Vol. 53, No.48 Special Section Temple City, San Gabriel, & ROSEMEAD PAGE 5
Serving the San Gabriel Valley Since 1966 Local Events page 2, 3 “Off Beat Happenings”
Entertainment
page 14 - 15
Sports pages 10 - 11
December 02, 2015 Student Corner
page 3
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South El Monte Native Receives Special Thanksgiving Family Reunion
by Mrs. Kayla Good/ Navy Off. of Com. Outreach South El Monte
A 2012 South El Monte High School graduate and South El Monte, California native serving in the U.S. Navy was selected to participate in a special event which reunited service members stationed in Norfolk, Virginia, with their families for Thanksgiving.
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Airman Janet Nava-Bejar, was one of only 72 Sailors and Marines chosen to participate in the reunion event. Her brother, Richard Nava, was flown in from South El Monte, California to spend the Thanksgiving Day holiday together. “It was really exciting,” she said. “I’m pretty sure it was very emotional for everyone, because there were a lot of families together, many who hadn’t seen each other in a really long time.” “Happy ThanksGathering,” produced by the U.S. Navy Mid-Atlantic Region Morale, Welfare and Recreation and in partnership with SC Johnson, reunited service members assigned to ships, squadrons and other Navy commands in Norfolk, Virginia, with their loved ones, who were flown in to spend Thanksgiving together. Service members serving in our armed forces are often unable to see their families during the holidays.
Airman Janet Nava-Bejar (center), assigned to Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 14 (HM-14), reunites with her cousin, Lorena Vargas, (left), and brother, Richard Nava, (right) at Norfolk International Airport to attend the U.S. Navy Morale, Welfare and Recreation ThanksGathering holiday event, in partnership with SC Johnson. Courtesy Photo by U.S. Navy Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kameren Guy Hodnett/Released
“I am so grateful for everything members of our armed forces and their families do each and every day to protect our country. They sacrifice a great deal,
especially time away from their loved ones,” said Fisk Johnson, chairman and CEO of SC Johnson. “Reuniting these families for Thanksgiving is one small way that
SC Johnson can say ‘thank you.’ My family and I are looking forward to spending the holiday with these brave Thanksgiving Family Reunion continued on page 13
Rio Hondo College’s Record-Setting Food Drive by Ruthie Retana Whittier
Rio Hondo College students shattered all previous records for their annual canned-food drive, collecting more than 1,400 cans by the campaign’s official end at noon Wednesday, Nov. 25. The drive, led by the Associated Students of Rio Hondo College (ASRHC), had been expected to collect a record-setting around 800 cans – about 200 more than in 2014. But donations surged in the last several days, more than doubling the 599 cans donated last year. In 2014, the students also doubled collection totals, making this year’s achievement a boost of at least 365 percent over two years. “We’re going to need to set some higher goals,” ASRHS President William Ashby said Wednesday. “Our old ones just won’t do any more.” Ashby’s team helped inspire the surge by offering
a $150 prize to the student club that donated the most cans. The funds can be used to support club activities or events. The competition was so fierce, Ashby said members of two student groups continued to bring in cans until even past the official deadline. The food was donated to the Whittier Interfaith Food Center, which distributes food to the area’s neediest residents. Donations more than tripled past giving in this year’s Associated Students “It is quite movof Rio Hondo College annual canned food drive, which ended on Nov. 25. ing to see the giving nature of our students, faculty and staff The student governInterfaith Food Center. demonstrated in the student ment hasn’t concluded its “Efforts like the cannedcanned food drive,” said holiday giving, either. On food drive and toy drive Superintendent/President Monday, as the food drive showcase the ‘community’ Teresa Dreyfuss. “It’s a great was winding down, Ashby’s in community college,” said indicator of the compassion team launched its annual Board of Trustees President at Rio Hondo College for toy drive. The drive aims to Madeline Shapiro. “They our surrounding communicollect 150 toys – 50 more make me proud to be a part ties.” than 2014 – to donate to the of Rio Hondo College.”