finding the

By City News Service

defendant was only guilty of voluntary manslaughter in the killing of his mother” attorney Alexander Bartel of the Orange County Public Defender’s Office wrote in his motion filed earlier this month.

Bartel said District Attorney Todd Spitzer commented that, “Given the fact that this case was required to be heard in public, and all of the evidence was presented in public, the judge’s decision and his rationale for making the decision should absolutely be made public.”

Bartel said Spitzer’s office issued a news release that Souzer has a “violent history of attacking correctional officers,” and referred to him as “extremely dangerous and violent.”

Bartel also said Spitzer has written an editorial in a newspaper about the case and that his office now has a conflict of interest.

“Here, the facts are indisputable that the head District Attorney, Todd Spitzer, has used defendant as a political tool to advance his own interests,” Bartel

said.

Now any prosecutor handling the case cannot plea bargain it out, Bartel argued.

“Clearly, no OCDA attorney assigned to defendant’s matter would be able to show any leniency to defendant without embarrassing Todd Spitzer, who has shown that he has an `axe to grind’ against defendant,” Bartel said.

“The ire with which Todd Spitzer has targeted defendant in his prior media appearances, articles, and press releases is evident of the fact that Spitzer would be totally hypocritical to exercise any leniency in defendant’s matter,” Bartel said.

The DA’s Office issued its response to the court late Tuesday.

“Defendant claims that the entire Orange County District Attorney’s Office must be recused in this case due to an imagined conflict of interest based on statements made by the Orange County District Attorney. That is nonsense. District Attorney Spitzer commented on a public matter of great

City budget

Among the significant items in the budget are those addressing the homelessness emergency, including $250 million for the mayor’s Inside Safe program, with $65.7 million allocated initially and $184.3 million to be released as the funds are expended. Once the Inside Safe account drops below $25 million, the account would be automatically replenished up to $50 million.

The plan provides the City Council with the ability to halt the replenishment of the Inside Safe account, for example, if members wanted more information about how the funds are being expended or details of ongoing operations. Bass’ office would need to provide biweekly progress reports starting June 1, as well.

“That gives the mayor authority and access to the

funds to be able to move forward with haste and nothing holding back, but it also gives the council that role, that they are charged with in this charger, to have that oversight and accountability,” Blumenfield said.

The budget will invest in affordable and supportive housing, funding for more personnel — police, firefighters, emergency personnel, unarmed mental health

responders and civilian staff — and makes “needed investments” in pedestrian, traffic safety and city infrastructure.

With the revised budget, the council and the mayor seek to restore LAPD staffing to 9,500 officers, at the minimum, with two full classes of recruits in training and additional funding to return retired police officers to active duty for 12 months, hire additional civilian personnel

public interest,” Spitzer’s office said.

“At the end of the day, defendant appears upset that his actions and crimes are of public interest which led to both local and national news coverage. For that, he has only himself to blame,” the response continued.

“Defendant, at such a young age, was the one who killed his mother. The proceedings for that offense, by statute, were open to the public. Defendant was the one who chose to escape. Defendant, now an adult, was the one who assaulted jail

staff. Defendant is the one who damaged jail property. Defendant is the one who made a shank and concealed it in his jail cell. Viewed as a whole, these crimes and acts were of serious public interest. Based on these matters of public concern, District Attorney Spitzer had a First Amendment right to keep the public informed, respond to media questions, issue press releases, and even give his opinion on the state of the criminal justice system in the State of California — and that is a right he exercised.”

and increase staffing for 911 dispatch services.

About $1 million is slated to expedite the application process for candidates looking to join the LAPD. The city’s budget will also fund an incentive program providing bonuses of up to $15,000 for new officers and lateral recruitment.

“We are going to hire this many officers. Even it seems ambitious, when we leaned

3 mountain lion kittens discovered in Simi Hills

By City News Service

Three more mountain lions were living in our midst Thursday, with National Park Service officials confirming the recent births of three kittens spotted in the Simi Hills between the Santa Monica and Santa Susana mountains.

The female kittens, born to a mountain lion dubbed P-77, were discovered May 18 by biologists taking part in a decades-long study of mountain lions in the Southland mountains, NPS officials said. All three kittens were determined to be 24 days old when they were discovered,

based on when their mother — who is outfitted with a radio collar — first arrived at the location, according to the park service.

All three kittens appeared to be in good health, and they have been dubbed P-113, P-114 and P-115.

“It will be interesting to learn how these kittens will use the landscape once they get older and disperse, particularly if they decide to stay in the Simi Hills or cross freeways to enter larger natural areas,” Jeff Sikich, the lead field biologist of the NPS mountain lion study, said in a

statement. “It’s encouraging to see reproduction in our small population of mountain lions, especially after all the mortalities we have documented in the last year.”

NPS officials said the kittens’ father is unknown, since researchers are not aware of any adult male lions in the area between the Ventura (101) and Ronald Reagan (118) freeways. The father likely roamed in from the Santa Susana Mountains and later returned.

The last two adult males who were regularly spotted in the Simi Hills were P-64,

who died in the 2018 Woolsey Fire, and P-38, who was killed by poachers in 2019, officials said.

P-77 has been residing in the area west of Chatsworth and West Hills since first being captured in November 2019. The cat is believed to be between 5 and 6 years old, and is also believed to have had a previous litter of kittens.

According to researchers, P-77 has previously managed to cross both the 101 and 118 freeways, spending time in both the Santa Susana and Santa Monica mountain

The three new

in and said yes, we are going to fully fund that,” Blumenfield said. “We are going to fully fund our police department.”

Other highlights, the councilman noted, were investments to address the issue “of our time” — climate change. The budget invests more than $25 million to decarbonization of city buildings and electrifying the city’s fleet of vehicles.

OC DA Todd Spitzer, left, and Ike Souzer. | Photos courtesy of District Attorney Todd Spitzer/Facebook; the Orange County District Attorney’s Office

ranges.

kittens were all outfitted with colored ear tags so they can be identified

later when they are spotted on remote cameras or eventually recaptured to be fitted with radio collars.

Mountain lion kittens born in the Simi Hills. | Photo courtesy of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area/Flickr (CC0)

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Entertainment world mourns loss of Rock & Roll Queen Tina Turner

By City News Service

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Icons of music and entertainment, as well as presidents past and present, mourned the loss Wednesday of dynamic singer/dancer/ actress Tina Turner, the undisputed Queen of Rock ‘n Roll who died in Switzerland at age 83 following a long illness.

“I’m so saddened by the passing of my wonderful friend Tina Turner,” Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger wrote on his Twitter page. “She was truly an enormously talented performer and singer. She was inspiring, warm, funny and generous. She helped me so much when I was young and I will never forget her.”

Jagger was said to have developed his energetic stage presence by watching Turner’s high-octane performances.

Singer Gloria Gaynor called Turner an “iconic legend who paved the way for so many women in rock music, Black and white.”

“She did with great dignity and success what very few would even have dared to do in her time and in that genre of music,” Gaynor said.

Turner was a two-time inductee into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, first as part of a duo with husband Ike Turner then later as a solo artist.

“Two-time inductee Tina Turner worked hard to reimagine the role of a Black woman in rock & roll — one that was firmly placed front and center,” according to a statement from The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. “During her time in the duo Ike and Tina Turner (inducted in 1991), her electric onstage presence forever raised the bar for live performance.

“Their hits ‘River DeepMountain High’ and ‘Proud Mary’ endure to this day. But this Queen of Rock & Roll went on to make music history again with her solo career (for which she was inducted again in 2021) and with her bravery in sharing her life story as a book, film, and Broadway musical. There was nothing her deep, robust voice couldn’t do, as displayed on her solo hits like ‘What’s Love Got to Do with It’ and ‘Private Dancer.’”

Musician Bryan Adams wrote on Twitter, “I’ll be forever grateful for the time we spent together on tour, in the studio and as friends. Thank you for being the inspiration to millions of people around the world for speaking your truth and giving us the gift of your

voice.”

Turner’s longtime friend Dionne Warwick said in a statement that “not only will I miss that eternal ball of energy named Tina Turner but the entire world will also find this void in their lives. My condolences to her husband and other members of her family. Rest in Peace my friend!”

