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Including Inglewood Airport Area • Baldwin Hills • Crenshaw/LA • Ladera Heights VOL. 23, No. 37
September 11, 2014
Missing Planes at Libyan Airport Fuels Concern Over 9/11 Attacks
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ill Islamic militants commemorate September 11th with a re-enactment of the U.S. terrorist attacks? Reports have surfaced that at least 11 commercial jetliners are missing from the main airport in Libya’s capital of Tripoli. There are fears that militants will mark the 13th anniversary of 9/11 by using the jets in attacks in Europe, North Africa and elsewhere. The U.S. is not expected to be a target. The date also marks the second anniversary of the Libyan terrorist attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi that killed four Americans, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens. The Huffington Post and conservative news website, the Washington Free Beacon (www.freebeacon. com) both cited anonymous intelligence sources who confirmed the reports. Nei-
On The Inside: • News • Community • Entertainment • Health • Real Estate • Business
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pple has announced in traditional Apple fashion, what new gizmos and gadgets will be on the market in the future. The world responded Tuesday as a new raft of products, including a mobile wallet, were unveiled. Apple will team up with retailers like target and restaurants like McDonald’s, as well as the three major credit card com(Continued on page 12)
By Veronica Mackey
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id the NFL try to downplay Ray Rice’s violent attack against wife Janay to justify its wrist-slap penalty? When did executives see the newly-released elevator footage which slows the football player knocking Janay out with a punch to the face? Conflicting reports about the attack, which cost Rice his job with the Baltimore Ravens and suspension from the NFL on Monday, has the NFL playing defense. How much was known by the NFL about the elevator incident before the league imposed a 2-game suspension? Top NFL management claimed they just saw the ther officials from the State video last week. But a forDepartment nor the White mer worker at the Revel HoHouse National Security tel and Casino in Atlantic Council could confirm anything about missing airliners. The aircraft was allegedly stolen when Libyan militants overran the airport last month, damaging much of the airport and its aircraft. Videos have been (Continued on page 5) Ray and Janay Rice City, where the incident occurred, who saw Janay laying out cold on the floor, said the NFL viewed the footage months ago. The attack occurred back in February—plenty of time for the NFL to obtain a copy of the footage and take appropriate action. The couple were not married then, but tied the knot a month later. The video, about 3 minutes long, shows the couple arguing in the elevator. Ray hits first, Janay hits back, then Ray delivers the punch which (Continued on page 8)
What Can Inglewood Learn from Apple? By Thomas Bunn
NFL Response Questionable
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Inglewood Today
Page 2
September 11, 2014
Community
The School-Readiness Gap and Preschool Benefits for Children of Color – Part 2 By Farah Ahmad and Katie Hamm
English language learners There is considerable overlap between English language learners and Hispanic children in the existing studies of state preschool programs. Several state preschool evaluations, however, have specifically looked at the impact on children from homes where English is not the primary language or those children with limited English proficiency. In most cases, the vast majority of children spoke Spanish as their primary language. Every study that looked at this population found substantial benefits to children who participated in preschool. Spanish-speaking children in Tulsa’s preschool program made substantial language gains but also made gains in early literacy and math skills. Researchers estimate that the gains made by Spanish-speaking children are comparable to those made in the landmark Perry Preschool Project and the Abecedarian project, both of which have documented long-term gains for children throughout their life cycles, including reduced crime and teen pregnancy, higher earnings, and reduced participation in public assistance programs. In comparison to other Hispanic children enrolled in Tulsa’s preschool program, English language learners and children with at least one parent born in Mexico made the most significant gains. In Georgia, Spanish-speaking children improved on a range of language and literacy, math, and general-knowledge assessments. On several domains, gains made by Spanish-speaking children were much higher than in the full sample. Spanish-speaking children made particularly large gains in vocabulary— both receptive and expressive—and mathematical problem solving. In Tennessee, non-native English speakers made larger gains than English speakers. Non-native English speakers who attended preschool had 85 percent greater gains on measures of language development than did other non-native English speakers who did not attend preschool. Native English speakers who attended preschool also made gains when compared to those who did not attend, but those gains were 27 percent higher. Looking forward Today’s preschoolers will soon be the pillars of our country’s economy. But before they join the labor force and contribute to strengthening our nation’s economy, these children of color must first successfully navigate the school experience. Chil-
dren of color are already almost half of the pre-K-12 population—in 2010, white students made up 54 percent of the national pre-K-12 student population, a fall from just a decade earlier, in 1990, when white students made up 67 percent of the pre-K-12 population. Completing high school will not be enough for many people to make a family-supporting living in the future. In fact, just five years from now, in 2018, 45 percent of all jobs will require an associate’s degree or higher. But today, only 27 percent of African
tion. According to the poll, 88 percent of respondents viewed the fact that, “Forty-eight percent of black eighth graders and 43 percent of Latino eighth graders score below basic on math and reading tests, compared to 17 percent of whites” as a very serious or a serious problem. What’s more heartening is that Americans do not view this as a problem that exists in a silo: Survey results showed that Americans strongly support a new equity agenda designed to reduce racial and ethnic inequality. More than
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Americans, 26 percent of U.S.-born Hispanics, and 14 percent of Hispanic women immigrants have that level of education. As communities of color become an increasingly large share of the U.S. workforce, this is especially troubling. If rates of educational attainment remain where they are today, and the training and education required for jobs becomes more rigorous, we will not have a workforce prepared for the future. Census projections over the next 10 years show there will be 36 million job openings that will require some education beyond high school, but we will not have the workers to fill those jobs; indeed, we will fall short by an estimated 5 million workers. Preparing our future workforce benefits not only individuals and their families but also our nation’s economy. Had we closed the academic-performance gaps of African American and Hispanic students in 2008, the United States would have gained between $310 billion and $525 billion in gross domestic product, or GDP. Although we did not do it then, we have the opportunity to do it now. Americans are ready. A recent nationwide poll, released in October 2013 by the Center for American Progress, shows that gaps in education levels for African Americans and Hispanics are viewed as one of the most serious problems associated with inequality in our na-
70 percent of respondents support taking steps toward achieving this agenda through investments in areas such as education, job training, and infrastructure improvement, including a majority of support from non-Hispanic whites. Furthermore, more than half of Americans—54 percent—say such steps would help the economy overall, and a 61 percent majority of Americans say they would be willing to invest “significantly more public funds to help close [the] gap in college graduation rates” between African American and Hispanic students and their white peers. Closing these gaps in college graduation rates begins with closing the gaps before they start to grow and requires investing in early childhood education. Better access to preschool programs will give all children a better chance of being school ready, successfully finishing high school, and being career ready. Investing in early childhood education means that our country and our economy stand to gain significantly and that we will become a more prosperous America for future generations. The good news is that Americans have the resolve to see it accomplished. Farah Z. Ahmad is a Policy Analyst for Progress 2050 at the Center for American Progress. Katie Hamm is the Director of Early Childhood Policy at the Center.
