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July 4th - 10th, 2011 (Ter’t #224) “America Is The Best!” -- George Christopher Thomas, July 4th, 2011 VOl #5 ISSUE #16

Weekly Every Monday

Hot and sunny all week -- wear sunscreen... Mon -- Tue -- Wed -- Thu -- Fri -- Sat -- Sun H: 90 91 89 89 86 86 87 L: 65 66 64 63 63 62 62But don’t wear black jeans or thick socks, you will regret it.

--Weather Corner --What is the Celsius temperature sCale? The celsius temperature scale is a temperature scale where water at sea level has a freezing point of 0°C (Celsius) and a boiling point of +100°C. More commonly used in areas that observe the metric system of measurement. Created by Anders Celsius in 1742. In 1948, the Ninth General Conference on Weights and Measures replaced “degree centigrade” with “degree Celsius.” www.weather.com.

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-- photo of the Week --

Is this the Serengeti? No, it’s California. Pictured above is one of the giraffe residents of the Living Desert in Palm Springs. See livingdesert.org for information.

remarks by the president at White house independenCe day Celebration

THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody! Happy Fourth of July! (Applause.) On behalf of the entire Obama family, we want to welcome you here to the White House. Right now, in small towns and big cities all across America, folks are getting together in their backyards; they’re raising flags, firing up grills, and enjoying time with family and with friends. It’s a tradition that we try to follow here at the White House -- although I’ve got to say we’ve got a few more peo-ple here than most. And I cannot think of anybody I would rather celebrate with than all of you -- the men and women of our military and our extraordinary military families. (Applause.) So let me just check to see who we’ve got here. I understand we’ve got some Army here. (Applause.) How about Navy? (Ap-plause.) Air Force! (Applause.) Marines! (Applause.) And we’ve got some Coast Guard. (Applause.) After all that you do for our country every day, we wanted to give you guys a chance to get out of the uniform, relax a little bit and have some fun. But of course it’s also a time for us to reflect on the meaning of America. In many ways, I think that that small band of patriots who signed their names to the Declaration of Independence and risked their lives for freedom might be surprised to see their legacy all these years later: A nation that’s led revolutions in commerce, that sent a man to the moon, that lifted up the poor, that cured the sick; a nation that fought for democracy and served as a beacon of hope around the world.But all this could only happen because of our founders’ central faith that through democracy and individual rights, ordinary people have it within their means to forge a nation that’s more just and more equal and more free. And all of you are heirs to that legacy. You represent the latest in a long line of heroes who have served our country with honor and who’ve made incredible sacrifices to protect the freedoms that we all enjoy. And I’ve got some of those heroes here with us today. (Applause.) Like Army Sergeant First Class Justin Gang. Where’s Justin? Right here. While on patrol in Iraq his convoy was struck by an IED and fell under enemy fire. Even after being wounded by shrapnel himself, he helped to secure the scene and evacuate his wounded comrades to safety. And today we honor his extraordinary cour-age. (Applause.) Navy Hospitalman First Class Obi Nwagwu, born in Nigeria, he became an American citizen and volunteered to serve in our nation’s military. And as an orthopedic technician, he helps our wound-ed warriors regain their strength and resume their lives back home. And today we honor his incred-ible dedication, Obi. (Applause.) Air Force Master Sergeant Heather Adkins.AUDIENCE MEMBER: Whoo!THE PRESIDENT: Is that Heather’s husband up there? I’m not trying to get anybody in trouble here. (Laughter.) Whether it’s partnering with Iraqi Army or making sure our troops have shelter in some of the toughest places on the planet, she knows how to get things done. And today we honor her tireless devotion. (Applause.) Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Keith Kesterson. (Applause.) He rushed through enemy fire to free a fellow Marine trapped inside a burning vehicle. And after untangling the Marine’s equipment, he extinguished the flames and pulled him to safety. And today we honor his unyielding loyalty. (Applause.) Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Marlene Riklon -- where’s Marlene? Right over here. Come on over here. (Applause.) Less than 24 hours after the devastating earthquake in Haiti she was on the scene helping to direct aid and save lives in the midst of chaos. And today we honor her incredible dedication. (Applause.) These American patriots -- all the services that are represented up here today, all of you who are out there today -- you’re the reason why America and our Armed Forces remain the greatest force for peace and security that the world has ever known. And together you’re standing with all of those around the world who are reaching for the same freedoms and the same liberties that we celebrate today.So I just want to close by saying thank you. You’ve done everything we could have asked of you. Your families have served alongside of you with strength and devotion. America is proud of all of you. And as long as I have the privilege of serving as your Commander-in-Chief, I’m going to make sure that you have the support that you need in the field; I’m going to make sure that you get the care you deserve when you come home. And with the help of Michelle and Dr. Jill Biden, we will make sure America takes care of your families and recognizes the extraordinary sacrifices that they are making. This day is possible because of your service. And so I think it’s only appropriate that we give you a chance to celebrate it together as well. God bless you. God bless the United States of America. And happy Fourth of July, everybody. Thank you. (Applause.)