Singer Ciara wrote, “Heaven has gained an angel. Rest in Paradise, Tina Turner. Thank you for the inspiration you gave us all.”

Mariah Carey added, “The words legendary, iconic, diva and superstar are often overused and yet Tina Turner embodies them all and so many more — an incredible performer, musician and trailblazer. To me, she will always be a survivor and an inspiration to women everywhere.”

Lakers legend Magic Johnson posted a photo with Turner on his Twitter page, noting that she gave “one of the best live shows I’ve ever seen.”

“Tina would have so much energy during her performances and was a true entertainer,” Johnson said. “She created the blueprint for other great entertainers like Janet Jackson and Beyoncé and her legacy will continue on through all high-energy performing artists. Cookie and I are praying for her husband and all of her friends and family.”

President Joe Biden and former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama expressed their sadness as well.

“In addition to being a once-in-a-generation talent that changed American music forever, Tina’s personal strength was

remarkable,” Biden said in a statement released by the White House. “Overcoming adversity, and even abuse, she built a career for the ages and a life and legacy that were entirely hers.

“(First lady) Jill (Biden) and I send our love and prayers to her husband Erwin, the rest of the Turner family, and fans around the world who are mourning today for the woman they agree was ‘simply the best.’”

In a tweet, Clinton said, “I loved Tina Turner and will never forget meeting her when she came to Little Rock for (a) concert after releasing Private Dancer in 1984. We met again on her 67th birthday in St. Petersburg, where she and Elton John sang for a charity event. She still had it — talent, style, energy, and authenticity — a priceless gift to music lovers everywhere. May she rest in peace.”

The office of Barack and Michelle Obama released a statement saying, “Tina Turner was raw. She was powerful. She was unstoppable. And she was unapologetically herself — speaking and singing her truth through joy and pain; triumph and tragedy. Today we join fans around the world in honoring the Queen of Rock and Roll, and a star whose light will never fade.”

Flowers were placed on Turner’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Wednesday afternoon. She received the star in front of the Capitol Records building in 1986.

In addition to her singing career, Turner occasionally showed up on the big screen, most notably portraying The Acid Queen in the 1975 film version of The Who’s

rock musical “Tommy.” She also appeared in the Beatles musical “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” played a mayor in the Arnold Schwarzenegger film “Last Action Hero” and portrayed the leader of a post-apocalyptic wasteland city in “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome.”

“The world lost a legend today,” the SAG-AFTRA union said in a statement, noting that Turner was a member of the union since 1961. “Tina Turner was a genre-defying powerhouse singer, dancer, actress and author who rightfully earned the title of rock ‘n roll queen. She broke down barriers for generations of artists to come.”

Angela Bassett, who earned an Oscar nomination for portraying Turner in the biopic “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” said the singer “owned her pain and trauma and used it as a means to help change the world.”

“Through her courage in telling her story, her commitment to stay the course in her life, no matter the sacrifice, and her determination to carve out a space in rock and roll for herself and for others who look like her, Tina Turner showed others who lived in fear what a beautiful future filled with love, compassion and freedom should look like,” Bassett wrote on her Instagram page. “Her final words to me — for me — were `You never mimicked me. Instead you reached deep into your soul, found your inner Tina, and showed her to the world.’

“I shall hold those words close to my heart for the rest of my days. I am honored to have known Tina Turner. I am humbled to have helped show her to the world.”

Tina Turner performs in 2009. | Photo courtesy of Philip Spittle/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

Family of Tom Petty looks to halt memorabilia auction, claims items are stolen

By City News Service

SoCalGas: $3M in grant funds still available to assist with bills

By City News Service

The family of rocker Tom Petty, who died in 2017 after suffering a cardiac arrest at his Malibu home, announced Wednesday it is pursuing legal action against a Boston-based auction house to halt its planned sale of Petty memorabilia the family believes was stolen.

The items being offered by RR Auction in its “Marvels of Modern Music” sale include jackets, T-shirts, sweaters, hats, pants, shoes, autographed albums, photos and concert posters.

In a statement Wednesday, the Petty family contends the items of personal property were “outright stolen from a secured archive.”

“The family is pursuing all available legal action for the immediate return of these items, and they ask that fans and collectors refrain from participating in this auction until the matter is settled to avoid getting further involved in this legal action,” according to the family.

A representative for RR Auction did not immedi-

ately respond to a request for comment.

The Petty family contends the auction house “will not disclose the cosigner who has provided these items or how they were acquired. But they are clearly stolen, there

is no other word for it.”

“These items have irreplaceable sentimental and educational value for the family and legacy of Tom Petty and we look forward to their safe return,” according to the family.

Roughly $3 million in grant funds remain available for eligible customers struggling to pay their natural gas bills, and eligibility for the program has been expanded, Southern California Gas Co. announced Wednesday.

The utility originally allotted $6 million for the Gas Assistance Fund, which provides one-time grants of up to $500 to help low-income customers pay their bills. More than 10,000 customers have received grant funding this year, according to SoCalGas. But about half of the money still remains available.

“To reach more customers who might need assistance with paying their bills, we expanded the eligibility requirements and encourage customers to visit our website to see if they now qualify,” said Gillian Wright, SoCalGas senior vice president and chief customer officer. “We also offer useful resources on energy conservation, assistance programs to manage energy consumption, and make energy-efficient home improvements to help lower customer bills.”

According to the utility, the average grant amount awarded to customers is $300, although grants of up to $500 are available. Information about eligibility is available online at socalgas. com/GAF.

The grants are awarded through a partnership between SoCalGas and United Way of Greater Los Angeles.

Tom Petty. | Photo courtesy of Davidwbaker/ Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Photo by KWON JUNHO on Unsplash

Caltrans receives $7M federal grant for mobility wallet project

Powerball jackpot declared winner seeks to quash summons of challenger’s lawsuit

By City News Service By City News Service

The declared winner of the record-breaking November $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot says in new court papers that a process server for a man who sued him, insisting the prize is his, wrongly presented a summons and copy of the suit to the defendant’s father, whose name is identical except for the middle initial.

Caltrans will receive more than $7 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation for its Southern California Mobility Wallet project in Los Angeles County, it was announced Thursday.

It is part of $52 million in grants from the Federal Highway Administration from the Advanced Transportation Technology and Innovation, or ATTAIN, program. The Mobility Wallet project is to create openloop payments technology to offer seamless payment to highway and transit services. The $7,722,948 project will

provide services in areas of persistent poverty and disadvantaged communities.

“Your ZIP code shouldn’t determine whether you have access to safe, affordable transportation,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement.

“With President Biden’s investments in innovative technology, we’re helping communities make transportation safer and more efficient, particularly in places that haven’t received enough resources in the past.”

The grants are meant to fund technology-based solutions that improve the travel

experience for millions of Americans who use highway and transit systems.

“These grants will help deliver a more leadingedge transportation system designed to reach everyone and to work for everyone, especially those in communities that have lacked access to efficient transportation,” Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt said.

“Whether we’re addressing climate change, or making roads safer, President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is bringing critical solutions to the communities we serve.”

State officials have denied plaintiff Jose Rivera’s claim in his Alhambra Superior Court lawsuit against the California State Lottery Commission that he is the lottery winner, insisting that Edwin G. Castro, also a defendant in the suit, is the proper winner as announced on Feb. 14.

In court papers filed Thursday, Edwin G. Castro’s attorney says the person served with Rivera’s complaint was actually Castro’s father, Edwin H. Castro, and that the father is not authorized to receive such papers on his son’s behalf.

Edwin H. Castro says in a sworn declaration that a process server came to his Altadena home on April 25 to present the summons and the lawsuit.

“I told the process server that he was serving the wrong Edwin Castro, but he

Former employee of Ye company drops back wages suit

By City News Service

Aformer director for one of Ye’s company’s has dropped her lawsuit against the rapper formerly known as Kanye West in which she alleged she was owed back wages.

An attorney for plaintiff Dora Szilagyi filed court papers on Tuesday with Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Timothy

Patrick Dillon asking that her case be dismissed “with prejudice,” meaning it cannot be refiled. The court papers do not state whether a settlement was reached or if the plaintiff is not pursuing the case for other reasons.

Szilagyi was hired by Ye’s company, Yeezy LLC, in June 2021 as director of

product innovation, allegedly being promised she would be paid $275,000 in severance if she were fired without cause after Sept. 1, 2021.