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September 11, 2014
Inglewood Today
Page 3
Community
Facilities Proposal for IUSD Envisions New Schools, State-of-the-Art Facilities
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nglewood Unified School District will gather public feedback on Sept. 22 for an initial proposal to transform its facilities. It includes ideas for replacing older elementary campuses with stateof-the-art learning environments, building a new Inglewood High School from the ground up, and moving the central office to a threestory building, partially occupied by the District. The 146-page document compiled by Caldwell Flores Winters, a firm specializing in school facilities planning and finance, and the architectural firm Flewelling & Moody, examined current conditions of schools throughout IUSD and prioritized projects, taking into account the age and conditions of buildings, airportrelated and other environmental impacts, enrollment needs and more. The proposed Facilities Implementation Plan also lists potential funding sources, including $90 million from Bond Measure GG and possible State and airport mitigation monies. “We will do exactly what the voters of Inglewood asked of us; to provide world-class educational opportunities in world-class facilities that will best serve our stu-
dents and community,” said State Trustee Dr. Don Brann. The District has set a Sept. 22 public hearing to receive feedback and share the plan with the public. Brann will consider all input before voting to approve the document at a separate meeting, giving IUSD a blueprint for rebuilding and improving its facilities. The public
Inglewood High School hearing will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the Board Room of the District Office at 401 S. Inglewood Ave. Brann will then meet with stakeholders from affected sites, and working as teams, will plan the design features of the new schools. It is a process that could take many months, but ensures mutual collaboration and ownership over the design of each facility. It is a process Brann employed to great effect in other districts he has led. “To envision a new school that
truly serves the end user, you must plan and work closely with the people who will share and use the space,” said Brann. “Doing so will result in a facility that most closely fits the needs of the community it serves.” The facilities proposal “has the potential to make the District not merely competitive with nearby alternatives, but in fact the most compelling educational choice available to Inglewood families,” the authors state. The design firms have proposed that the District focus its attention first on two sites near the city center: Oak Street Elementary and Inglewood High School. A Phase I implementation plan includes a series of carefully considered moves designed to limit students’ exposure to construction activity. They include: • Relocating District Office employees from 401 S. Inglewood Ave. to the mostly-vacant Inglewood Community Adult School building (which already houses some District staff) at 106 E. Manchester Blvd. Adult School programs would move to the former location of the City Honors College Preparatory Academy at 115 W. Kelso St. • Building a new K-8 campus to
replace Oak Street Elementary at the soon-to-be former District Office site on Inglewood Avenue, with an emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) and with a dualimmersion language academy. Oak Street School, an aging facility, currently sits under the LAX flight path and in close proximity to the San Diego (405) Freeway. • Leveling Inglewood High, which is the District’s largest high school and among the oldest school sites, and building a new multistory state-of-the-art facility in its place. During construction, Inglewood High students would temporarily occupy the new K-8 school. The existing Oak Street campus would continue to serve elementary students until work is completed on Inglewood High. Phase I also includes a proposal to upgrade Bennett-Kew Elementary in the southern part of Inglewood, convert the school to a K-8 campus, and replace portable classrooms with a new 30-classroom building. This would allow for enrollment to expand in the future. The District estimates that completing Phase I could take at least five years. Phase II of the plan will begin soon after, focusing on rede(Continued on page 5)
Inglewood Today
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September 11, 2014
Eye on the City
Council Chambers Get an Upgrade
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By Veronica Mackey
ity Council Chambers welcomed the public back after a 2-week recess, with 3 new video screens and district maps adorning the wood grain walls. The monitors will enhance the viewing of televised council meetings and make it easier for the public to see live presentations. “I like the new system here,” said City Treasurer Wanda Brown. “This is fantastic.” “When they (public) watch the meetings at home, they will see an amplified view,” Councilman Eloy Morales said City Manager Artie Fields congratulated those who worked on the “Relay for Life” event to raise awareness and funds for the American Cancer Society. “Our city was chosen because of its continuous growth in fundraising and networking. Parks, Recreation and Library Services Director, Sabrina Barnes, will represent
Inglewood at a leadership summit in Dallas on Sept 19 and 20. Treasurer Brown has spent time shopping for new investments to increase Inglewood’s revenue. She recently bought $1 million worth of certificates of deposit on the City’s behalf. “The CDs all have a rate of 2 percent, which is better than the current bond rate,” she said. A long time Inglewood resident came to thank Mayor Butts’ office of helping her mother get her water turned back on. “I am here because they turned off my mom’s water. She is on oxygen, her last wish is to stay in her home. They turned off the water the same day they started giving out vouchers. No one ever once told us that we have money coming in every year. In 15 minutes our water was turned on. The Mayor’s Office did everything.” “We need to take advantage that we can call the mayor and you may
get him on the phone,” said long time resident Ray Davis. “Try that in L.A. You’ll go through half a dozen people and you won’t get anything. This town is small enough to have a voice.” An Inglewood woman wanted to know what is being done to bring about fresher food options. “I shouldn’t have to drive to Mar Vista or some other city to get organic food. I have to drive 5 miles to Trader Joe’s.” She suggested that a market could be built on the vacant lot at Crenshaw and 85th Street. She also wants the City to do something about the high grass and unkempt area around the old Warren Lane School site. “The city doesn’t own the school building. You would have to go to the school board meeting,” Mayor Butts said. A man who does not live within the noise contour area—and was
hoping he could get help to insulate his home through the City’s program-- got news from Mayor Butts that he did not want to hear. “Cities signed on that if they ever challenged the contours, they would not get the funding from the FAA. The FAA is not going to change the contours. They (residents) will have to pay for it themselves. They (FAA) are shrinking (the number of home insulations) come 2015. That’s why we are really working hard. There is not going to be any going back to LAWA (Los Angeles World Airports). They don’t have the power.” The agenda was light, but councilmembers were in a talking mood. Everybody wanted another minute. Councilman George Dotson congratulated Ability First on their recent ribbon-cutting and grand reopening in the First District. The (Continued on page 8)
Pick up your copy of Inglewood Today at one of these locations: 1 Stop Mini-Mart, 420 E. Florence Ave. A-Man Inc., 101 La Brea Ave. Airport Gas, 501 Hillcrest St. Allstate, 2300 W. Manchester Bl. Bayou Grill, 1400 N. La Brea Ave. Boston Cream Donuts, 2576 La Brea Ave. Bourbon Street Fish & Grill, 601 S. Prairie Ave. Briarwood, 3500 Manchester Bl. Broadway Federal Bank, 170 N. Market St. Brolly Hut Barber Shop on 109th & Crenshaw Bruno’s Pizza, 450 E. Manchester Bl. Budda Market, 3753 Slauson (Rimpau) C&J Beauty Supply, 11252 Crenshaw Bl. Carlton Square, 8700 Carlton Centinela Hospital, 555 E. Hardy St. Chili’s, 3490 W. Century Bl. Chile Verde on Crenshaw Choice Berry, 599 1/2 S. La Brea Ave. City One Stop, 110 Queen St. Cranford Scott, M.D., 211 N. Prairie Ave. CVS Pharmacy, 222 N. Market St. Darby Park, 3400 W. Arbor Vitae Dulan’s Soul Food Kitchen #1, 202 E. Manchester Bl. Dulan’s Soul Food Kitchen #2, 3249 W. Century Bl. Edward Vincent Park Senior Ctr., 700 Warren Lane Fabulous Burger, 1315 Centinela Ave., Family Fish Market, 1300 Centinela Ave. Fiesta Martin Mexican Grill, 1330 N. La Brea Ave. Gin’s Liquor, 11001 Crenshaw Bl. Gonzales Northgate Market, 10801 Prairie Ave. Heart & Soul Grill, 128 N. Market St. Hollywood Park Casino, 1050 S. Prairie Ave. Inglewood Airport Area, 330 E. Queen St. Inglewood Park Cemetery, 720 E. Florence Ave. Inglewood Community Police Ctr., Manchester/7th Ave. Inglewood City Hall, 1 West Manchester Bl. Inglewood Library, 101 W. Manchester Bl. Inglewood Meadows, 1 Locust St. Inglewood Park Mortuary, 3801 W. Manchester Bl. Inglewood Police Station, 1 West Manchester Bl. Inglewood Today, 949 S. La Brea Ave. Inglewood Unified School District, 401 S. Inglewood Ave. In the Kut Barber Shop on 109th & Crenshaw Jamba Juice, 5305 W. Centinela Ave. King Fish Market, 10901 Crenshaw Bl. KJLH Radio, 161 N. La Brea Ave. Ladera Physiotherapy, 409 S. La Brea Ave.
