Vol. 52, No.4
Serving the San Gabriel Valley Since 1966
January 29, 2014
Special Section
Local Events
Chamber
Sports
Student Corner
Temple City, San Gabriel, & ROSEMEAD PAGE 4
page 2, 3 Visit Car Culture at http://www.midvalleynews.com/
page 6,7
page 11,12
page 3
Visit Us Online at www.midvalleynews.com for more Highlights of Local Schools and Events from the San Gabriel Valley Area. Coming Soon “ The Mid”
Celebrating Chinese New Year: Sharing Traditions at SGMHS by Jo Anne Disney El Monte
For the pulse of the San Gabriel Valley, local news, special events, and school events check us out.
www.midvalleynews.com
or Current Resident
El Monte, CA Permit No. 64
U.S. Postage Paid
Presorted Standard
https://www.facebook. com/midvalleynews
Auspicious New Year posters, cascading firecrackers, little decorative horses and various assortments of ornaments each dangling from an endless knot, “a Buddhist symbol of longevity,” can be seen in preparation for the Chinese New Year that begins on January 31, 2014. This is the “Year of the Horse.”People born under that sign are said to be “hardworking, admirable and ambitious.” The Chinese Lunar Calendar names each of the 12 years after an animal. Legend has it that Buddha summoned all of the animals to come to see him before his death. Only 12 came to pay their respects. As a reward, Buddha named a year after each animal in the order that they arrived: the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse,
Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. The Chinese believe the animal ruling the year in which a person is born has significant influence on personality saying, “This is the animal that hides in your heart.” Students taking a Chinese Class at San Gabriel Mission High School fondly remember celebrating Chinese New Year in their homeland and shared the many traditions they grew up with. They told me that if you were born under the sign for the year, then you should wear red all during the year for good luck. So in the days before the New Year, families clean their homes “in order to sweep away any ill-fortune and to make way for good incoming luck.” They also buy new clothing and shoes which symbolize a new
John Hopkins University Doctor Shares Health Tips with Monte Vista School’s Parents
beginning for the New Year. Homes are decorated with decorative red scrolls with themes of “good fortune” or happiness.” It is also a tradition to visit family members on New Years. One of the students, Helen, said that they prepare snacks for their guests. Another student, April, said on New Year’s Eve at her house they play
Mahjong or cards and stay up all night counting down until the New Year arrives. Another student, Emma, said her family makes dumplings and eats them around midnight to welcome in the New Year. Some families even put coins in the dumplings and the lucky person to find the coin will be given money to start off the New Year.
Chinese New Year continued on page 5
by Michele Earle El Monte
Dr. Gerardo Lopez-Mena, from John Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland recently visited Monte Vista School to share with parents and families the importance of healthy lifestyles. Dr. LopezMena, grew up in El Monte and is committed to giving back to the community by delivering medical education on important health topics through lectures, presentations, open discussions and interactive learning. Dr. Lopez-Mena’s presentation focused on high blood pressure and diabetes and the importance of educating ourselves to ensure we stay healthy. “Hypertension and
diabetes in the Latino population has reached epidemic proportions,” Dr. Lopez-Mena said. “Latinos are suffering a higher rate of heart attacks and strokes and also dying at greater rates. This is a big problem in this community and my goal is to return to El Monte after my residency at John Hopkins and do my best to support community members to be healthy both physically and mentally.” Statistics indicate that one in three U.S. adults have high blood pressure. Known as the silent killer, because it is asymptomatic, high blood pressure can be hereditary and sometimes controlled by diet and exercise.
“It is important to get his visit to El Monte, Dr. regular check-ups and moniLopez-Mena partnered with tor your blood pressure and the local high schools and blood sugar levels. Blood began the foundation for pressure medications are Promotores(as) or Comgood and safe, and if your munity Health Workers, doctor prescribes them you a concept he developed must take them. It’s imwhere community members perative that you follow the promote health in their own regimen you are given,” Dr. communities. Lopez-Mena said. “We need “The reason I wanted to to raise the awareness of the start at the high school level dangers of high blood presis that I want to influence the sure and diabetes because health of these young kids, both lead to strokes and expose them to the health strokes kill twice as many profession, and give them an women a year then breast experience and something to cancer.” put on their college applicaDuring the month John Hopkins Doctor continued on page 3 of January and