However, the plaintiff maintained that Ye and Yeezy balked at the agreement even though she was not fired until mid-December 2021. She alleged La

Palma-based Yeezy owed her at least $275,000 in wages and/or contract damages, including attorneys’ fees and costs.

The suit was filed March 30, alleging breach of contract, failure to pay wages, fraud, negligent misrepresentation and violations of the state Labor Code.

displayed little concern,” the elder Castro says.

Edwin G. Gastro says in a separate sworn statement that he won the Nov. 7 jackpot, that he lives in Los Angeles and that he “never personally received a copy of the summons and complaint from a process server.”

In his suit brought Feb. 22, Rivera maintains he bought the victorious ticket at Joe’s Service Center in Altadena the day before the Nov. 8 drawing, but that it was stolen by someone identified only as “Reggie,” a co-defendant in the suit, on the same day.

In subsequent court papers, Rivera’s lawyers identified “Reggie” as Urachi F. Romero, who could not be reached for comment.

Rivera asked Romero numerous times to return the ticket, but he refused, telling that plaintiff among other things that the two could split the winnings if he found the ticket, according to the suit, which further states that Rivera refused to be blackmailed and reported the alleged theft to the commission and to law enforcement.

But in his court papers, Edwin G. Castro’s attorney says there are no details in the lawsuit as to how his client allegedly obtained the winning Powerball ticket from anyone named Reggie.

A hearing on Edwin G. Castro’s motion to quash the service of the summons and complaint is scheduled July 19 before Judge William A. Crowfoot.

| Photo courtesy of the U.S. Department of Transportation

| Photo courtesy of Scott Mindeaux/Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Ye, formerly known as Kanye West. | Photo courtesy of Cosmopolitan UK/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)

On a family trip to the Jersey Shore in the summer of 2021, Sophia’s go-to meal was the Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich. The buns were toasty, the chicken was crispy and the fries didn’t spill from the bag.

Sophia was entering her sophomore year in prep school, but her parents were already thinking ahead to college. They paid to enroll her in an online service called Scholar Launch, whose programs start at $3,500. Scholar Launch, which started in 2019, connects high school students with mentors who work with them on research papers that can be published and enhance their college applications.

Publication “is the objective,” Scholar Launch says on its website. “We have numerous publication partners, all are peerreviewed journals.”

The prospect appealed to Sophia. “Nowadays, having a publication is kind of a given” for college applicants, she said. “If you don’t have one, you’re going to have to make it up in some other aspect of your application.”

Sophia said she chose marketing as her field because it “sounded interesting.” She attended weekly group sessions with a Scholar Launch mentor, a marketing executive who also taught at an Ivy League business school, before working one-onone with a teaching assistant. Assigned to analyze a company’s marketing strategy, she selected Chick-fil-A.

Sophia’s paper offered a glowing assessment. She credited Chick-fil-A as “responsible for the popularity of the chicken sandwich,” praised its fare as healthier than fastfood burgers, saluted its “humorous yet honest” slogan (a cow saying, “Eat mor chikin”) and admired its “family-friendly” attitude and “traditional beliefs,” exemplified by closing its restaurants on Sundays. Parts of her paper sounded like a customer endorsement (and she acknowledged to ProPublica that her marketing

The newest college admissions ploy: Paying to make your teen a ‘peer-reviewed’ author

By Daniel Golden, ProPublica, and Kunal Purohit

“You’re teaching students to be cynical about research,” said Kent Anderson, past president of the Society for Scholarly Publishing and former publishing director of the New England Journal of Medicine. “That’s the really corrosive part. ‘I can hire someone to do it. We can get it done, we can get it published, what’s the big deal?’”

The research services brag about how many of their alumni get into premier U.S. universities. Lumiere Education, for example, has served 1,500 students, half of them international, since its inception in the summer of 2020. In a survey of its alumni, it found that 9.8% who applied to an Ivy League university or to Stanford last year were accepted. That’s considerably higher than the overall acceptance rates at those schools.

analysis could’ve been stronger). Neither too dry nor too juicy, the company’s signature sandwich “is the perfect blend to have me wanting more after every bite,” she wrote. “Just from the taste,” Chick-fil-A “is destined for success.”

Her heartfelt tribute to the chicken chain appeared on the website of a new online journal for high school research, the Scholarly Review. The publication touts its “thorough process of review” by “highly accomplished professors and academics,” but it also displays what are known as preprints. They aren’t publications “in the traditional sense” and aren’t vetted by Scholarly Review’s editorial board, according to Roger Worthington, its chair.

That preprint platform is where Sophia’s paper appeared. Now a 17-yearold high school junior, she said she wasn’t aware of the difference between the journal and the preprint platform, and she didn’t think the less prestigious placement would hurt her college chances: “It’s just important that there’s a link out there.”

Sophia is preparing to apply to college at a time when the criteria for gaining entry are in flux. The Supreme Court appears poised to curtail race-conscious affirmative action. Grade infla -

tion makes it harder to pick students based on GPA, since so many have A averages. And the SAT and ACT tests, long criticized for favoring white and wealthy students, have fallen out of fashion at many universities, which have made them optional or dropped them entirely.

As these differentiators recede and the number of applications soars, colleges are grappling with the latest pay-to-play maneuver that gives the rich an edge: published research papers. A new industry is extracting fees from well-heeled families to enable their teenage children to conduct and publish research that colleges may regard as a credential.

At least 20 online research programs for high schoolers have sprung up in the U.S. and abroad in recent years, along with a bevy of journals that publish the work. This growth was aided by the pandemic, which normalized online education and stymied opportunities for in-person research.

The consequence has been a profusion of published research papers by high school students. According to four months of reporting by ProPublica, online student journals now present work that ranges from serious inquiry by young scholars to dubious papers whose main qualifi-

cation seems to be that the authors’ parents are willing to pay, directly or indirectly, to have them published. Usually, the projects are closely directed by graduate students or professors who are paid to be mentors. College admissions staff, besieged by applicants proffering links to their studies, verify that a paper was published but are often at a loss to evaluate its quality.

Moreover, ProPublica’s reporting shows that purveyors of online research sometimes engage in questionable practices. Some services portray affiliated publications as independent journals. Others have inflated their academic mentors’ credentials or offered freebies to college admissions consultants who could provide referrals. When asked about these practices by ProPublica, several services responded by reversing course on them.

The business of churning out high school research is a “fast-growing epidemic,” said one longtime Ivy League admissions officer, who requested anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak for his university. “The number of outfits doing that has trebled or quadrupled in the past few years.

“There are very few actual prodigies. There are a lot of precocious kids

who are working hard and doing advanced things. A sophomore in high school is not going to be doing highlevel neuroscience. And yet, a very high number of kids are including this” in their applications.

The programs serve at least 12,000 students a year worldwide. Most families are paying between $2,500 and $10,000 to improve their odds of getting into U.S. universities that accept as few as 1 in every 25 applicants. Some of the biggest services are located in China, and international students abound even in several U.S.-based programs.

The services pair high schoolers with academic mentors for 10-15 weeks to produce research papers. Online services typically shape the topic, direction and duration of the project, and urge students to complete and publish a paper regardless of how fruitful the exploration has been. “Publication specialists” then help steer the papers into a dizzying array of online journals and preprint platforms. Almost any high school paper can find an outlet. Alongside hardcore science papers are ones with titles like “The Willingness of Humans to Settle on Mars, and the Factors that Affect it,” “Social Media; Blessing Or Curse” and “Is Bitcoin A Blessing Or A Curse?”

Such statistics don’t prove that the students were admitted because of their research. Still, research can influence admissions decisions. At Harvard, “evidence of substantial scholarship” can elevate an applicant, according to a university filing in a lawsuit challenging its use of affirmative action in admissions. The University of Pennsylvania’s admissions dean, Whitney Soule, boasted last year that nearly one-third of accepted students “engaged in academic research” in high school, including some who “co-authored publications included in leading journals.” A Penn spokesperson declined to identify the journals. Yale, Columbia and Brown, among others, encourage applicants to send research.

One admissions dean acknowledged that conferring an advantage on those who submit published papers benefits affluent applicants. “Research is one of these activities that we’re very aware they’re not offered equitably,” Stuart Schmill of MIT said. Nevertheless, MIT invites applicants to submit research and inquires whether and where it was published.