Lan’s Nails, 10901 S. Crenshaw Bl. Lawrence Carey Barber Shop, 10901 S. Crenshaw Bl. Liquorette Liquor Store, 1400 Centinela Ave. Louisiana Fried Chicken, 170 La Brea Lucy Laundromat across from Sizzler’s on Manchester M&M’s Soul Food on Manchester M&M’s Soul Food (new) on Crenshaw Martino’s Liquor, 706 E. Manchester Bl. Mike’s Deli, 4859 W. Slauson Ave. Moby’s Breakfast & Lunch, 3008 W. Manchester Bl. Morningside Adult Day Care, 3216 W. Manchester Bl. Nix Check Cashing, 140 E. Manchester Nix Check Cashing on Crenshaw & 110th Osage Senior Villas, 924 S. Osage Pann’s, 6710 La Tijera Bl. Pay Day Loans on Crenshaw & 110 Pep Boys, 200 E. Spruce Ave. Red Lobster, 3400 W. Century Bl. Regal Cleaners, 700 E. Manchester Bl. Regency Towers, 123 Locust St. Regent Plaza, 201 Regent St. Roger’s Park, 400 W. Beach Ave. Scottie’s Gumbo & Grill, 945 S. Prairie Ave. Sizzler’s, Manchester/Prairie Smoke 4 Less, 925 N. La Brea Spa 313 Salon, 313 La Brea Starbucks, 5301 Centinela Ave. Starbucks, 941 N. La Brea Ave. Starbucks on Century Stuff I Eat, 114 N. Market St. Super Fish Market, 11007 S Crenshaw Bl. Superior Groceries, 11202 S Crenshaw Bl. The Serving Spoon, 1403 Centinela Ave. TGIFriday’s, 6721 La Tijera Bl. True Vine Baptist Church, 1437 Centinela Ave. Union Bank, 6719 La Tijera Bl. Vons, 500 E. Manchester Bl. Walgreens on Century Westchester Villa Senior Living, 220 W. Manchester Bl. Whole Foods, 4508 Overhill (Slauson) Winchell’s Donuts, 2601 W. Manchester Bl. Winchell’s Donut Shop on Crenshaw near 108th St. Wings Stop on Century Wise Tires & Brakes, 949 S. La Brea Ave. Woody’s Barbeque, 4751 S. Market St. Yvonne B. Burke Senior Center, 4750 62nd St. (La Brea)
Inglewood Today
September 11, 2014
P u b l i s h e r ’ s Me s s a g e
Ask and Receive
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t’s a new school year and teachers are welcoming students with eager young minds, excited to learn. Whether you are in school now or your school days were over eons ago, one thing has not changed. The student who raises his or her hand, is the one who finds the answer. Those who do not ask are often relieved when someone else has the boldness to ask the question they want answered. In life we often miss out on opportunities simply because we don’t know and therefore do not ask. Other times, we might think we know but won’t find out for sure. Then, there are times when fear, pride or shyness gets in the way. At the last council meeting, one woman spoke up about a benefit offered through the City of Inglewood that she did not know she was entitled to. She was pleasantly surprised and wanted others to know. Did you know that you are entitled to an annual reimbursement of water fees? The reimbursement will go a long way, she said, to help her ailing mother whose water had been cut off due to nonpayment. People complain a lot about government inefficiency, but there is no one better to offer help in a time of emergency. There are no private companies that can match government in helping you survive with basic living needs. You might be surprised to know just how much service is available to you if you will only ask. Government, churches and nonprofits offer a variety of programs to help families—everything from job training to food, transportation, clothing, substance abuse counseling, access to medical care, low-cost auto insurance, youth programs, food subsidies, housing subsidies, child care and more.
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Willie Brown, Publisher, Inglewood Today Weekly While the economy has come a long way since the Great Recession 6 years ago, there are still a lot of people who are recovering. So if you are one of them, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Raise your hand! Just asking in itself is a relief. It gives others an opportunity to help. And if you have a need, the fact that you are even thinking about it may be a clue that the help you need is available. Again you need to ask. Sometimes people will struggle to keep up with their neighbors, when they could have obtained what they needed right at home. There are many sayings and clichés about asking which we should follow: “Ask and receive,” and “The only silly question is the one you don’t ask.” One of my favorites is, “You never get the right answers in life until you ask the right questions.” I would encourage anyone facing a difficult time to reach out to your neighbors and your district representatives. You will never know how you might have been helped unless you make your needs known. Ask and you will receive.
Just Saying... Controlling your tongue is a skill worth having. Yvonne Horton
Facilities Proposal for IUSD Envisions New Schools, State-of-the-Art Facilities (Continued from page 3) veloping, rebuilding and upgrading more sites in the southern areas of Inglewood, including Morningside High School. “Inglewood is a city of destiny, with future projects planned throughout the city that will truly transform and upgrade the lives of all,” said Brann. “IUSD will remain ahead of the curve and fully participate in this transformation.” To read excerpts from the facilities proposal, visit the District’s website at www.iusd.net or call (310) 419-2700.
Inglewood High Football Team Seeks Funding for Meals
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ith reports that the Inglewood school district is still plagued by financial trouble, nearly two years after a state takeover, an Inglewood coach is taking matters into his own hands. Jason Miller, coach of the Inglewood High School Sentinels, has created an online campaign to raise funds to feed his football team, which he said doesn’t have enough to eat. He has created a donation page on the popular crowd funding site, Indiegogo. An excerpt reads:
“Our school district is broke. In 2013 the state of California took over the entire operations of the Inglewood Unified School District, because the state was in such financial peril. Thus, there is a drought on funds, and no availability for essential purchases for our Inglewood High football team…” The plea for help, which describes students as “poor,” notes that Inglewood High is competing with their South Bay neighbors from more affluent schools in “Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, and the bluffs of Donald
Trump’s Rancho Palos Verdes playground.” It asks for donations to purchase pre-game meals during the 14-game season, adding that “It is inhumane to ask our players to play under Friday night lights on an empty stomach. WE NEED YOUR HELP.” The site asks for donations of $50, $100 or $200. Donors will receive hats, helmets, t-shirts and/or game tickets, depending on their level of contribution. To donate to the Inglewood High Football meal fund, visit https://www.indiegogo. com/projects/help-feed-inglewood-sfootball-team
Missing Planes at Libyan Airport Fuels Concern Over 9/11 Attacks (Continued from page 1) released online of militants posing next to the jetliners. Islamistallied militias have seized virtually all of the capital. Strict air traffic monitoring and higher security measures, due to the 9/11 anniversary, make it unlikely terrorists would attempt to fly stolen planes into the U.S. Airliners are required to file flight plans before entering U.S. airspace, and airtraffic monitors would be looking for aircraft matching the description of any stolen planes, according to Jeffrey Price an aviation security expert. An airliner could try to fly below radar to avoid detection, but the U.S. military has developed systems to detect and stop low flying threats, he said. Price added, however, that most countries near Libya, including those in Europe, do not have the same air-defense capabilities and would be more at risk. In the past four months, a renegade general has battled Islamic militants in the eastern city of Benghazi—cradle of the 2011 uprising that toppled Moammar Gadhafi—as powerful regional militias have fought for control of the Tripoli airport. About 150,000 people have fled Libya during the fighting and another 100,000 have been internally displaced, according to a United Nations report.
