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Serving Cerritos, Artesia, Hawaiian Gardens, Norwalk, Lakewood, Pico Rivera, and La Palma • 45,000 homes every Friday • April 1, 2011 • Volume 21, No. 47 • www.loscerritosnews.net
Cerritos College alumnus continues his passion to help people
By Jerry Bernstein
A
[See REDEVELOPMENT Page 15]
18 years of service Norwalk Councilman Gordon Stefenhagen retires
During winter break in 2009, Monirath Siv (center) went to Cambodia's Mon'dul Kiri Province with pharmacy students from International University, Cambodia, to provide free health screenings, diagnoses and medicines. By Aya Abelon When Monirath Siv ('09) graduated Cerritos College to study at Washington University in St. Louis, he left with numerous accomplishments – he was a Coca Cola Scholarship recipient in 2008, he became Cerritos College's first Cocacola New Century Scholar and a 2009
All-USA Academic Team member, and named a very highly-regarded Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholar to name a few. One thing that has always been on his mind is sincere appreciation for the opportunities he has been given. And it has become his passion to give back to the community and to the world – espe[See SIV Page 12]
ABC AF retirees donate $300 to Tetzlaff Special Education class
By Helen M. Brown It was a bittersweet Council meeting on Tuesday, March 22, 2011 when Mayor Gordon Stefenhagen performed the last of his mayoral duties for the City of Norwalk. He was up for election this year but voluntarily stepped down. He said, "After 18 years, it is time to retire." During these last 18 years, Gordon has worked tirelessly for the City and his constituents. He is very organized and dedicated. It will be hard to replace him in the many jobs he has held. He has worked diligently and tirelessly on the many councils and committees he has served on. He instigated and chaired the Night of a Thousand Stars for 13 years. This [See NORWALK Page 15]
Gayle Pekrul, President of the ABC AF Retirees and Rosalie Gomez present a check in the amount of $300 to Tetzlaff teacher Nicole Chiazza for her special education students participation in the Special Games to be held at Cal State Fullerton on May 6. Looking on are para-educators Daniel Lopez, Marilyn Knight, Karen Villwoock, Virginia Rodriguez and Tetzlaff Vice Principal Tom Woodward.
The Hawaiian Gardens council approved a one-year amnesty program waiving building permit penalty fees and demolition permit fees to single-family homes and duplex properties that are owner occupied. In his report to the council Community Development Director Joseph Colombo said one of the most prevalent code violations is related to garage conversions and structures that were built without a permit. He said the purpose of the permit is to help protect the citizens homes, neighbors and infrastructure of the City from hazards associated with fire, overcrowding, improper construction techniques or structural failures. He said the program is for those residents that voluntarily notify the City that potential construction activity may have occurred in the past without securing the [See FEES Page 15]
Cerritos co-sponsors "Japan Relief Concert" April 17 at Cerritos Park East The City of Cerritos is co-sponsoring a "3.11 Japan Relief Concert" to raise funds for the people of Japan affected by the devastating March 11 earthquake and tsunami. The concert will be held at the Cerritos Park East Community Center at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 17. Cerritos Park East is located at 13234 E. 166th Street in Cerritos. The concert will feature the 3.11 Japan Relief String Orchestra, comprised of 19 musicians who perform with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The orchestra will be conducted by Richard M. Elegino, a violist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Elegino and the musicians are donating their time and talent for the concert. The City is providing the venue [See CONCERT Page 15]
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By Jerry Bernstein s part of his 2011-12 budget for the new fiscal year beginning July 1 Governor Jerry Brown has proposed all Redevelopment Agencies in California be closed down by July 1. This has resulted in the cities that have a Redevelopment Agency to transfer agency owned property to their cities. At its Mar. 22 meeting of the Hawaiian Gardens city council, Mayor Pro Tem Michi Oyama-Canada asked if the city’s Redevelopment Agency closed what would it mean to Hawaiian Gardens. City Finance Director David Sung said the city would lose approximately $45 million over a period of 15 years. Sung told the council without the Redevelopment Agency, the city would not have been able to purchase the Carson Avenue site where the city library is lo-
Hawaiian Gardens Council approves one-year amnesty for code violation fees
DONNY LOST
Cities move to protect redevelopment agency property from state takeover