Vol. 51, No.35
Serving the San Gabriel Valley Since 1966
August 21, 2013
Special Section
Local Events
Entertainment
Sports
Student's Corner
Temple City, San Gabriel, & ROSEMEAD PAGE 8
page 2, 3 Visit Car Culture at http://www.midvalleynews.com/
page 3
page 8,9
page 3
Visit Us Online at www.midvalleynews.com for more Highlights of Local Schools and Events from the San Gabriel Valley Area. Lookout for a special sports section coming soon from "The Mid."
Walk, Bike or Ride Back to School with Safe Routes, School Pools and Student TAP
Los Angeles
Another summer gone, another school year set to begin. Don’t let increased traffic and high gas prices ruin the experience. Metro has solutions that make going back to school easy, including the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Pilot Program, which will help students learn to walk and bike safely to school.
For the pulse of the San Gabriel Valley, local news, special events, and school events check us out.
by Anna Chen
More than 50 percent of children in Los Angeles County are driven to school in private vehicles, despite the fact that the majority of students live within 2 miles of their schools. Parents have cited different reasons for why they chose driving over other options, one being traffic safety: They just don't think it's safe for their children to walk or bike to school. However, walking and bicycling are an important part of leading a healthy lifestyle, and being able to start the day with a little physical activity greatly benefits children in many ways. Metro’s recently launched
SRTS Pilot Program will help schools, parents and students develop safe and active travel options. Ten schools within L.A.
schools and local communities. SRTS programs exist throughout the nation, and individual programs can be tailored to meet the specific needs of a school, community or city. As part of the program, Metro will help train walk leaders and provide opportunities for children to learn about pedestrian, bicycle and public transit safety. Metro also will work to make walking and biking to school a positive experience for kids by helping the schools implement Walk/ Bike to School Days, hold community and school events and work with the Walk, Ride, Bike continued from page 6
Foothill Unity Center’s Annual Back to School Distribution
Arcadia
www.midvalleynews.com
County have been selected to participate in this SRTS Pilot Program, and Metro is planning workshops and activities with the chosen
Foothill Unity Center’s annual Back to School Distribution has always been a com-
by Linda Taubenreuther
munitywide effort. On August 13, after months of planning and work by the Center and
or current residents
https://www.facebook. com/midvalleynews
Citrus College cosmetology students and a group of professional stylists contributed a full day of haircutting and manicure services. Photo: MoCee Photography
its friends, some 1,300 preeverywhere, and JD Party registered local K-12 children Pros kept kids, parents and of very low income families volunteers dancing. Some 800 got the backpacks, school volunteers worked the event, supplies and clothing they staffing distribution tables needed to start the school for everything from uniforms year with confidence. and Payless Shoes vouchers “77% of our clients have to notebooks and calculators. incomes at or below the NaEach child wore a “passport” tional Poverty Level,” said lanyard with check-offs to Center Executive Director make sure no one missed a Betty McWilliams. “Many single table. are employed, but with Citrus College cosmetoltoday’s economic cutbacks, ogy students and a group of they don't get the hours they professional stylists contribneed to survive without help. uted a full day of haircutting This event helps struggling and manicure services. Monparents send their children rovia Reads and A Foundation back to class with the new for Kids gave new gradeitems they can’t afford to appropriate books to every provide — and helps these child. Simply Help Foundakids start the school year on tion handed out pens, markers a level playing field. ” and stamps. Throughout the day-long Health connections were event at Santa Anita Park a major feature. The Ostrow racetrack in Arcadia, a circle School of Dentistry of USC of support surrounded the offered free dental screenings. excited youngsters every Western University College step of the way. Smiles were Back to School continued from page 7