Inglewood Today
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September 11, 2014
C o MMUNITY
Inglewood Mayor James Butts to Hold Town Hall Meeting on September 13 The possibility of the NFL coming to Inglewood, public safety, the budget and more on the agenda
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nglewood Mayor James Butts will hold a town hall meeting on Saturday, September 13 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 400West Inglewood Boulevard in Inglewood. The event is free and open to the public. In his semiannual address to the public, Mayor Butts will review this year’s accomplishments and share upcoming milestones in 2015. Agenda items include the city budget, major development projects, the possibility of bringing a national football team to the city of Inglewood, the Hollywood Park Project and jobs for local residents, the reconstruction of Centinela Hospital, and the redevelopment of Market Street in downtown Inglewood. Congresswoman Maxine Waters
By 2UrbanGirls
39 years of public service including two decades as an Inglewood police officer before ultimately rising to the rank of Deputy Chief of Police. He served as the Chief of Police in the City of Santa Monica and retired as one of the longest serving police chiefs in the County of Los Angeles from the Los Angeles World Airports system where he was responsible for Public Safety and Counter-Terrorism. Located in Los Angeles County, Mayor James T. Butts in front of the Forum the City of Inglewood has a popula(D-CA) will make a presentation on Members of the Inglewood City tion of approximately 110,000 resifederal legislation issues relative to Council as well as the City Manag- dents as of the 2010 U.S. Census. Inglewood residents and the Ingle- er will also be present at the event. For more information about the wood Chief of Police Mark FronMayor Butts was first elected as City of Inglewood, visit www.cityof terotta will discuss public safety the 12th Mayor of the City of Ingle- inglewood.org or call (310) 412-5300. as well as crime statistics to date. wood in 2011. He has a combined
Fiesta! at the Adobe
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Vacant Thrifty Oil Gas Station to Become a Community Center
By Anne Cheek La Rose
or the 15th year, the Historical Society of the Centinela Valley invites you to attend their Fiesta! on the grounds of the Centinela Adobe, the birthplace of Inglewood. The free event is Sunday, September 14, Noon-4PM at 7634 Midfield Avenue, Los Angeles 90045. Step back in time as you stroll the grounds and listen to Mariachis, watch Folklorico dancers, and enjoy the Piñata Party. You will also see a bit of Rancho life in the demonstrations of lace making and wool spinning for clothing, and butter churning. You can even have a taste of the fresh-churned butter that early settlers used. Enjoy authentic period foods (at very small prices). There will be period authentic warm handmade tortillas, quesadillas, and pan dulce
Anne Cheek La Rose Machado Adobe, built in 1834, and the Freeman Land Office, from 1887. The Adobe is the birthplace of Inglewood, and the seat of Centinela Rancho, the name of the combined Rancho Sausal Redondo and Rancho Aquaje de la Centinela. Originally part of Inglewood, the Adobe was cut off from the rest of our city by the construction of the San Diego Freeway in the 1960s. Though it is still part of Inglewood, the Adobe now sits in the Los Angeles suburb of Photo courtesy of the City of Inglewood Westchester. (sweet breads), just the way they Inside the Adobe you’ll explore were made in the Rancho days. how the residents lived in the VictoTour the historic buildings, rian era of the late 1800s. The Ado-
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or several years, the old vacant Thrifty Oil Company gas station, at the corner of La Cienega Blvd. and Fairview Ave., has been an eyesore. Many residents have complained and demanded that something else be built in its place. The current plan is to transform the gas station into a community center for Inglewood residents and organizations. Construction at
the site is expected to begin within the next few months. The public is invited to attend a presentation by Marc Berg, a Thrifty Oil representative, Mayor James Butts and Councilman Alex Padilla, at the Mayor’s Town Hall Meeting, Saturday, September 13, 2014, at 11am at The Living Room, 400 W. Florence Bl., 90301.
be was continuously occupied for 141 years, from the Machado family who built it in 1834, through a succession of owners and caretakers into the mid-1970s. The Adobe has been furnished in the Victorian style, as that was the period in which Daniel Freeman, founder of Inglewood, and his family lived there. Attached to the Adobe structure is the Armed Services Memorial Room. This room has photos and other fascinating memorabilia from American wars. Step into the Daniel Freeman Land Office to discover what a land office of the period was like. Also in the land office are artifacts
of early Inglewood, among them, an 1888 map of the city, displays of the Inglewood Poultry Colony and Chinchilla Farm, as well as bits and pieces of various other early businesses. If all this weren’t enough to entice you, displays of the beginning of the aerospace defense and exploration industry, right here in Inglewood, will be available for viewing. Inglewood has a marvelously diverse history and this is your chance to learn all about it. So, gather the whole family and spend the afternoon at the Centinela Adobe Fiesta!
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Inglewood Today
September 11, 2014
Page 7
E n t e r ta i n m e n t
Joan’s Star-Studded Send-Off!
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tar-studded and all the paparazzi a girl could want. That’s what Joan Rivers got for her Sept. 7 funeral at the Temple Emanu-El in New York. The beloved comedian and host of E’s “Fashion Police,” who died Sept. 4 after complications developed from throat surgery, often joked about her death and planned her own funeral in great detail: “When I die, I want my funeral to be a huge showbiz affair with lights, cameras, action...I want Craft services, I want paparazzi and I want publicists making a scene! I want it to be Hollywood all the way. I don’t want some rabbi
the red carpet into primetime.” Daughter Melissa Rivers had the audience howling as she recalled a letter she’d written to her mother while she was still alive, according to People. Other celebrities included Whoopi Goldberg, Roseanne Barr, Andy
Cohen, Sarah Jessica Parker, Barbara Walters, Diane Sawyer, Joy Behar, Paul Shaffer, Hoda Kotb, Kathie Lee Gifford, Giuliana Rancic, Bernadette Peters, Clive Davis, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Deborah Norville, and Hugh Jackman.