Admissions officers often lack the time and expertise to evaluate this research. The first reader of each application typically takes 10 minutes or less to go through it, which means

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noting the existence of the published paper without actually reading it. If the applicant is on the cusp, a second staffer more versed in the subject area may read their file. The first reader “is very young and in almost all cases majored in humanities or social sciences,” said Jon Reider, a former admissions officer at Stanford. “They can’t tell if a paper in the sciences means anything or is new at all.”

As a result, admissions staff may rely on outside opinions. Schmill said that MIT pays more attention to the mentor’s recommendation than the actual research. Academic mentors, even when paid, “do a pretty good job being honest and objective,” he said. The longtime Ivy League admissions officer was more skeptical, likening the mentors to expert witnesses in a trial.

Brown admissions dean Logan Powell described faculty as “invaluable partners” in reviewing research. But many professors would rather not be bothered. “Our faculty don’t want to spend all their time reading research projects from 17- and 18-year-olds,” the veteran Ivy League admissions officer said.

Also complicating the admissions office’s ability to assess the papers is staffers’ unfamiliarity with the byzantine world of online publications favored by the research services. Several have confusingly similar names: the Journal of Student Research, the Journal of Research High School, the International Journal of High School Research. Selective outlets like the Journal of Student Research and the Scholarly Review also post preprints, making it hard to determine what, if any, standards a manuscript was held to.

Some also hide ties to research services. Scholarly Review doesn’t tell readers that it’s founded and funded by Scholar Launch. The lack of transparency was “not a conscious decision,” Scholar Launch co-founder Joel Butterly said. “Our intent is to keep it as separate as possible from Scholar Launch.”

The companies are intertwined in at least two respects. Worthington, who chairs the Scholarly Review’s editorial board, also works as a mentor for Scholar Launch and InGenius Prep, a college admissions counseling

service co-founded by Butterly. Three of the seven articles in the Scholarly Review’s inaugural issue were written by students who Worthington advised, possibly enhancing their college prospects.

“Editors selecting papers they were involved in is a no-no,” said Anderson, the former New England Journal of Medicine publishing director.

Worthington told ProPublica that he had recused himself from discussing those manuscripts. Then Scholar Launch changed its policy. “For future issues,” Worthington said in a subsequent email, “the company will disclose mentoring arrangements in advance to make doubly sure that nobody will be reviewing work by a former student.” Worthington also said, after ProPublica raised questions, that Scholarly Review would make it “more obvious” that the editorial board is “not responsible” for articles on its preprint platform. (During ProPublica’s reporting process, Sophia’s Chick-fil-A paper was removed from the site.) The platform, which is managed by Scholar Launch and InGenius Prep, has been given a separate section on the Scholarly Review website, and further changes are likely, he said.

Online research services are an offshoot of the booming college-admissions-advising industry. They draw many of their students from the same affluent population that hires private counselors. Many families that are already paying thousands or tens of thousands of dollars for advice on essay writing and extracurricular activities pay thousands more for research help. Scholar Launch charges $3,500 for “junior” research programs and between $4,500 and $8,800 for advanced research, according to its website.

Polygence, one of the largest online high school research programs in the U.S., cultivates college counselors. The service, which was founded in 2019 and worked with more than 2,000 students last year, has developed relationships with counselors whose clients receive a discount for using Polygence.

Polygence proclaimed April to be Independent Educational Consultants Appreciation Month. It planned to raffle off prizes including “an all-expenses paid roundtrip to a college campus tour of your choice”

— it suggested the University of Hawaii — and “2 free pro bono Polygence research projects.”

Such perks appear to brush up against ethics codes of two college counseling associations, which prohibit members from accepting substantial compensation for student referrals. Asked about these rules, Polygence co-founder Jin Chow said the event celebrates all counselors, “regardless of whether or not they have partnered with us or sent us students.” Polygence then dropped the tour prize and added two more free research projects.

Then there’s the question of credentials. Lumiere Education’s website has routinely identified mentors as Ph.D.s even when they don’t have a doctorate and described itself as “founded by Oxford and Harvard PhDs,” even though its founders, Dhruva Bhat and Stephen Turban, are pursuing doctorates. It’s “shorthand,” Turban said. “We’re not trying to deceive anyone.” After ProPublica questioned the practice, Lumiere changed mentors’ credentials on its website from “PhD” to “PhD student.”

Paid “mentors,” who are frequently doctoral students, play key roles in the process of generating papers by high schoolers. The job is “one of the most lucrative side hustles for graduate students,” as one Columbia Ph.D. candidate in political science put it. Another Ph.D. candidate, who mentored for two services, said that one paid her $200 an hour, and the other paid $150 — far more than the $25 an hour she earned as a teaching assistant in an Ivy League graduate course.

In some instances, the mentors seem to function as something more than advisers. Since high schoolers generally don’t arrive with a research topic, the mentor helps them choose it, and then may pitch in with writing, editing and scientific analysis.

A former consultant at Athena Education, a service in India, recalled that a client thanked her for his admission to a world-famous university. Admissions interviewers had praised his paper, which she had heavily revised. The university “was tricked,” the consultant said, adding that other students who were academically stronger went to second-tier universities.

The Cornell Under-

graduate Economic Review, which accepts about 10% of submissions, published its first-ever paper by a high school student in 2021. Its editor-in-chief was impressed that the author, a Lumiere client in the Boston area, had used advanced econometrics to demonstrate that a reduced federal income tax subsidy for electric vehicles had caused sales to plummet.

But another editor, Andres Aradillas Fernandez, said he wondered whether the high-level work “was not at least partially” attributable to the mentor, a Ph.D. candidate in economics at an Ivy League university. He also felt uneasy that access to services like Lumiere is largely based on wealth. After Aradillas Fernandez became editor-in-chief last year and Lumiere clients submitted weaker papers, he notified Lumiere that the journal would no longer publish high school research.

The Boston-area Lumiere client declined comment. Turban, Lumiere’s co-founder, said the paper was “100 percent” the student’s work. The mentor said he showed the high schooler which mathematical formulas to use, but the student was “very motivated” and did the calculations himself. “I have to spoon feed him a bit on what to read and sometimes how to do it,” the mentor said.

The oldest online research mentorship program for high schoolers, Pioneer Academics, founded in 2012, has maintained relatively rigorous standards. It accepted 37% of its 4,765 applicants last year, and 13% of its students received full scholarships based on need. Pioneer “never promises academic journal publication,” according to its website.

“The push for publication leads young scholars astray,” Pioneer co-founder Matthew Jaskol said. “The message is that looking like a champion is more important than training to be a great athlete.”

Oberlin College gives credits to students for passing Pioneer courses. The college’s annual reviews have found that research done for Pioneer “far exceeded” what would be expected to earn credit, said Michael Parkin, an associate dean of arts and sciences at Oberlin and a former Pioneer mentor, who oversees the

collaboration. Pioneer pays Oberlin a small fee for each nonscholarship student given credit.

At Pioneer and other services, the most fulfilling projects are often impelled by the student’s curiosity, and gaining an edge in college admissions is a byproduct rather than the raison d’etre. Alaa Aboelkhair, the daughter of a government worker in Egypt, was fascinated as a child by how the stars constantly change their position in the sky. Googling in 2021, before her senior year of high school, she came across Lumiere, which gave her a scholarship. “The fact that we only know 5% of the universe drove me to study more,” she said. “That is my passion.”

At the suggestion of her Lumiere mentor, Christian Ferko, Alaa examined whether hypothetical particles known as axions could be detected by converting them into light. Lumiere was paying Ferko for weekly sessions, but he talked with Alaa several times a week. He emailed some textbooks to her and she found other sources on her own, working late into the night to finish her paper.

Since she chose not to submit her ACT score, the paper and Ferko’s recommendation were vital to her college applications. In March 2022, a Princeton admissions officer called Ferko to ask about Alaa. Ferko compared her to a first-year graduate student and said she showed the potential to make new discoveries. “My impression is this is something colleges do when they’re right on the fence of whether to admit the student,” Ferko said. “I did my best to advocate for her, without overstating.”