suspeCt assaults family; threatens to kill offiCers With knife in eaCh hand

LOS ANGELES, CA -- A suspect who had already injured his wife and two children, came at Officer’s with a knife in each hand, threatening to kill them, resulting in an Of-ficer Involved Shooting (OIS).On Wednesday, June 22, 2011, at around 9:30 p.m. Southwest Area Of-ficers were called to the 3800 block of West 27th Street for an Assault with a Deadly Weapon suspect. When they arrived they were directed to an apart-ment where a teenage girl had been yelling that someone was trying to kill her with a knife. Officer’s learned later that the girl’s mother and younger brother had already escaped from the apartment to find safety from the sus-pect, their father and husband.Officers attempted to make contact with the suspect and victim inside the apartment, but the suspect refused to open the door. Officers then forced their way into the apartment to check on the welfare of the victim. They were immediately confronted by the suspect, 45-year-old Mario Vanegas. Vanegas was armed with a knife in each hand and repeatedly threatened to kill the officers. Officer’s gave Vanegas commands to drop the knives, both in Spanish and English, but he refused to comply. One officer used a Tazer to subdue Vanegas, but it had no effect. While Officer’s were preparing to use a non-lethal shotgun, Vanegas advanced on them, wielding the knives, threatening to kill them, and an OIS occurred.Vanegas was hit multiple times and died at scene. The Officers involved in the OIS are identified as Officer Cesar Aranda, 4 years, 4 months with the Department, Officer Brian Schneider, 2 years, 6 months with the Department, Officer Jose Gonzalez, 16 years, 7 months with the Department, and Police Officer Leonardo Olea, 11 years, 1 month with the Department.Force Investigation Division (FID) responded and is investigating the OIS, and South-west detectives are handling the assault on the female juvenile and her mother and brother.

opinions & Editorial

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The Government Center Gazette & Van Nuys News Press

The Government Center Gazette & Van Nuys News Press is published weekly on Mondays by George Christopher Thomas, Publisher.

Advertising and Editorial offices are based out of Agoura Hills, CA. telephone: 818-605-8940 • 818-707-2507 fax: 818-286-9579

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p.o. box 2444, Van nuys, Ca 91404Opinions and positions taken in articles and op-ed submissions are those of the author and do not reflect the opinions of the Publisher or this newspaper’s advertisers. Please submit letters to the editor and story ideas to Editor@VanNuysNewsPress.com or P.O. Box 2444, Van Nuys, CA 91404. For an annual subscription please mail a check for $20 payable to “Van Nuys News Press” to P.O.Box 2444, Van Nuys, CA 91404. Please write “subscription” in the memo and include your name and mailing address. If you subscribe, it will come (in the mail).

PUBLISHER: George Christopher ThomasEDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Joanne Lewis

CIRCULaTION MaNaGER: Elias PazaSSISTaNT CIRCULaTION MaNaGER: Jonathan King, Sr.

TRaVEL & ENTERTaINMENT EDITOR: Jean StrauberHOME DECORaTING EDITOR: Sandra Holstein

aDOPTED GOLF RaDIO FaMILY: The Gottfried Family, aM 570COPYWRITER & RaDIO PRODUCER: alex “Foghorn” Fish

PRaCTICaL LEGaL POINTERS COLUMNIST: Joann Deutch, attorneyDEPUTY aSSISTaNT SUGGESTION EDITOR: Julie CastroCONTRIBUTING OPINION COLUMNIST: Irving Leemon

CONTRIBUTING “MISS-LaNE-IOUS” COLUMNIST: Lane M. ShermanAll pictures and materials sent to The Government Center Gazette are considered

Property of the publisher, and will not be returned. Thanks! Have a nice day and be good!

