2 July 29 -August 5, 2010
Turning Rotten Dorothy's Place
By Dorothy Denne How long does it take for a day to change from good to rotten? It really depends on your sense of humor. Or lack of one for that matter. Probably more on your lack of one. If you have one that is good, your day is less likely to turn bad. It isn’t really fair to call a day bad. Bad things may happen during the day but the day itself should be considered a gift. We are on our own to enjoy our gift or not. Sometimes outside forces make it difficult. I’m not talking about the really tragic outside forces that cause real pain, either emotional or physical. I believe there are different ways of dealing with them too but for today I’m just concerned with the everyday little rotten things that seem like big rotten things.
Like today, I decided the only things as dangerous as old ladies with shopping carts are young ladies with strollers. They both gawk when they walk. They don’t steer. They just gawk and push. You know what happens then. What about the drivers who don’t know where they are going. Every driveway they slow to a near stop then shoot on to the next one before you can pass. Then they spot their target, pull way over to the left and then turn right, into their desired driveway. You’ve survived to arrive at the parking lot entrance you want. Oncoming traffic is clear so you follow the guy in front of you across the lane and into the entrance. He stops right inside to decide which way he wants to go. Your rear end is still sticking out into the streeet. If you’re lucky he moves before you get moved. You have to go to the post office. You don’t need any stamps or anything. You just have to mail a couple of bills so the drive-through will do just fine. There is a line of cars but they usually move quickly. That’s part of the idea. A couple of the cars go through just fine. You’re getting closer. The guy who just arrived at the boxes can’t
decide which one to put his mail in so he reads the pickup time on each of them. He discovers they are all the same. Then he has to check that he put a stamp on each envelope. All appears to be well so he pulls out and nicks the edge of the cement platform. His car swerves and the pedestrian coming along side has to jump out of the way. This unnerves the old gal in front of you. She doesn’t want to hit the platform so she pulls over a bit. Now she can’t reach the slot. She opens the door, careful not to hit the mailbox with it. She puts one leg out then reaches with all her might. She gives a thrust and her mail slips into the slot. Except one envelope. It falls under the mailbox. She can’t get the door open far enough to get out of the car. You’re no spring chicken but you’re younger than she, so you feel obligated to help. You unfasten your seatbelt, get out and retrieve her letter. She really is grateful. So is everyone behind you. You’re finally on your way. Your shopping is done, your mail is mailed. You’re half way through your day. It is a gift. It doesn’t have to turn rotten. It depends on your sense of humor, or lack of one.
Letter the the Editor Dear Editor, I took the attached jpeg of a coyote resting on our lawn in the 400 block of Hill St., north Monrovia on July 25. Last night we were awakened by a loud coyote
chorus which tells me that they are a very active presence in the area. A friend noted that last years Station fire, and resulting loss of food sources back in the forest could be a reason.
1000’s Of Used Books New Books / Rentals Special Orders 204 So. First Ave. Arcadia, CA 91006
Phone/Fax 626
446 2525
website: bookrackarcadia.com
I know that you have done stories in the past about how residents should always keep an eye on kids and pets, that leaving out food and keeping outside cats is a bad idea, but it always bears repeating. Sincerely yours, Lucy Eidenbock
Schiff Receives Boost in Efforts to Improve Hearing Capabilities of Vets Today, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) announced that the Defense Appropriations bill includes $1 million he has requested for the House Ear Institute to conduct inner ear research to improve the hearing capabilities of combat veterans. Specifically, the funding will be used to advance research to inform a regenerative medicine approach to curing sensory deficits of the inner ear using unique technologies and DNA sequencing to develop gene expression libraries and develop cures for sensory hearing loss. “Loss of hearing has profound effects for military operational readiness and quality of life,” Rep. Schiff said. “This project will support research that holds the promise of helping veterans suffering from hearing loss to regain their hearing.” Hearing loss and tinnitus are the two most prevalent service-connect-
ed disabilities for veterans, especially for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. To date, no therapies for certain forms of hearing loss are available, but the research done by the House Ear Institute may provide critical answers and new therapies. “A very significant percentage of the disability payments from the VA go to veterans who have lost their hearing; in addition to helping us enhance the quality of life for combat veterans by improving their hearing, this funding will also help to reduce overall VA payments,” said House Ear Institute President Dr. John House. “Although the bill still has a few more legislative hurdles to clear, we are excited about the inclusion of funding in the bill and look forward to its passage so we can use it to ameliorate and prevent hearing loss for our veterans.”
I N C .
Von Raees
Editorial Editor
Terry Miller
Photographer Terry Miller
Columnists
Dorothy Denne Floretta Lauber Wally Hage
Contributors
Susan Motander Bill Peters Tom Gammill Sue Behrens Candyce Columbus Greg Aragon Jeff Couriveau Dawn Rickabaugh Erin Vosti Lal
INTERNS
Amy Leong Kristie Tom
Production
Courtney Blackburn
Business Advertising
advertising @beaconmedianews.com
Sales Manager Andrea Olivas
Sales
Huntington Hospital Receives “Afghans for Angels,” Helping Parents who Suffer the Loss of a Newborn or Infant The death of a child whether by miscarriage, still birth or infant death is a devastating event in a parent’s life. Afghans for Angels, California Chapter, is an organization made of volunteers who make and distribute baby afghans to parents who have suffered the loss of their baby. The organization has been active throughout the United States since 1996, although the California Chapter is just two months old. Huntington Memorial Hospital is one of five California hospitals that have recently begun receiving the beautiful baby blankets. The afghans are placed around the infants when they are held by their families for the brief time in which “hellos” and “goodbyes” are said. The parents are then allowed to keep the afghans as a token of remembrance. The organization is in the process of contacting
M E D I A ,
Publisher/Editor in Chief
hospitals throughout California, and is hoping to receive permission to deliver afghans to as many hospitals as possible. Afghans for Angels is seeking volunteers who have the time and talent to knit, crochet or quilt these special baby blankets. The group also needs donations of yarn. The afghans are generally small, just 15” square to about 24” square, and therefore do not require much in the way of time and materials. Afghans for Angels plans to reach out to residents in local senior facilities who would be interested in using the yarn to knit or crochet afghans. Only a phone is necessary for hospitals and volunteers to become active in the organization. To receive afghans at a local hospital, donate yarn, knit or for more information, visit www.afghansforangelscalifornia.com, or call Cathy Ude at 626-289-8019.
Brad Healy Victor Buell
Legal Advertising Annette Reyes
Accounting Vera Shamon
Address:
125 E. Chestnut Dr., Monrovia, CA 91016
Phone:
(626) 301-1010
Submissions Policy All press releases, story ideas and announcements should be submitted, as a Microsoft Word attachment, to one of the following e-mail addresses:
editor@arcadiaweekly.com editor@monroviaweekly.com editor@sierramadreweekly.com editor@pasadenaindependent.com This paper is published every Thursday by Beacon Media, Inc. All content herein is copyrighted and may not be reproduced in any manner, either in whole or in part, without the express written consent of the publisher. The Views and opinions expressed in this paper are not necessarily that of the management and staff at Beacon Media, Inc. The Arcadia Weekly has been adjudicated as a newspaper of general circulation in court case number GS 004333. The Monrovia Weekly has been adjudicated as a newspaper of General Circulation in Court Case GS 004759.
@pasindependent