Joan Rivers rambling on; I want Meryl Streep wind machine or toe tag, but there crying, in five different accents. was no shortage of star power. Holly “I don’t want a eulogy; I want wood A-listers filled the temple to Bobby Vinton to pick up my head honor the life of the pioneering womand sing “Mr. Lonely.” I want to an who paved the way for female look gorgeous, better dead than I comics in the 60s. Outside, bagpipe do alive. I want to be buried in a players paid homage to the star as Valentino gown and I want Harry fans lined the street. Winston to make me a toe tag. And Radio “shock jock” Howard I want a wind machine so that even Stern, who delivered the eulogy, in the casket my hair is blowing just noted: “She fought the stereotype like Beyoncé’s.” that women couldn’t be funny. It is not clear whether there was a She was responsible for putting
Melissa Rivers and her son
Sarah Jessica Parker and Whoopi Goldberg
Howard Stern and his wife, Beth
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September 11, 2014
He a lt h & F i t n e s s
How to Support a Loved One Who’s Fighting Cancer For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Woman Living with Incurable Cancer Offers 4 Suggestions
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hy about asking, “What’s the etiquette for supporting my loved one, friend or colleague in their battle against cancer?” many people simply avoid the question altogether—and offer nothing. “It’s okay to wonder, and it’s okay to ask. Be direct!” says Jane Schwartzberg, who has been battling stage 4 metastatic cancer for several years. She’s the co-author with Marcy Tolkoff Levy of “Naked Jane Bares All,”, which shares her story with candor and humor. www.nakedjanebaresall.com Jane was a 31-year-old newlywed when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent treatment and eventually was declared cancer free. She moved on with her life, giving birth to two children and launching a technology company. Then, when she was 42, the cancer returned. She’s now 45. “I’m a fighter, and the support I’ve received from my family and friends has given me an immeasurable amount of strength, without which I don’t know what I would
do,” Schwartzberg says. What are some suggestions for providing support? She offers these: • Do it without any expectations or requirements for a response. “I’m often asked, ‘What can I do to help?’ ” she says. “What I’ve suggested: Be in my life at my pace, let me take the lead; make your presence, availability and support known, but do it without any expectations or requirements for a response.” • Embrace their big dream, even if it doesn’t sound realistic. During a very low point, Schwartzberg was asked by a friend: If you could have anything, swinging for the fences, what would help you get out of this pit? Without skipping a beat, she answered, “I want to take [comedian] Larry David out to lunch.” As impossible as it seemed, her friend encouraged her to write to the co-creator of “Seinfeld”— and he accepted. “As terrible as having terminal cancer is, there is that undeniable quality of embracing every mo-
ment, including asking your heroes out to lunch,” Schwartzberg says. “Cancer brings out the boldness in people, which may entail a dream vacation to Hawaii. Don’t be afraid to embrace their wishes.” • Don’t hesitate to say, “You look beautiful,” when health has returned. After her chemotherapy treatments ended, Jane slowly started looking like her old self – healthy Jane, not cancer Jane. Part of reengaging with life is caring about the superficial things, at least to some extent. On the unforgettable day she met Larry David, the maître d had beforehand told her that she looked beautiful, to which Jane responded, “You have no idea how much I appreciate that.” • Don’t sugarcoat it. “If you want to really infuriate me, you’ll tell me that this whole mess is beshert, Yiddish for ‘meant to be’ —that it’s all part of a plan from a higher power,” she says. “Maybe terminal cancer is part of some crazy plan, but I promise you that these are the last things I want
to hear from anyone.” Don’t sugarcoat or try to put a positive spin on what’s going on —in fact, it’s more of a comfort to Jane when others acknowledge that her situation stinks and that she is looking at a life that’s far different from, and likely to be shorter than, anything she’d imagined. Jane Schwartzberg, 45, is the coauthor of the new book, “Naked Jane Bares All,” (www.nakedjanebaresall.com), the many-layered story—told with humor and candor —of how she learned to embrace life when she was down for the count. Jane is a financial services executive and founder and former CEO of a start-up technology company. “Naked Jane Bares All” was cowritten by veteran writer Marcy Tolkoff Levy. Following a year of interviews and many late nights with Jane, her family and friends, Marcy formed the foundation of a colorful, poignant and even humorous collection of vignettes about how Jane continues to get back up when life throws her down.
Eye on the City (Continued from page 4) center that offers services to those with special needs has been a mainstay in Inglewood since 1976. He also addressed the pothole problem on Century Blvd: “There were not potholes there, there were pot ditches. I made a call to public works, and that same day they went out and fixed those ditches. Please don’t think we don’t understand your problem because we go through the same problem. If you have a problem, call me.” “We all drive down Century Blvd., and all of our cars juggle like that and it’s time to get it fixed,” Morales said. Councilman Alex Padilla thanked Centinela Hospital CEO Linda Bradley and her staff for continuing to be on the cutting edge of healthcare. “It’s one of the best hospitals around,” Padilla said. He also reminded residents that they are wel-
come to attend any event in Inglewood, regardless of the district in which it is held. City Clerk Yvonne Horton announced there will be a voter registration drive on September 28 at the District Two Picnic. It will be held at North Park Councilman Ralph Franklin congratulated Board of Equalization Member Jerome Horton on a successful small business seminar. “I’m still getting feedback. I want to thank you for making that available here in Inglewood,” he told Horton, in the audience. Mayor Butts announced that the Inglewood Teen Center will have its one-year anniversary on September 25 from 3:30 to 5:00pm. He also commented on the new monitors: “This should be something we celebrate. We have a monitor for everyone in this council chamber to be able to see. When we pull up something on the Internet we can
see something live.” The council unanimously approved a number of requests recommended by staff in various departments, including: Denial of personal injury claims; purchase of office supplies; contracts with third parties for the provision of nonemergency medical
treatment of prisoners; swimming pool and water fountain maintenance; emergency generator replacement and HVAC installation. The council also approved the provision of free supper through the Child and Adult Care Food Program from September 15, 2014 through June 19, 2015.
NFL Response Questionable (Continued from page 1) knocks her off her feet. She smashes her head on the elevator hand rail and is knocked out cold. Janay appears unable to move when the elevator door opens, and Ray drags her out. Audio revealed hotel workers discussing how to handle the situation. One was heard saying,“She’s drunk, right?” And then, “No cops.” Rice was arrested at the hotel.
Hotair.com cites the Associated Press’ account of what happened: A law enforcement official says he sent a video of Ray Rice punching his then-fiancee to an NFL executive five months ago, while league executives have insisted they didn’t see the violent images until this week. The person played The Associated Press a 12-second voicemail from an NFL office number on April 9 confirming the video arrived. A female
voice expresses thanks and says: “You’re right. It’s terrible.” According to Hotair, “A spokesman for the New Jersey AG’s office says it would have been illegal for the local DA to share a copy of the tape with an outside entity like the NFL while the grand jury was weighing charges, which may explain why the AP’s source is so keen on anonymity here.” On Tuesday, Ray told ESPN,
Metro Fare Increase
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n September 15, 2014, Metro is changing its bus and rail fares. The change was approved by the Metro Board of Directors on May 22, 2014. Under the new fare structure, a 1-Way Trip purchased using a TAP card will include transfers to other Metro lines for up to two hours to complete a one-way trip. If the fare is paid using cash,
transfers will not be included. Complete details on the new fares can be found at metro.net/fares. Visit the ‘Fare Change Frequently Asked Questions’ or call 323.GO.METRO for more details on the transition to new fares. To learn more about available fare assistance programs, please visit Metro’s reduced fare and subsidy programs.
“[Janay] is so strong. We are in good spirits.” He continued, “We have a lot of people praying for us and we’ll continue to support each other. I have to be there for [Janay] and my family right now and work through this.” Janay said she loves and supports her husband and wants people to respect their privacy.
Inglewood Today
September 11, 2014
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Business
Oops, My Bad!