-- Word of the Week --Personality -- noun1. the visible aspect of one’s character as it impresses others: He has a pleasing personality. 2. a person as an embodiment of a collection of qualities: He is a curious personality. 3. Psychology -- a. the sum total of the physical, mental, emotional, and social characteristics of an individual. b. the organized pattern of behavioral characteristics of the individual. 4. the quality of being a person; existence as a self-conscious human being; personal identity. 5. the essential character of a person. 6. something apprehended as reflective of or analogous to a distinctive human personality, as the atmosphere of a place or thing: This house has a warm personality. 7. a famous, notable, or prominent person; celebrity. 8. application or reference to a particular person or particular persons, often in disparagement or hostility. 9. a disparaging or offensive statement referring to a particular person: The political debate deteriorated into personalities.

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be a hero for hensYou can help put an end to one of the most inhumane practices in Canadian farming by choosing to buy only cage-free eggs.Nearly all of Canada’s eggs come from hens in battery cages. Crammed together with five or six others in tiny cages, the hens aren’t able to move, stretch their wings or nest. They live their entire lives in a space no bigger than a sheet of notebook paper.Hens don’t have to be caged to pro-duce lots of eggs. There are cage-free alternatives available in grocery stores across the country.For your health, the environment and to save these hens from a life of cruelty, it is time to switch to compassionate and sustainable eating. Join the growing number of Canadians who at home, at school, at work or at the grocery store -- are tak-ing the Cage-Free Pledge! www.thepetitionsite.com

help Create Whale sanCtuaries The Caribbean is a well-known tourism destination, attracting many people from expert

divers to novice snorkelers for its amazing coral reefs and abundance of marine life, including whales. In fact, whale watching in the region is a rapidly growing and profitable industry.Yet unbelievably, four Caribbean na-tions -- St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and St. Lucia -- consis-tently vote against protecting whales at the annual International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting.

They don’t even support a proposal to establish a whale sanctuary in the nearby waters of the South Atlantic! A vote to establish the sanctuary will be held at the 2011 IWC meeting, and we need your help now to make it happen!Send an email to these four island nations, urging them to support the proposal for the South Atlantic sanctuary. Please be sure to add a comment -- it’s much more effective to express your concerns in your own words! www.thepetitionsite.com

tell Congress to respeCt our priVaCy!We have the right to decide if our private information -- from our shoe size to our health concerns -- is collected, analyzed and profiled by online tracking companies and tools while we use the internet. A “Do Not Track” option is a simple way to refuse internet surveillance and get control over our private information. Tracking companies and advertisers need to agree to accept our consumer choices, and we need confidence that our choices will be honored. Last year, we discovered “zombie cookies” that are reinstalled on computers after we’ve purposely deleted them. This violation proves we need privacy standards that will be enforced. Ask Congress to support strong online privacy legislation that includes Do Not Track and allows con-sumers to take control of our private information on the internet.

The Declaration of Independence 1 2

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3 Member of the committee to draft a delaration of independence with initials J.A. (2 wds.)

5 Member of the committee to draft a delaration of independence with initials R.S. (2 wds.)

8 Date the Declaration of Independence was officially adopted (Monthdyyyy)

9 Political group of delegates from the colonies formed to discuss relations with England (2 wds.)

10 His hand drafted the actual Declaration of Independence (2 wds.)

11 President of the Continental Congress at the time the Declaration of Independence was written and adopted (2 wds.)

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1 Member of the committee to draft a delaration of independence with initials R.R.L. (3 wds.)

2 Where original copies of the Declaration of Independence can be viewed by the public today (3 wds.)

4 Member of the committee to draft a delaration of independence with initials B.F. (2 wds.)

6 City where the Declaration of Independence was drafted

7 Number of delegates who signed the Declaration of Independence (no hyphens)

entertainment tips of the week

Monday, july 4th - Sunday, July 10th, 2011 PAGE 3www.vannuysnewspress.com

what is the cost for a kitchen?

