Vol. 52, No.12
Serving the San Gabriel Valley Since 1966
March 26, 2014
Special Section
Local Events
Chamber
Sports
Student Corner
Temple City, San Gabriel, & ROSEMEAD PAGE 4
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El Monte Celebrates Arbor Day with Special Tree Planting Ceremony by Chelsea Dickerson El Monte
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As part of the Green El Monte (GEM) initiative, the City of El Monte celebrated Arbor Day on Friday, March 21 with a special tree planting ceremony. The event also commemorated the second year El Monte has achieved a Tree City USA designation by the Arbor Day Foundation and National Association of State Foresters. Joined by a crowd of residents, community volunteers and school children, the El Monte City Council led the audience in planting trees around the El Monte Community Center. “Trees are an integral part of our community and help preserve our City’s unique character,” said Councilwoman Norma Macias. “It has long been my priority to ensure we protect trees here in El Monte so that future generations can enjoy the many benefits trees offer. I hope residents will take the mission and spirit of Arbor Day to heart and plant a tree.” As part of the event, El
Courtesy Photo: El Monte Councilwoman Victoria Martinez, Councilman Juventino “J” Gomez, Assistant Economic Development Director Minh Thai, City Manager Raul Godinez II, Councilwoman Norma Macias and Mayor Pro Tem Bart Patel lead the tree planting effort at the Community Center. El Monte gave away approximately 250 free trees for residents to plant at their homes as part of this year’s Arbor Day celebration.
Monte residents and attendees were able to take home one of approximately 250 free 15-gallon ornamental trees to plant at their home. The free tree-giveaway program is sponsored by the United States Green Build-
ing Council-Los Angeles that planting and cultivating Chapter and Southern Calitrees within the city profornia Edison. vides. All attendees received The Arbor Day celebration a gift tree seedling to honor brought public awareness to the special event. the various social, economic, The Tree City USA proand environTree Planting Ceremony continued on page 4 mental benefits
TCUSD’s 2014 Golden Apple Award Winner: Frank Escudero by Lynne Burkardt Temple City
Temple City Unified School District administrators are proud to announce Frank Escudero has received the 2014 Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Golden Apple Award. Frank and his wife Julie are both long-time Temple City schools volunteers. Since 2001, Frank has taken the opportunity to volunteer and help whenever and wherever needed and has been involved in PTA in Temple City at all levels from the time his daughter, Cejae, was a student at Longden Elementary School. Frank wanted to be part of her education and thought what better way than join the PTA and help
out with school activities. While Cejae was at Longden, Frank helped to create a sports activities program for the after school program which is still in use today, assisted with his daughter’s Girl Scouts Troop, and volunteered every year for the Longden Olympics. When Cejae moved on to Oak, Frank chaperoned band activities and class field trips. He and Julie even chaperoned a trip to Sacramento/San Francisco with the band. When no one else was able to run the Oak Ave PTA snack bar, Frank took over. He paid careful attention to the kids and provided snack items they liked best. He continues to volunteer at Oak whenever called on
2014 Golden Apple Award Winner, Frank Escudero with Cejae and Julie. Golden Apple Award continued on page 14