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Five Ways Your Business Can Improve by Admitting to Mistakes
istakes are a fact of life. No matter how much you try, you can’t completely avoid making them. And according to Michael Houlihan, they can actually help to improve your company’s effectiveness and reputation if you handle them well. It seems our society has turned dodging responsibility into an art form. From celebrities who insist that a brush with the law was all a big misunderstanding to political figures who use spin and double-speak to blame everything on the other side, no one wants to admit it when they mess up. If you’re a business leader, the temptation to use this strategy is huge. After all, your customers are paying you to get it right, so the last thing you want is for them to know that you’ve made a mistake, right? Maybe not. According to Michael Houlihan, when your company admits to mistakes in a constructive way, you won’t damage your brand in the way you feared. In fact, you have a valuable opportunity to gain respect and loyalty. “You and your company are not judged by how well you do when
you’re good, but by how well you do when you’re bad,” shares Houlihan, coauthor along with Bonnie Harvey of The Barefoot Spirit: How Hardship, Hustle, and Heart Built America’s #1 Wine Brand (coming in May 2013 from Evolve Publishing). “The fact is, everyone—and every company—makes mistakes. Denying that they have happened usually exacerbates and magnifies an already awkward situation, because chances are, you aren’t fooling anyone and you appear insincere. “In fact, in a very real way, trying to dodge responsibility can hurt your reputation more than simply owning up to the mistake in the first place,” he adds. Houlihan speaks from experience. He and Harvey are the founders of Barefoot Cellars, the company that transformed the image of American wine from staid and unimaginative to fun, lighthearted, and hip. And when they started the company in the laundry room of a rented Sonoma County farmhouse, they knew almost nothing about winemaking or the wine business. “As you might imagine, we made
many mistakes over the years as the business grew,” admits Houlihan. “Some of them even caused us to worry that Barefoot might not survive. So early on, Bonnie and I made a conscious decision to confront our mistakes, and to view them as opportunities to learn and grow. I believe that attitude is part of what ultimately made Barefoot Cellars successful.” Honestly and humbly admitting to missteps, Houlihan and Harvey found, often diffuses a tense situation instead of exacerbating it. And as time passes, they say, people tend to remember more clearly how you handled the mistake as opposed to what it was. If you’re ready to face up to your company’s mistakes and turn them into building blocks, read on for five of Houlihan’s suggestions on handling your next business “my bad”: Cop to it. Yes, it’s uncomfortable to admit that your company did something wrong. Uttering that mea culpa involves swallowing your pride and acknowledging that you are not, in fact, perfect (which is an illusion that our culture encourages us to zeal-
ously cultivate). But the sooner you admit to the error, the more you reduce the drama…and the faster you can move on to the next, more important stage: what you are going to do about the situation. “People actually like a little imperfection now and then,” points out Houlihan. “It demonstrates a level of authenticity, vulnerability, and humanity with which we all can identify. Plus, it’s harder to be angry with someone who says, ‘You’re right—I messed up,’ than with someone who insists the fault doesn’t lie with him…even though you know it does. And it’s difficult—if not downright impossible—to make any constructive progress if the responsible party refuses to admit there’s a problem.” Recognize how it happened. If you admit fault but then put the incident behind you, guess what? You’ve just increased the chances that it will happen again. It’s very important to investigate how and why an error occurred, so that you can fix the faulty procedure or process. That’s why Barefoot made sure employees weren’t afraid to (Continued on page 10)
Tips for the Budding Social Entrepreneur
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ome people think the purpose of being an entrepreneur is to operate a organization and make a profit. Making a profit is even harder when—at the same time—you have a socially conscious business model. Bring a down economic climate into the mix and you may believe that now is not the best time to think about a career as a social entrepreneur. Keep in mind that despite a poor financial environment many forprofit businesses were founded during an economic depression. So if you think you have what it takes, this article provides you with some guidance on what you should consider when you start your social enterprise. Exactly what is a social enterprise? Corporations that have baked into their DNA the need to do good along with make money can be regarded as a social enterprise. Companies that want to develop affordable stoves to villagers for cooking are considered social enterprises. Exxon Mobile contributing money to the local community
By Joe Morton
is not. The main difference is that the social benefits are not their primary objective.
gy start-up community as a model for the types of people you should employ. These entrepreneurs have a lot Do you have what it takes? in common with those building Not everybody can be a social social enterprises. Primarily they entrepreneur. David Bornstein’s look at problems as challenges and book How to Change the World will step out of standard ways of breaks down the qualities one thinking to fix an issue. must have to be a successful social Tech entrepreneurs are capable entrepreneur. They are: of doing more with less. They are 1. Determination to identify prob- a great resource for human capital lems and correct the approach for your organization. 2. Determination to share reward with other people Don’t be concerned about 3. Determination to break free of making money existing structures Just because you are running a 4. Determination to cross disci- company that’s trying to help othplinary boundaries ers doesn’t mean you can’t make 5. Determination to work quietly a profit. 6. Good ethical judgment There are many of instances of for-profit businesses that are also Hire smart doing social good. Some examples Social enterprises generally pay of these companies include: less than other kinds of compa- • Academic Earth—An angel nies. Just because that is the case backed website that aspires to doesn’t mean you ought to settle grow access to high quality edufor less expertise. cation for free online and evenRealize where your strengths are tually make the for-profit busiand then seek out like-minded inness maintainable through ad dividuals that share your vision. sales and affiliate marketing. You should look to the technolo- • Better World Books—An on-
line book seller that sells donated books to give to charity • BigBelly Solar—A business which makes solar powered trash compactors Acquiring a venture capitalist to invest isn’t your only option Many times, outside funds ought to be plan B. Once more, look at tech entrepreneurs as thought leaders. Build a structure that permits you to bootstrap yourself then, after you have a product you can seek funds at a higher valuation. Summary I’ve just provided you some food for thought as you consider whether or not to be a social entrepreneur. The economic climate is right for you to get started. If you have a great idea and vision to make it happen then you owe it to yourself to try. If you want to learn more about social entrepreneurs check out the http://www.socialentrepreneurguide.com.
Inglewood Today
Page 10
LEGAL NOTICES Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2014219047 The following Person is doing business as:
Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 2014218719 The following Person is doing business as:
Bass Procleaning 8307 ½ Crenshaw Dr. Inglewood, CA 90305
Hernandez Pest Control 1031 W. 62nd Street Los Angeles, CA 90044
Registered owner: Royce Bass, 3106 W. 84th Street, Apt. #5 Inglewood, CA 90305
Registered owner: Ramon Hernandez, 1031 W. 62nd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90044
This business is conducted by an individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business listed above on August 8, 2014.
This business is conducted by an individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business listed above on August 8, 2014.
I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime.) Royce Bass, Owner This statement was filed with the County Clerk on August 8, 2014
I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true information which he or she knows to be false is guilty of a crime.) Ramon Hernandez, Owner This statement was filed with the County Clerk on August 8, 2014
NOTICE-In accordance with Subdivision (a) of Section 17920, a Fictitious Name Statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the County Clerk, except as provided in Subdivision (b) of Section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A New Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before the expiration.
NOTICE-In accordance with Subdivision (a) of Section 17920, a Fictitious Name Statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the County Clerk, except as provided in Subdivision (b) of Section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A New Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before the expiration.