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By Jean Strauber, Entertainment Editor

THERE’S MUSIC IN THE aIR:

July Weekends at the Bowl

Well, it’s the beginning of July and the Hollywood Bowl season has begun. As I write this, I am looking forward to spending the 4th of July with friends at the Bowl and enjoying Daryl Hall and John Oates along with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. It promises to be a night of great American music plus the Bowl’s usual spectacular fireworks as

we celebrate our country’s 235th birthday.Coming the weekend of July 8 and 9 is the 50th anniversary of the classic film “West Side Story” (pictured above) starring Natalie Wood, George Chikaris, Rita Moreno and Russ Tamblyn. The Los Angeles Philharmonic with David Newman conducting will be playing Leonard Bernstein’s memorable score and Stephen Sondheim’s electrifying

lyrics while the newly re-mastered film will be shown in high definition on the Bowl’s big screens. July 15 and 16 will see Sarah McLachlan, with the Hollywood Bowl conducting, will make her Hollywood Bowl debut.On Sunday, July 17 Gustavo Dudamel with Christime Brewer performing as the icy princess, Turnadot, in Puccini’s “TURNADOT.” It features one of the most beloved arias of all time, “Nessum dorma” which was featured in the movie, “Mirror has Two Faces.”Have you purchased your

tickets yet for the Dolly Parton debut on July 22 and 23 at the Bowl? This versatile lady and Queen of Country Music will be celebrating her new hit record as well as over 45 years of hit song with the audience. It promises to be a sold-out audience.The final weekend of July 20 and 30 will find Michael Feinstein and the Singing Stars of Television (Dick Van Dyke, Vanessa

Williams, etc) who will perform a parade of classic and popular songs from the Great American Songbook, led by Michael Feinstein. The 31st finds fans of Reggae at the Bowl applauding to the sounds of Reggae Night X. This 10th year of reggae at the Bowl finds on stage Tiuff Gong Worldwide & Ziggy Marley saluting the Legends of Reggae. Toots Hilbert and Mighty Diamonds are special guests.For ticket information call (323) 850-2000 or go to www.hollywoodbowl.com.CTG 2011-2012 aT

THE aHMaNSON” “Bring It On”

The Center Theatre Group will begin its 2011-2012 season at the Ahmanson theatre with the West Coast premiere of “Bring It On: The Musical” and will run from October 30 - December 10, 2011. “Bring It On: The Musical” tells the story Campbell, heir apparent to the head cheerleader at Truman High School. In the high-stakes world of competitive cheerleading intertwined with high school politics, Campbell is at the top of the cheerleader pyramid and has it all when a surprise letter arrives and her world is thrown upside down.

“Bring It On: The Musical” features the libretto by Tony Award®-winner Jeff Whitty (Avenue Q), music and lyrics by Tony Award®-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda (In the Heights), music by Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning composer Tom Kitt (Next to Normal), lyrics by Broadway lyricist Amanda Green (High Fidelity) and musical supervision by Alex Lacamoire. The production is directed and choreographed by Tony Award®-winner Andy Blankenbuehler (In the Heights). The musical is produced by Universal pictures Stage Productions/Glenn Ross, Beacon Communications/Armyan Bernstein and Charlie Layons, and Kristin Caskey and Mike Isaacson, Executive Producers.

“Funny Girl”You’ll be saying “Hello Gorgeous” when this legendary romantic musical comedy will be presented in an all-new production at the Ahmanson Theatre from January 15 through February 26, 2012. “Funny Girl” is the rags-to-riches, road-to-stardom story of legendary entertainer Fanny Brice (who many of us remember as Baby Snooks, a popular radio program) and the vehicle by which Barbra Streisand shot to super-stardom.This love story is packed with unforgettable songs (Don’t Rain on My Parade,

People, I am Woman, You Are Man), backstage drama and a heartbreaking romance. “Funny Girl,” with its music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Bob Merrill and book by Isobel Lennart will be directed by Tony Award®-winner Bartlett Sher, who has reassembled the creative

team that was behind the hit production of South Pacific that many of us enjoyed last summer at the Ahmanson, is pure Broadway legend.For season tickets to the Ahmanson Theatre’s 45th Season call Exclusive Season Ticket Hotline at (213) 972-4444. More next week........

