Vol. 53, No.46 Special Section Temple City, San Gabriel, & ROSEMEAD PAGE 5
Serving the San Gabriel Valley Since 1966
November 18, 2015
Local Events
Entertainment
Sports
Student Corner
page 2, 3 “Off Beat Happenings”
page 14 - 15
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page 3
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“Shining Star” Victim of Paris Attacks by Annick J. Downhower El Monte
Friday, November 13’s despicable terrorist attacks on Paris claimed the life of El Monte resident Nohemi Gonzalez, a 23-year-old design student at California State University Long Beach (CSULB). She was studying in Paris for a semester at Strate College of Design. Gonzalez was shot in a terrorist drive-by attack as she was having dinner with fellow students Friday night. The horrible news was a shock to Gonzalez’s family and the CSULB campus. Her mother, Beatriz Gonzalez, described her only daughter as a “strong young woman.” CSULB President Jane Conoley said the entire campus is “heartbroken.”
Conoley further stated, “Taking the life of an innocent is an assault on our hearts and on our world. Nohemi was an innocent of great promise.” Design professor Michael LaForte called Gonzalez “a shining star… (who) brought joy, happiness and laughter to everyone she Courtesy Photo worked with.” He remembered her as “a mentor to younger Gonzalez’s boyfriend Tim students.” Mraz, family members, and CSULB held a memorial her classmates from the for Gonzalez on Sunday, Design Department. November 15 at the Student Governor Jerry Brown Union, followed by a cansent condolences to Gondlelight vigil at the campus’ zalez’s family and ordered Friendship Walk. Attendees the state capitol flags flown included CSULB President at half-mast in memory of Conoley, French Consulthe victims of the terrorist Generale M. Christophe attacks. Messages of symLemoire, Design Departpathy were extended by US ment Chair Martin Herman, Senator Dianne Feinstein,
California Attorney General Kamala Harris, and LA County Supervisor Hilda Solis. FM radio station 88.1 KKJZ (located on the CSULB campus) played Stevie Ray Vaughn’s song “Riviera Paradise” during Sunday’s “Nothin’ but the Blues” broadcast after receiving a dedication request from one of Gonzalez’s neighbors. It had been Gonzalez’s dream to study in Paris. Southern Californians’ thoughts go out to her family and loved ones at this time of tragic loss.
Courtesy Photo
Past or Current Resident
El Monte Welcomes Santa Fe Trail Plaza Shopping Center by Valerie Martinez El Monte
The City of El Monte, in partnership with the Festival Companies, hosted the grand opening of the Santa Fe Trail Plaza Shopping Center on November 12. The event included formal ribbon cutting ceremonies celebrating the openings of Superior Grocers and Petco and is the first new shopping center to open in El Monte
in over 20 years. “The addition of the Santa Fe Trail Plaza to the City of El Monte is a major accomplishment,” Mayor Andre Quintero said. “A project of this magnitude establishes a solid commercial infrastructure for businesses seeking a brick and mortar location
Courtesy photo by Superior Grocers
with so many possibilities for long term growth.” The Plaza - located on the
northeast corner of Santa Anita Avenue and Valley Boulevard - is a 110,000 square foot lifestyle shopping center that is slated to include additional retailers including Ross Dress for Less, Chipotle and two dozen other stores and restaurants. “This shopping center provides our residents with access to affordable grocerSanta Fe Trail Plaza continued on page 8