Princeton admitted only 3.3% of international applicants to the class of 2026, including Alaa. She said she received a full scholarship. (“Optional submissions are one factor among many in our holistic review process,” Princeton spokesperson Michael Hotchkiss said.)

A short walk from India’s first Trump Tower, in an upscale neighborhood known for luxury homes and gourmet restaurants, is the Mumbai office of Athena Education, a startup that promises to help students “join the ranks of Ivy League admits.” An attendant in a white uniform waits at

a standing desk to greet visitors in a lounge lined with paintings and featuring a coffee bar and a glass facade with a stunning view of the downtown skyline.

“We all strive to get things done while sipping Italian coffee brewed in-house,” a recent Athena ad read.

Co-founded in 2014 by two Princeton graduates, Athena has served more than 2,000 students. At least 80 clients have been admitted to elite universities, and 87% have gotten into top-50 U.S. colleges, according to its website. One client said that Athena charges more than a million rupees, or $12,200 a year, six times India’s annual per capita income. Athena declined comment for this story.

Around 2020, Athena expanded its research program and started emphasizing publication. Athena and similar services in South Korea and China cater to international students whose odds of getting accepted at a U.S. college are even longer than those American students face. MIT, for instance, accepted 1.4% of international applicants last year, compared with 5% of domestic applicants.

A former consultant said Athena told her that its students were the “creme de la creme.” Instead, she estimated, 7 out of 10 needed “hand-holding.”

For publication, Athena students have a readily available option: Questioz, an online outlet founded by an Athena client and run by high schoolers. Former Editor-in-Chief Eesha Garimella said that a mentor at Athena “guides us on the paper editing and publication process.” Garimella said Questioz publishes 75%-80% of submissions.

Athena students also place their work in the Houston-based Journal of Student Research. Founded in 2012 to publish undergraduate and graduate work, in 2017 the journal began running high school papers, which now make up 85% of its articles, co-founders Mir Alikhan and Daharsh Rana wrote in an email.

Last June, a special edition of the journal presented research by 19 Athena students. They tested noise-reduction algorithms and used computer vision to compare the stances of professional and amateur golfers. A

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Publication in JSR was “pretty simple,” said former Athena student Anjani Nanda, who surveyed 103 people about their awareness of female genital mutilation and found that they were poorly informed. “I never got any edits or suggested changes from their side.”

As Nanda’s experience suggests, virtual journals dedicated to high school research tend to be less choosy than traditional publications. They reflect a larger shift in academic publishing. Print journals typically accept a small percentage of submissions and depend on subscription revenue. Online publications tend to be free for the reader but charge a fee to the author — incentivizing the publications to boost revenue by accepting many articles.

The Journal of Student Research exemplifies this turnabout. It describes itself as peer-reviewed, the gold standard of traditional academic publishing. It relies on more than 90 reviewers at colleges across the U.S., and the typical review takes 12-24 weeks, according to its website.

In reality, it may not be so stringent. Four of eight reviewers whom ProPublica contacted said the journal has never asked them to evaluate a manuscript. (Some academics agreed to review for JSR but forgot over time, Alikhan and Rana said; others specialize in fields where the journal has received few submissions.)

And while authors pay an “article process-

ing charge” of $50 at submission and $200 at acceptance, for an extra $300 they can expedite “fast-track” review in four to five weeks. One Athena client who fast-tracked his manuscript so that it could be published in time for his college application said JSR accepted it without changes. He was admitted to a top-10 U.S. university. “I think it was important,” said the student. “I didn’t have much leadership in school so [I] needed other ways to get better extracurriculars.”

In “The Ultimate Guide to the Journal of Student Research,” a Lumiere “publication strategy associate” described JSR as a “safety” option that accepts 65% of submissions from Lumiere clients. “In our experience, we have noticed that JSR nearly never gives edits, and students always just advance straight to being accepted,” the Lumiere associate wrote.

Alikhan and Rana defended the journal’s standards. They said that many papers, which are submitted with the guidance of top mentors, hardly need editing: “Honestly, it is not the journal’s fault if their advisors working closely with students produce outstanding manuscripts.”

The journals are deluged with submissions. Founded in 2019, the International Journal of High School Research has expanded from four to six issues a year and may add more, said executive producer Fehmi Damkaci. “There is a greater demand than we envisioned,” he said, adding that the journal has become more selective.

As the pandemic closed labs and restricted fieldwork, forcing students to collect data and conduct interviews online, the Journal of Student Research “received an increased

volume of submissions,” Alikhan and Rana said. Polygence complained that several students who wanted to cite publications in their college applications hadn’t heard back from JSR for months. The papers were eventually published. Preprint platforms don’t even bother with peer review. The usual justification for preprints is that they quickly disseminate vital research, such as new information about vaccines or medical treatments. High school projects are rarely so urgent. Still, Polygence started a preprint platform last fall.

“The idea is for students to showcase their work and have them be judged by the scientific/peer/ college community for their merits,” co-founder Janos Perczel wrote to ProPublica.

The Journal of Student Research hosts preprints by clients of Scholar Launch and two other services. One preprint only listed the author’s first name, Nitya. Leaving out the last name is a small mistake, but one that hints at the frenzy to publish quickly.

Online research programs could end up victimized by their own success. College admissions consultant Jillian Nataupsky estimated that one-third of her clients undertake virtual research. “For students trying to find ways to differentiate themselves in this crazy competitive landscape, this has risen as a really great option,” she said. But “it’s becoming a little more commonplace. I can see it becoming completely overinundated in the next few years.”

Then the search can begin for the next leg up in college admissions. Republished with Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0).

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FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2023 105976 NEW FILING. The following person(s) is (are) doing business as SUN VALLEY AUTO SMOG, 8969 laurel canyon blvd, sun valley, CA 91352. This business is conducted by a individual. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on January 2005. Signed: Enrique Ramirez, 8969 Laurel Canyon Blvd, Sun valley, CA 91352 (Owner). The statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on May 12, 2023. 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 14400 et seq., Business and Professional Code).

Pub. Monrovia Weekly 05/29/2023, 06/05/2023, 06/12/2023, 06/19/2023 SC

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2023 115161 NEW FILING. The following person(s) is (are) doing business as SOFEMMEE, 11901 Arminta St, North Hollywood, CA 91605. This business is conducted by a individual. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on March 2023. Signed: Sofemme Inc (CA-), 11901 Arminta St, North Hollywood, CA 91605; Susan Suzie Antaplian, President (Owner). The statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on May 24, 2023.

NOTICE: This fictitious business name

LEGALS

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 14400 et seq., Business and Professional Code).

Pub. Monrovia Weekly 05/29/2023, 06/05/2023, 06/12/2023, 06/19/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2023111694

NEW FILING.

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as THE UPS STORE 5115, 11721 Whittier Blvd, Whittier, CA 90601. This business is conducted by a limited liability company (llc). Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on May 2023. Signed: 888 ENTERPRISE LLC (CA-202105510259), 11721 Whittier Blvd, Whittier, CA 90601; RICO BANZUELA, CFO. The statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on May 19, 2023. 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 14400 et seq., Business and Professional Code).

Pub. Monrovia Weekly 05/29/2023, 06/05/2023, 06/12/2023, 06/19/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2023115461 NEW FILING.

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as (1). META WELLNESS (2). LUXE RECOVERY OUTPATIENT , 2995 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039. Mailing Address, 3232 Menlo Dr, Glendale, CA 91208. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on May 2023. Signed: Meta Wellness Inc (CA5092554), 3232 MENLO DR, glendale, CA 91208; arthur melkonyan, CEO. The statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on May 24, 2023. 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 14400 et seq., Business and Professional Code).

Pub. Monrovia Weekly 05/29/2023, 06/05/2023, 06/12/2023, 06/19/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2023108373 NEW FILING.

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as LA FAMOSA ESTRELLA RESTAURANT, 330 E Orange Grove Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91104. This business is conducted by a individual. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on May 2023. Signed: Jorge Salvador Garcia, 641 Garfield Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101 (Owner). The statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on May 16, 2023. 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 14400 et seq., Business and Professional Code).

Pub. Monrovia Weekly 05/29/2023, 06/05/2023, 06/12/2023, 06/19/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2023114243

NEW FILING.