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 14411 et.seq., Business and Professions Code.) Original August 21, 28; September 4, 11, 2014 ITO0422301040 Inglewood Today
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 14411 et.seq., Business and Professions Code.) Original September 4, 11, 18, 25, 2014 ITO0422301041 Inglewood Today
Oops, My Bad! (Continued from page 9) make or report mistakes (those involving technical errors, that is—Houlihan is adamant that bad behavior or an inability to perform should not be overlooked). “Basically, our approach to mistakes was to say, ‘Congratulations! You found a new way to screw up, and that’s a good thing. We didn’t know that this could happen, but now that it has, we can keep it from happening again,’” recounts Houlihan. “Then we would brainstorm what went wrong and
make technical adjustments. Honestly, I think that large siloed organizations where you can be demoted, passed over, or even fired for a mistake are missing the boat. That’s because real progress in progressive companies is often built on the backs of mistakes and the improvements they spark.” Aim, don’t blame. What happens when a mistake involving your company really can be traced to someone else? While it’s easy (and temporarily satisfying) to point your finger and say, “Not my fault!” the truth is,
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if it happened on your watch and you are accountable for the finished product, you ultimately share the blame in the customer’s eyes. In this situation, get to the bottom of what happened and aim your focus on what you and your company can do on your end to prevent the situation from reoccurring. “This lesson was driven home to me during a business trip to Chicago,” recalls Houlihan. “I was supposed to show some new wines to retailers, and the samples had been shipped to my hotel. However, when
September 11, 2014
the package arrived, the hotel didn’t check to see that I was on the reservation list—they noticed only that I wasn’t currently occupying a room—and they sent the package back. Technically, my lack of samples wasn’t my fault, because the hotel didn’t do their due diligence. But to my buyers, all that mattered was that the new wines weren’t there. “From that point on, we at Barefoot worked to make sure that no package would ever be refused in error again,” he continues. “After some trial and error, every box of wine was ultimately decorated on all six sides with instructions to the hotel not to return the box, and details of when I would be arriving. We also included Barefoot’s contact information and instructed the reader to get in touch with the hotel manager, whom we had told to expect the package, before sending it back. Overkill? Not really. Because the problem was solved.” Write it down. If you successfully resolve a negative situation that was sparked by an error, then rub your hands together and continue with business as usual as if to say, “Yes, it happened, but it’s all cleaned up now,” then you’re making a second misstep. According to Houlihan, if you don’t write down what happened and how to avoid it, even you are in danger of making the same mistake again, and the same is doubly true of others. “When you are still smarting in the immediate aftermath of a fiasco, it’s easy to assume that you will always remember what you did wrong and that it will never, ever happen a second time,”
Houlihan points out. “But often, as life goes on and your focus inevitably shifts to other things, your memory can get fuzzy. Or you might fall back onto old habits unconsciously. And you certainly can’t pass your own experiences to everyone else in your company through osmosis. That’s why it’s crucial to take the lessons you learn and physically make them part of your company’s policies. This might mean writing a new procedure, checklist, or sign-off sheet, or drafting a new clause in a contract. But whatever you do, write it down!” Resolve that it won’t reoccur. Along with your apology, assure the injured parties that it—whatever “it” was—won’t happen again. Voluntarily describe how the mistake happened and what changes you are implementing to prevent its reoccurrence. And most importantly, tell the other guy, gal, or group how you and your company are going to make things right. Most people will appreciate your thoughtfulness, resolve, and the action you are taking. And often, handling an error in this way will reinforce the fact that you are, ultimately, a trustworthy company that can be relied upon. “I remember one situation in which Barefoot had put the wrong bar code on a store’s shipment of cabernet, which meant that the wine rang up for less than it should have,” shares Houlihan. “In this instance, it was us who caught the mistake, not the customer. But as soon as possible, I showed up at the store’s corporate office with a check for the store’s loss, plus the time and expense of dealing with the mistake. Then I de(Continued on page 11)
Inglewood Today
September 11, 2014
Page 11
D at e s i n Sep t e m b e r & Oc t o b e r September 13, 2014 Mayor’s Town Hall Meeting Mayor James Butts has an ambitious agenda for Inglewood. Join him at the Living Room, 400 Inglewood Blvd., from 11am to 1pm to discuss the latest issues and developments impacting Inglewood. Joined by U.S. Congresswoman Maxine Waters and key Inglewood officials, the meeting will bring residents up to date on a number of key issues and developments, including: Market Street, Centinela Hospital, the budget, Century Blvd., the vacant Thrifty Oil gas station, the NFL, and more. For more information, call (310) 412-5300. September 20, 2014 District 1 Town Hall Meeting Stay informed about what is going on in District 1. The next town hall meeting will take place at the First Church of God Gymnasium, 9550 Crenshaw Blvd., from 10am until noon. You’ll hear from Mayor James Butts, City Treasurer Wanda Brown, Police Chief Mark Fronterotta, the Southern California Gas Company’s Mike Harriel, Southern California Edison’s
Marvin Jackmon, and AT&Ts Donovan Green. A representative from the Shopoff Group will discuss future plans for the old Daniel Freeman Hospital site. Refreshments will be served. For further information, call (310) 412-8602 or email asmith@ cityofinglewood.org.
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September 28, 2014 District 2 Annual Picnic Join Councilman Alex Padilla at North Park, 625 E. Hargrave. Inglewood, 90302, Sunday, September 28, 2014 from 12pm - 3pm. Bring your family and let the kids play games while you get to know your neighbors. For more information call (310) 412-8601.
September 26, 2014 Food Truck Friday The food trucks are back! Once again, Market St will be filled with a variety of food trucks serving the tastiest food around. Live entertainment, kid activities and music will also make this an event you won’t want to miss. Be sure to join us for this family funfilled event. Located on Market October 18, 2014 at Regent. Citywide Yard Sale and Health Fair September 27, 2014 The City of Inglewood, in colDistrict 1 Shredding Day laboration with Centinela Hospital, Protect your identity, remove will be sponsoring a citywide yard clutter and do something good for sale and Health Fair Event from 7am the environment. Attend the docu- until 3pm. The sale will be held at ment shredding event at the Police the Hollywood Park Racetrack ParkCommunity Center, Beat 3, 2901 ing Lot, Gate 8 at Pincay. You can W. Manchester Ave., from 9am un- come and search for useful items til noon. Limit 3 boxes per house- to purchase or you can rent a booth hold. Documents must be received and sell your unwanted property to before 11:45am. make some extra cash. While you’re
Ronald C. Smith Pleads Guilty and Accepts Plea Bargain Resigns from West Basin Board of Directors Effective Immediately
n September 8, 2014, West Basin Municipal Water District (West Basin) was informed by the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office that Ronald C. Smith accepted a plea bargain on the alleged charges of misuse of public funds and giving false affidavits. As part of the plea bargain, Mr. Smith entered a guilty plea to Count 2 of the complaint against him (Conflict of Interest, per Govt. Code 1090) with the remaining counts to be dismissed. This action results in a felony conviction. Mr. Smith formally resigned from his position on the West Basin Board of Directors effective September 8, 2014. “This unfortunate situation involving Mr. Smith should not detract from the hard work being done by the rest of the West Basin Board and staff,” said Donald L. Dear, President of the West Basin Board of Directors. “West Basin remains and will continue to be an internationally recognized water industry leader focused on water recycling, conservation, water reliability, and water resource management.” Mr. Smith will have to serve 180 days in jail minus time he has
Meet District 1 Councilman George Dotson and Inglewood commissioners. For more information, call (310) 412-8602 or email asmith@cityofinglewood.org. Presented by Inglewood Council District 1 and Consolidated Disposal Services.
Ronald Smith already served. He will also be required to serve five years’ probation. As part of the plea, Mr. Smith paid restitution to West Basin in the amount of $10,000. In addition, $7,765 of outstanding restitution remains. This figure is based on forensic accounting of funds involved in the investigation of Mr. Smith’s case. “West Basin will use this situation to become an even more effective water district,” said Board Vice President Gloria D. Gray. “We are moving forward with an outside audit of our Board of Director’s Code of Conduct that will provide recommendations that should prevent this from happening in the future and we will work hard to enhance the public trust in our agency and of our finances.”
