Vol. 53, No.8
Serving the San Gabriel Valley Since 1966
Special Section
Local Events page 2, 3 Coming Soon
Temple City, San Gabriel, & ROSEMEAD PAGE 5
Off Beat Happenings Section
Febuary 25, 2015
Chamber
Sports
Student Corner
page 6-7
page 9-10
page 3
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71st Annual Camellia Parade by Staff Writers Temple City
The winter chill was in the air but that didn’t stop excited spectators as they lined Las Tunas, eagerly awaiting the start of Temple City’s 71st Annual Camellia Parade. This year the theme was “Festival, Family, Fun” submitted by Theme Contest Winner, Giordano Camera. The Grand Marshal was actor David Kirk Grant, a longtime Temple City resident. David grew up in Temple City, attended Temple City Schools. From playing his guitar in his heavy metal band, AHBAZOO including fellow Temple City High Alumni, Dan DeSpirito and Keith Graham along with friends Travis Kelly and Rick Armstrong, David has starred on “The Office” and “Journeyman.” Currently, he has been playing Jafar
in “Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular” at Disney’s California Adventure Park for 4 years. Also, his stage credits include many from “Kiss Me Kate,” “42 Street,” “The Music Man,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” “I Do, I Do,” “Aida,” “Oklahoma,” “Evita,” Footloose,” and “Annie Get Your Gun,” just to name a few. Also, David is in the soon-to-be released movie, “The Thin Line.” The Honorary Grand Marshals were World War II Veterans, Bob DuFresme, Dan Snell, Ernie Roper, Harley Hart, John Sparling, Joe Milazzo, Larry Stevens, Lyle Umenhoffer, Shirley Mitchem, Curtis Ladd and Art Del Rey. The Royal Court for 2015 included: King Gianni Valenzuela, Queen Zoey Kallianiotis,
Temple City's Cameilla Festival. Winner of the Cameilla Award. Courtesy photo by Devette Johnson
and Prince Landon Pure, Princess Kate Kohn, Prince Blake Skaggs and Princess Jazmine Zee. On hand were Miss Temple City 20142015, Monea Alvarez, Miss
Temple City Honor Court were all spectacular and one 2014-2015 Tiffanie Jie and traveled from as far as PalmChristine Chen, and Miss dale, The Palmdale Falcon Temple City Princess 2014Corps. 2015, Tania Yap and ReThere was a wonderful becca Chen. The bands Camellia Festival continued on page 4
EMUHSD Named A State Green Ribbon Nominee
Past or Current Resident
by Anne Donofrio-Holter El Monte
The El Monte Union High School District (EMUHSD) has been selected as one of California’s five nominees to U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools and designated a “Green Achiever” in California Green Ribbon Schools, the complementary state-level program. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced the nominees at a ceremony held February 20 at the EMUHSD district office. According to Torlakson, of the over 10,000 schools in California, the five nominated have shown an outstanding commitment to the environment through energy reduction plans and student "green" projects. The U.S. Department of Education asks states to nominate a select group of schools/districts that have set strong “green” standards. The Green Ribbon Award is given to those schools "coming closest to realizing the high standards set by
Courtesy Photo.
the program and working towards reducing environmental impacts and costs, improving the health and wellness of schools, students, and staff, and providing effective environmental education, which teaches many disciplines and is especially good at effectively
incorporating STEM (SciPresident Salvador Ramirez. ence, Technology, Engineer"As a prior enlisted Maing, Math), civic skills and rine, I am concerned about green career pathways." physical fitness, health and "In addition to my role wellness, especially in high as board president, I am by poverty communities. So I profession an engineer and am especially appreciative interested in green engineerof the criteria for green ribing," said EMUHSD Board of Trustees Green Ribbon Nomiee continued on page 4