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as 4 THOUSAND WEEKS LLC, 2345 Atlantic Blvd #1128, Monterey Park, CA 91754. Mailing Address, 5320 Repetto Ave, East Los Angeles, CA 90022. This business is conducted by a limited liability company (llc). Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on May 2023. Signed: 4 Thousand Weeks LLC (CA-92-1447251), 5320 Repetto Ave, East Los Angeles, CA 90022; Frances Pardo, CEO. The statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on May 24, 2023. 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 14400 et seq., Business and Professional Code).

Pub. Monrovia Weekly 05/29/2023, 06/05/2023, 06/12/2023, 06/19/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2023115286

NEW FILING.

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as HELLODISCOUNTSTORE, 7065 Paramount Blvd, Pico Rivera, CA 90660. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. Signed: BEECRAZEE, INC (CA262775953), 7065 Paramount Blvd,

Pico Rivera, CA 90660; WON S LEE, PRESIDENT. The statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on May 24, 2023. 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 14400 et seq., Business and Professional Code).

Pub. Monrovia Weekly 05/29/2023, 06/05/2023, 06/12/2023, 06/19/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME

STATEMENT FILE NO. 2023115131 NEW FILING. The following person(s) is (are) doing business as ORRERY PRESS, 121 N Greenwood Ave, Pasadena, CA 91107. Mailing Address, PO Box 90043, Pasadena, CA 91109. This business is conducted by a married couple. Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. Signed: (1). Anthony John Cook, 121 N Greenwood Ave, Pasadena, CA 91107 (2). Sonia Asuncion Alaras Cook, 121 N Greenwood Ave, Pasadena, CA 91107 (Husband). The statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on May 24, 2023. 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 14400 et seq., Business and Professional Code). Pub. Monrovia Weekly 05/29/2023, 06/05/2023, 06/12/2023, 06/19/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME

FILE NO. 2023114653

STATEMENT

NEW FILING.

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as KIMASH METAL WORKS, 1409 Virginia Ave Suit J, Baldwin Park, CA 91706. This business is conducted by a individual. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on May 2018. Signed: Alvaro Olvera Palacios, 1275 San Gabriel Ave Apt #20, Azusa, CA 91702 (Owner). The statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on May 24, 2023. 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 14400 et seq., Business and Professional Code).

Pub. Monrovia Weekly 05/29/2023, 06/05/2023, 06/12/2023, 06/19/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME

STATEMENT FILE NO. 2023114153 NEW FILING.

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as FASHION ART CONNOISSEUR, 13330 Palos Grande Dr, Victorville, CA 92395. Mailing Address, 6963 SVL Box, VICTORVILLE, CA 92395. This business is conducted by a individual. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on May 2023. Signed: LaToya Lewis, 13330 Palos Grande Dr, Victorville, CA 92395 (Owner). The statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on May 23, 2023.

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 14400 et seq., Business and Professional Code).

Pub. Monrovia Weekly 05/29/2023, 06/05/2023, 06/12/2023, 06/19/2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME

STATEMENT FILE NO. 2023115298

NEW FILING.

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as ANIROLLZ, 7065 Paramount Blvd, Pico Rivera, CA 90660. This business is conducted by a corporation. Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein. Signed: WSLICENSING, INC (CA-460750179), 7065 Paramount Blvd, Pico Rivera, CA 90660; WON S LEE, PRESIDENT. The statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on May 24, 2023. 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 14400 et seq., Business and Professional Code).

Pub. Monrovia Weekly 05/29/2023, 06/05/2023, 06/12/2023, 06/19/2023

Glendale City Notices

NOTICE OF PLANNING HEARING OFFICER HEARING

VARIANCE CASE NO. PVAR 1923322

LOCATION: 318 BROCKMONT DRIVE

APPLICANT: George Avetisyan

ZONE: “R1R” – Restricted Residential - FAR District II

LEGAL DESCRIPTION/APN: Lot 5, Block 6, Tract No. 8280 (APN: 5632-011-012)

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The applicant is requesting approval to construct a new 2,305 square feet, two-story, single-family residence with an attached two-car garage. A previous house located on the site was damaged by fire and subsequently demolished down to the foundation. The applicant is requesting four variances to allow the reconstruction of the residence. The variances include:

Standard variance to allow development of a residence on a lot less than 7,500 square feet; Standard variance to allow a driveway length of 1-ft., 3-in.; Setback variance to allow a 1-ft., 3-in. street front setback; and • Setback variance to allow 6-ft., 6-in and 3-ft., 8-in interior setbacks.

ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION

The project is exempt from CEQA review as a Class 3 “New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures” exemption pursuant to Section 15303 of the State CEQA Guidelines because the project is the construction of a new single-family house. The property does not appear eligible for historic designation at the federal, state or local levels and is, therefore, not considered a historic resource under the California Environmental Quality Act.

PUBLIC HEARING

The Planning Hearing officer will conduct a public hearing regarding the above project at 633 E. BROADWAY (MUNICIPAL SERVICES BUILDING) ROOM 105, GLENDALE, CA 91206, ON JUNE 7, 2023, AT 9:30 AM or as soon thereafter as possible. The purpose of the hearing is to hear comments from the public with respect to zoning concerns. The hearing will be held in accordance with Glendale Municipal Code, Title 30, Chapter 30.43. and 30.44.

The meeting can be viewed on Charter Cable Channel 6 or streamed online at: https://www.glendaleca.gov/government/departments/management-services/gtv6/livevideo-stream . For public comments and questions during the meeting call 818-937-8100. City staff will be submitting these questions and comments in real time to the appropriate person during the Planning Hearing Officer Hearing. You may also testify in person at the hearing if you wish to do so.

If the final decision is challenged in court, testimony may be limited to issues raised before or at the public hearing.

The staff report and case materials will be available a week before the hearing date at www.glendaleca.gov/agendas.

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS: If you desire more information on the proposal, please contact the case planner Roger Kiesel in the Planning Division at RKiesel@glendaleca. gov, or (818) 937-8152, or (818) 548-2140. The staff report and case materials will be available before the hearing date at www.glendaleca.gov/agendas.

Any person having an interest in the subject project may participate in the hearing, by phone as outlined above, and may be heard in support of his/her opinion. Any person protesting may file a duly signed and acknowledged written protest with the Director of Community Development not later than the hour set for public hearing before the Hearing Officer. "Acknowledged" shall mean a declaration of property ownership (or occupant if not owner) under penalty of perjury. If you challenge the decision of this project in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City of Glendale, at or prior to the public hearing. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, please notify the Community Development Department at least 48 hours (or two business days) for requests regarding sign language translation and Braille transcription services.

When a final decision is rendered, a decision letter will be posted online at www.glendaleca.gov/planning/decisions. An appeal may be filed within 15 days of the final decision date appearing on the decision letter. Appeal forms are available at https://www.glendaleca.gov/ home/showdocument?id=11926

Dr. S. Abajian

The City Clerk of the City of Glendale

Publish May 29, 2023

GLENDALE INDEPENDENT

Probate Notices

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF:

BARBARA ANN KREPS CARTER

CASE NO. PROSB2300569

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of BARBARA ANN KREPS CARTER.

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by JON TAYLOR CARTER in the Superior Court of California, County of SAN BERNARDINO. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that JON TAYLOR CARTER be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests the decedent’s WILL and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The WILL and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court. THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 06/21/23 at 9:00AM in Dept. S37

located at 247 W. THIRD STREET, SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92415

IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

In Pro Per Petitioner JON TAYLOR CARTER 63211 BLACK POWDER LANE BEND OR 97701 5/22, 5/25, 5/29/23 CNS-3702613# ONTARIO NEWS PRESS

LEGALS

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF:

CARL ROBERT HENRY FRIESEN

CASE NO. 23STPB05359

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of CARL ROBERT HENRY FRIESEN.

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by JOHN VILLAREAL in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that JOHN VILLAREAL be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests the decedent’s WILL and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The WILL and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court.

THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 06/21/23 at 8:30AM in Dept. 29 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012

IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for Petitioner E. THOMAS CHAVEZ - SBN 123017, LAW OFFICE OF E. THOMAS CHAVEZ 301 E. COLORADO BLVD., STE. 611 PASADENA CA 91101 5/25, 5/29, 6/1/23

CNS-3703296#

GLENDALE INDEPENDENT

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: LEAH RAE ANDERSON CASE NO. 23STPB05355

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of LEAH RAE ANDERSON.