Oops, My Bad! (Continued from page 10) scribed to the manager in detail how we at Barefoot were changing our internal processes to make sure that the bar code problem would never happen again. And guess what? That store thanked us for doing the right thing, and it didn’t stop ordering from us.” “Once again, mistakes are bound to happen—even if you’re an established company, and especially if you’re a newer one,” reiterates Houlihan. “So don’t waste time and energy beating yourself up, and especially don’t try to create the illusion that you’re perfect. “Remember, what people recall most of all is how you handle
there, take advantage of the free document shredding and valuable health screenings. Free admission. Ongoing Counseling for Anxiety, Depression Get free help for anxiety, depression, stress and anger. Recovery International provides tools and practice in changing thinking habits so individuals can gain personal control over distressing emotions and improve life-coping skills. This worldwide non-profit organization, founded in 1937, holds weekly meetings every Monday at 6:00 p.m. at SHARE! 6666 Green Valley Circle, north of Centinela Ave., (2nd building on the right). Call 310-322-6411 for more information, or visit www.lowselfhelpsystems.org. A donation is requested but not required. Place your DBAs, Probates, Trustee Notices, Legal Notices, Summons and more in Inglewood Today Print & Online Call: 310.670.9600
missteps and errors, not what they were,” he concludes. “So don’t miss out on these golden opportunities to show your integrity, reduce the drama, and improve the way your business operates. That is how you make mistakes right.” Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey, authors of The Barefoot Spirit: How Hardship, Hustle, and Heart Built America’s #1 Wine Brand, started the Barefoot Wine brand in their laundry room in 1986, made it a nationwide bestseller, and successfully sold the brand to E&J Gallo in 2005. Starting with virtually no money and no wine industry experience, they employed innovative ideas to overcome obstacles and create new markets.
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History of Hispanic Heritage Is Everywhere
ational Hispanic Heritage Month is the period from September 15 to October 15 in the United States, when people recognize the contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans to the United States and celebrate the group’s heritage and culture.
Ellen Ochoa, Astronaut — The first Latina to become an astronaut, she is a veteran of four space flights and today serves as the director of NASA’s Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. Born in Los Angeles, she is also a pilot and classical flutist, and has three patents to her name.
National Hispanic Heritage Month had its origins in 1968 when Congress authorized and requested President Lyndon Johnson to issue an annual proclamation designating the week including September 15 and 16 as National Hispanic Heritage Week. By directing that this week should include September 15 and 16, this law celebrated Hispanic Americans and the anniversaries of independence for the Latin American countries of Costa Rico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua as well as Mexico’s independence on September 16. President Lyndon Johnson approved Hispanic Heritage Week, and Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter and Reagan issued a series of annual proclamations between 1969 and 1988. Reagan expanded its length to cover a 30-day period, and Hispanic Heritage Month was enacted into law on August 17, 1988. Mexico celebrated the bicentennial of its independence in 2010. Hispanics have had a profound and positive influence on our country through their strong commitment to family, faith, hard work, and service. They have en-
Inglewood Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
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n Saturday, September 20, 2014, the City of Inglewood will host a Hispanic Heritage Festival from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Crozier Middle School, located at120 West Regent Street. The event recognizes and celebrates Hispanic and Latino Americanheritage, culture and contributions. The festival will include performances by Grupo Folklorico Macias, Sonsoles and The Reel Band. HOT 92.3 radio personality Josefa Salinas will serve as the mistress of ceremonies for the event. “Inglewood is proud to acknowledge National Hispanic Heritage Month,” said Inglewood Mayor
James T. Butts, Jr. “We recognize the contributions made by and the important presence of Hispanic andLatino Americans to the United States and we celebrate their rich heritage and culture.” Family activities taking place throughout the day include carnival and interactive games, face painting, vendor and information booths, health screenings, authentic Mexican food and much, much more. The public is invited to come and enjoy this free, fun-filled event. For more information about Inglewood’s Hispanic Heritage Festival, contact the Parks, Recreation and Library Services Department at (310) 412-8750.
Carlos Santana, Musician — Born in Mexico, this guitar virtuoso and Rock and Roll Hall-of-Famer moved to San Francisco in 1961, where he developed his distinctive style of rock fused with Latin, jazz and blues.
hanced and shaped our national character with centuries-old traditions that reflect the multiethnic and multicultural customs of their community. Contributions by Hispanic Americans are evident in every sector of society, as noted this month on AARP.org; through a series of exhibits and events at the Smithsonian Institute in What Can Inglewood Learn from Apple? (Continued from page 1) panies. That means that consumers will soon be able to buy a Big Mac or laundry detergent with the tap of a new Apple iPhone or a new smartwatch. The product, Apple Pay, will almost certainly give Apple a leg up on mobile payments, which Forrester Research expects to reach $100 billion in the United States over the next five years. But it remains to be seen whether people are ready to turn their paying over to a digital device, and whether Apple will be able to keep the edge for long. Aside from the digital payment device, Apple also announced that the digi payment system will be built into the newly designed iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. The iPhone 6 is 4.7 inches diagonally and 6.9 mm wide. The iPhone 6 Plus is 5.5 inches diagonally and a bit thicker at 7.1 mm. The iPhone 6 has enough pixels to make it better than a 720p HD display, and the iPhone 6 Plus has a full 1080p HD display—that’s more than some next-generation gaming consoles. Both feature a new design with rounded edges for a seamless touch. Reinvention is the nature of successful business. As our city reinvents itself, and turns the jets on its northbound ascension, there a few things that Inglewood can learn from Apple: 1. Learn from other industries. Ideas taken from outside the computer industry are a well-known component to Apple’s success. Most famously, Cuisinart inspired the footprint of the first Mac. But more importantly,
Judith Baca, Muralist — From 1976 to 1984, this Chicano artist oversaw the creation of “The Great Wall of Los Angeles,” a half-mile of regional history.
Washington, DC; and a month of television documentaries and specials on PBS, including the Hispanic Heritage Awards, Sept., 29, 2014 at 10pm. Local celebrations include the upcoming Hispanic Heritage Festival in the City of Inglewood, September 20, from 11am to 4pm.There is much to learn and appreciate about Hispanic heritage and no better time to learn than during Hispanic History Month. Apple took its cues from the hospitality industry. When the late Apple CEO Steve Jobs and retail savant Ron Johnson were ramping up to open the first Apple stores, they asked around Apple headquarters in Cupertino,
“What‘s the best customer experience you’ve ever had?” Invariably, the answer came back that it was at a Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton or other 5-star hotel or resort. So Apple enrolled all its soon-to-be store managers in the hospitality training and leadership program of the Ritz-Carlton. 2. Stay one step ahead of what folks want. Anticipatory service at the Apple Store can begin for customers even before they arrive in person. If a customer uses the Apple Store app, a revolutionary tool that allows customers to schedule reservations and have employees available for them personally, Apple is able to expect the customer’s arrival at the Apple Store. 3. Tell an amazingly compelling story. Steve Jobs’ partner and Chief Creative Officer at Pixar Animation said no amount of technology can fix a bad story. Jobs’ Stanford University commencement speech drove home the concept of the Hero’s Journey, and from being fired to saving a dying company, one could attest, he’s the archetypal hero. In a cheesy Apple spirited conclusion. What will Inglewood’s verse be?