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by RONALD LEE ANDERSON in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that RONALD LEE ANDERSON be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act with limited authority. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval.

Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give

notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 06/28/23 at 8:30AM in Dept. 9 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012

IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for Petitioner

LISA WEINMANN - SBN 320109, PROBATE CALIFORNIA

17765 CALLE GRANADA MORGAN HILL CA 95037 5/25, 5/29, 6/1/23

CNS-3703492# BURBANK INDEPENDENT

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF JOHN DALE HUMPHREYS

Case No. 23STPB02897

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of JOHN DALE HUMPHREYS

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by Jessica Lancaster in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that Jessica Lancaster be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court.

A HEARING on the petition will be held on July 20, 2023 at 8:30 AM in Dept. 79. located at 111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.

IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Petitioner: JESSICA LANCASTER

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF PATRICIA JEAN BILLINGS

Case No. 23STPB02178

To all heirs, beneficiaries, cred-itors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of PATRICIA JEAN BILLINGS

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by Ana Maria Jimenez in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that Ana Maria Jimenez be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administra-tion authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objec-tion to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held on June 13, 2023 at 8:30 AM in Dept. No. 4 located at 111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.

IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your ap-pearance may be in person or by your attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issu-ance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code.

Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for petitioner:

RANDOLPH M SHARON ESQ

SBN 118607

LAW OFFICES OF RANDOLPH M SHARON APC

3125 OLD CONEJO RD THOUSAND OAKS CA 91320 CN997091 BILLINGS May 25,29, Jun 1, 2023 WEST COVINA PRESS

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF:

RUBEN R. MARTINEZ

CASE NO. 23STPB05032

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of RUBEN R. MARTINEZ. A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by RUBEN G. MARTINEZ in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that RUBEN G. MARTINEZ be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they

have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows:

06/14/23 at 8:30AM in Dept. 9 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012

IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for Petitioner JASON A. FETCHIK - SBN 227832, DRISKELL, GORDON & FETCHIK 180 N. GLENDORA AVENUE, SUITE 201 GLENDORA CA 91741 5/25, 5/29, 6/1/23

CNS-3703780# WEST COVINA PRESS

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: CHARLOTTE WAMPLER CASE NO. 23STPB05413

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of CHARLOTTE WAMPLER.

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by SHOUSHAN MOVSESIAN in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.

THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that SHOUSHAN MOVSESIAN be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests the decedent’s WILL and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The WILL and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court.

THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows:

06/23/23 at 8:30AM in Dept. 5 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012

IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code.

Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for Petitioner

KAREN KNUTSON - SBN 216066, LAW OFFICES OF KAREN KNUTSON 11965 VENICE BLVD., SUITE 404 LOS ANGELES CA 90066 5/25, 5/29, 6/1/23

CNS-3703983#

PASADENA PRESS

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: BRIJDEEP CHAWLA

CASE NO. 23STPB01702

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of BRIJDEEP CHAWLA.

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by OMAR CHAWLA in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that OMAR CHAWLA be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests the decedent’s WILL and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The WILL and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court. THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 07/28/23 at 8:30AM in Dept. 29 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012

IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for Petitioner

ROZSA GYENE, ESQ. - SBN

208356

LAW OFFICE OF ROZSA GYENE

450 N. BRAND BLVD., STE 623 GLENDALE CA 91203

5/25, 5/29, 6/1/23

CNS-3704495#

GLENDALE INDEPENDENT

changing names as follows: PRESENT

NAME Christina Soon Choi PROPOSED

NAME Soon Yi Choi. The Court Orders that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

Notice Of Hearing Date: 06/28/2023 Time: 8:30am Dept. D100. REMOTE HEARING

The address of the court is Central Justice Center 700 Civic Center Drive West Santa Ana, CA 92701. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: Anaheim Press Date: May 3, 2023 Layne H Melzer Judge of the Superior Court Pub Dates: May 8, 15, 22, 29, 2023 ANAHEIM PRESS

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME PETITION OF Thi Oanh Do FOR CHANGE OF NAME CASE NUMBER: 23PSCP00187 Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles 400 Civic Center Plaza, Pomona, Ca 91766, East Judicial District TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1. Petitioner Thi Oanh Do filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name a. OF Thi Oanh Do to Proposed name Krystine Oanh Do 2. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reason for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing NOTICE OF HEARING a. Date: 07/07/2023 Time: 8:30AM Dept: L. 5th Floor The address of the court is same as noted above. 3. a. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the day set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: Baldwin Park Press DATED: April 26, 2023 Wesley L. Hsu JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT Pub. May 8, 15, 22, 29 , 2023 BALDWIN PARK PRESS

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME PETITION OF Michael Lederer Kellner FOR CHANGE OF NAME CASE NUMBER: 23AHCP00194 Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles 150 W Commonwealth Ave, Alhambra Ca 90801, Northeast Judicial District TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS:

1. Petitioner Michael Lederer Kellner filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name a. OF Michael Lederer Kellner to Proposed name Michael Durant Kellner 2. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reason for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing NOTICE OF HEARING a. Date: 06/30/2023 Time: 8:30AM Dept: X. Room: 405 The address of the court is same as noted above. 3. a. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the day set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: Alhambra Press DATED: May 4, 2023 Robin Miller Sloan JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT Pub. May 8, 15, 22, 29, 2023 ALHAMBRA PRESS

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME PETITION OF Marian Aucamp, a minor by and through Anna Aucamp, her mother FOR CHANGE OF NAME CASE NUMBER: 23CHCP00201 Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles 9425 Penfield Ave, Chatsworth, Ca 91311, North Valley Judicial District TO

ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1. Petitioner Anna Maria Aucamp filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name a. OF Marian Annette Aucamp to Proposed name Annette Marian Aucamp 2. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reason for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing NOTICE OF HEARING a.

Date: 07/11/2023

Time: 8:30AM Dept: F51. The address of the court is same as noted above. 3. a. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the day set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: Pasadena Press

DATED: May 9, 2023 David B. Gelfound

Black woman settles suit vs. school attended by celebrities’ kids

By City News Service

and medical discrimination, disparate impact race discrimination, retaliation and failure to prevent discrimination, harassment and retaliation, but school attorneys stated in their court papers that McCrary was fired for a poor job showing.

“Since her hiring, plaintiff repeatedly delivered unsatisfactory performance,” the defense lawyers maintained in their court papers. “Plaintiff’s continuous errors created additional work for her supervisors, added undue stress on colleagues and embarrassed Wildwood.”

mance and was able to correct the issues long before the allotted time expired, the suit stated.

However, Wildwood School still micromanaged McCrary for simple tasks and deliberately found areas to criticize her work, the suit states. Trying to force her out of her job, the school overassigned her tasks and gave her unrealistic times to complete them, according to her suit.

McCrary believes she was fired because of her race, health and gender and that the school retained other employees who were not in a protected class and had job performances equal to or worse than the plaintiff, the suit stated.

Aformer administrative assistant for a private school attended over the years by the children of many celebrities has settled her lawsuit against her former employer in which she alleged she was wrongfully fired in 2022 because she is Black, female and had health problems.

Attorneys for plaintiff

Christina McCrary filed court papers on Wednesday with Los Angeles Superior Court Judge William F. Fahey stating that her case against Wildwood School was resolved the day before. No terms were divulged.

Some of Steven Spielberg’s, two of Dustin Hoffman’s and all of Demi Moore’s children went to Wildwood

School, as did Rob Reiner’s children and a daughter of Meryl Streep. The kindergarten through 12th grade school has a campus for elementary students near the Los Angeles-Culver City border and a second for upper and middle school pupils in West Los Angeles.

McCrary alleged wrongful termination, race, gender

McCrary was hired as an administrative assistant to middle and upper directors in March 2019 and was one of the few Blacks in the ranks of more than 100 Wildwood School staff members, according to her suit brought last Aug. 2.

McCrary was put on a job performance improvement plan in March and given three areas of work on which she needed to do better, the suit stated. She was allowed 30 days to improve her perfor-

There were weekly meetings between McCrary and two supervisors that ostensibly were held to improve her job performance, but were actually conducted to “create an inaccurate record of events and set plaintiff up for failure and ultimately termination,” the suit stated.

McCrary took time off in mid-June that was previously authorized so she could have surgery, but when she returned last July 5 she was fired, according to the suit. She refused to sign a nondisclosure agreement offered her in exchange for a two-week severance package, the suit stated.

McCrary also contends that other Black Wildwood School employees were unjustifiably fired and that some students have complained about racism and a lack of diversity at Wildwood School, the suit stated.

McCrary began having daily anxiety attacks and was involved in a traffic accident leaving work one day in early 2021, leaving her with posttraumatic stress disorder, the suit stated. Her younger sister, allergic to the chemotherapy available for her stage 2 cancer, died within nine months and left behind a 2-year-old son who also is the plaintiff’s nephew, the suit stated.

McCrary has suffered from embarrassment and additional emotional distress since her firing, the suit stated.

Teenager arrested in connection with stabbing of Metro bus driver

By City News Service

A17-year-old boy was arrested Thursday in connection with the near-fatal stabbing of a Metro bus driver in Woodland Hills, and the driver remained in critical condition.

Due to the suspect’s age, his name was not released.

He is suspected of attempted murder in the attack that occurred around 5:15 p.m. Wednesday near Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Erwin Street. Police said the teen boarded the bus and got into an argument with the 61-year-old driver over fare evasion.

Both the driver and teen wound up getting off the bus and continued the argument, during which the teen pulled out a knife and repeatedly stabbed the driver, according to police.

Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore credited paramedics and the staff at Dignity Health Northridge Hospital Medical Center for their work on the driver, who remained in “extremely critical” condition Thursday.

“The nature of the injuries he sustained were definitely beyond life- threatening,” Moore said. “In many other instances, he would not

have survived the level of this attack.”

It was unclear what led detectives to the suspect, although Moore credited assistance from the public. Moore said police conducted a sweeping manhunt throughout the San Fernando Valley throughout the night. Police also circulated photos of the suspect captured by a surveillance camera on the bus.

He said the arrest was made early Thursday afternoon, but he offered no specifics.

Earlier in the day Thursday, Metro Board of Directors Chairman Ara Najarian, a Glendale City Council member, announced that the agency was offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect in the stabbing. It was not immediately clear if anyone will be eligible for that reward now that the suspect has been captured.

“Words fail to capture the depth of our sorrow and our concern for our injured employee,” Najarian said. “I know this board stands together, united in our prayers and hopes for the operator’s swift and complete recovery. ... This

heart-wrenching incident reminds us of the risks our front-line employees face each day as they strive to serve our community in the face of such adversity. It is crucial that we stand strong, resolute and unwavering in our commitment to one another.”

Najarian noted that even after being stabbed and enduring “life- threatening” injuries, the driver managed to return to the bus after the attack and secure the vehicle to ensure passengers were safe.

Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and City Council members Paul Krekorian and Bob Blumenfield — all Metro board members — visited the hospital Wednesday night to comfort the driver’s family.

“The driver is still not out of the (woods), and we need to keep him in our prayers,” Bass said at the Metro board meeting.

She added, “We know that ridership is down on the trains and the buses and we certainly don’t want public safety to be the reason. But we definitely need to redouble our efforts in that regard.”

The attack was the latest violent encounter involving the Metro transit system, which has come under fire from some critics and elected officials over safety issues.

Earlier this week, county Supervisor and Metro board member Janice Hahn called for “a full accounting” of security protocols on the system following a recent attack on a woman on a Metro A (Blue) Line train in Long Beach by two suspects.

“We have multi-milliondollar law enforcement

contracts, Metro security, and 300 Metro Ambassadors who have been hired to ride our buses and trains,” Hahn said in a statement Monday.

“But where were they when this woman was beaten up on the Blue Line last week?

With this many layers of security, why didn’t anyone come to this woman’s aid?

This is far from the first time there has been an attack on our trains in recent months.

I will be asking for a full accounting of where our transit ambassadors, Metro

security, and Long Beach Police officers assigned to Metro were at the time of this attack.

“Enough is enough,” Hahn said. “Our trains need to be safe for our residents.”

Long Beach police said the attack on the A Line train occurred shortly after 5:30 p.m. May 17. Although the victim told ABC7 one of her attackers used racial slurs, police said they had “no information to indicate this is a hate or bias motivated incident.”

Police say this individual stabbed a bus driver in Woodland Hills. | Photos courtesy of the Los Angeles Police Department/Twitter

| Image courtesy of DASHBot/Wikimedia Commons (CC0)

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, Code Enforcement Cannabis Team, San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office, the Sheriffs Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET) and San Bernardino County Fire Hazmat Emergency Response were recently honored with an award at the California Hazardous Materials Investigators Association (CHMIA) annual conference.

CHMIA is a non-profit and public benefit corporation that encourages the cooperation and coordination of environmental crime investigations conducted by law enforcement and regulatory agencies at the federal, state and local levels. It also facilitates and promotes educational programs related to environmental laws and regulations; environmental enforcement; and environ -

Award recognizes San Bernardino County’s multi-agency cannabis enforcement efforts

mental crime investigations.

The award recognizes San Bernardino County for its local coordination and environmental cannabis enforcement efforts with special recognition going to the following: the Board of Supervisors, Code Enforcement, the District Attorney’s Office, the Sheriff’s Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET) and San Bernardino County Fire Hazmat Emergency Response.

San Bernardino County, Code Enforcement, the District Attorney’s Office and the San Bernardino County’s MET have been leaders in cannabis enforcement/remediation efforts throughout the county.

“No other county in the State of California has even come close to what your county has accomplished when it comes to

By Staff

cannabis-related environmental enforcement,” said Hasti Javid, Vice President for CHMIA. “To have the Board of Supervisors step up and support Sheriff MET, Code Enforcement, and the DA’s Office in an effort to better serve and protect the community members and the environment is, in itself, worthy of recognition alone. Overall, the county of San Bernardino is a great example of community members coming together to voice their concerns and local government coming together to address those concerns. You should be very proud of what your teams have accomplished.”

The San Bernardino County team was honored to receive this award and will continue to lead the way in cannabis enforcement/remediation efforts throughout the county.

Irvine again tops Southern California cities in access to parks

Irvine again topped all California cities — and cracked the top five nationally — in a report rating municipalities’ investments to ensure public access to parks.

Irvine ranked fourth in the nation in the annual ParkScore report compiled by the Trust for Public Land, with researchers noting that 94% of Irvine residents live within a 10-minute walk from a park, up from 89% last year and well above the national average of 76%.

The report released Tuesday estimated that Irvine’s spending on parks increased to $284 per person, up from $185 per person a year ago, and above the national average of $108. Irvine ranked eighth on the list last year.

Irvine was the only Southern California city to rank in the top 10 nationally. San Francisco was the only other California city to make the top 10, ranking seventh.

Santa Clarita made its debut on the annual list, placing 47th nationally, with 52% of residents living within a 10-minute walk to a park and the city spending $224 per resident on parks.

Long Beach ranked 58th, down from 41 a year ago, while Anaheim fell from 64th place last year to 68th this year. Riverside rose three spots from 75th in 2022 to 72nd this year, while Los Angeles fell slightly from 78th to 80th.

In conjunction with this year’s report, the Trust for Public Land also

By City News Service

released a study concluding that cities with high ParkScore ratings tend to be healthier places to live, with residents of those cities generally being more physically active and less likely to report poor mental health.

“Innovation is the key to future success. Today, parks departments across the country are writing a new playbook to ensure that all residents can enjoy the physical and mental health benefits of their neighborhood park,” Diane Regas, president/ CEO of Trust for Public Land, said in a statement. “As an organization dedicated to connecting everyone to the outdoors, Trust for Public Land is excited by what we’ve seen this year and will continue

working

with city leaders throughout the United States to support park access for all.”

Washington, D.C., was the top-ranked city in the ParkScore report for the third straight year.

St. Paul, Minnesota, took second place, followed by Minneapolis, Irvine and Arlington, Virginia.

Irvine again tops Southern California cities in access to parks

San Bernardino County workers honored with their award at the California Hazardous Materials Investigators Association (CHMIA) annual conference. | Photo courtesy of San Bernardino County