page 4 Monday, july 4th - Sunday, July 10th, 2011www.vannuysnewspress.com

police news &Information

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hey! that’s not What a sideWalk is for!By K.D. Wallis, Contributing ColumnistI was walking with my dog on Ventura Boulevard the other day when we stumbled upon something that was at once disturbing and frightening to both of us: A woman lying on the sidewalk in a large puddle of her own urine.As we rounded the northeast corner of Radford Avenue, Ecco, my year-old puppy, who usually prances a few feet ahead of me on a fairly long leash, suddenly veered to his left with one of those “what the hell is that?!” looks on his little face. Reaching the spot he was trying to avoid, I saw a brown handbag lying on the ground, not far from the woman mentioned above. She was on her back, knees bent, holding the back of her head up off the pavement, as if she were doing stomach crunches. My first thought was that she was relaxing for a moment, perhaps waiting for her ride to pick her up. After all, she was in the pathway that leads to the entrance of the Art Directors Guild and it was a warm, summery evening. It almost seemed, well, normal. That is, until I noticed the growing puddle and heard her mutter, “’scuse me” in a slurred voice.Now, you must keep in mind that this is not Skid Row; it’s Studio City. It wasn’t the middle of the night when the bars are closing and the drunks are staggering to their cardboard boxes; it was around 7 p.m. in a very affluent neighborhood. And this wasn’t some disheveled hag; it was a well-dressed, probably attractive (in other circumstances) youngish woman.I cannot quite explain why I kept walking, instead of asking her if she needed help, but something told me that no matter what was wrong, there was danger lying on that sidewalk and neither I nor Ecco was about to get too close to it. I walked a few feet past her and as I reached into my bag to pull out my cell phone, a young man who had arrived at the corner from the opposite side of Ventura was doing the exact same thing as I. When I quickly realized that my cell was totally dead, I said to the young man, “Are you calling 911?” He was and I heard him reach someone, giving the location and the woman’s description. By this time, a couple of people had wandered out of the Guild building and were gazing in a rather stupefied manner at the woman on the ground. Not one of us approached that woman, however. It was as if we suspected, rightly or wrongly, that there was something dangerous in front of us.I stood on the corner for several minutes, guarding her, I suppose, in case anything changed. The young man with the working cell phone kept talking to 911, but meandered down Radford and disappeared. As I watched him walk in that direction, I noticed a couple with a baby carriage standing near the alley behind the Guild. They were arguing and the woman finally stormed off with the baby (or whatever was in the carriage). That’s when things really became interesting.The male half of the couple strode back in my direction, passed me and went directly to the woman on the sidewalk. He knew her and he knew she was lying there. He was tall, cleanly dressed, probably late twenties, with a small, neat goatee and one of those silly porkpie hats that all of the so-called hipsters are wearing nowadays. He picked up her handbag, dangled it in front of her and then helped her rise. As she staggered to her feet, she wheeled around a few times, arms flailing, holding her head and then nearly fell into the flower bed behind where she had been lying. All the while, the man kept talking to her and looking over at me, as if to say, “What are you lookin’ at, lady?!” The only thing I could hear, though, were his assurances to her, as he wrapped his arms around her, that she was okay now and that he wasn’t going to leave her.(Continued on Page 9.....)

los angeles area soCCer CoaCh arrested for Child molestation

LOS ANGELES, CA -- Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Detectives have ar-rested a soccer coach on multiple charges of Child Molestation, and believe there may be more victims.On June 27, 2011, 42-year-old Jose Duarte was arrested in the mid-City area for Child Molestation.The investigation began on June 26, 2011 when a 13-year-old victim came forward and said he had been sexually assaulted by his soccer coach. The crime allegedly occurred at the suspect’s home and the suspect was identified as Duarte.During the subsequent investigation the LAPD Operations-West Bureau Sexual Assault Detail located two additional victims whom Duarte also coached and abused.On June 29, 2011, Jose Duarte was arraigned by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office on 15 felony counts of child molestation. Duarte is in custody and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing at a later date. His bail is set at $2.26 million.Duarte has worked as a soccer coach for a Team called USA, who practiced and played at Macarthur Park (6th Street/ Alvarado) and at Vista Hermosa Park, located in the area Glendale and Beaudry, as well as the Gilbert Lindsey Recreation Center at 42nd and San Pedro. In addition, Duarte assisted in transporting kids to Webster Middle School for soccer practice.Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the LAPD Operations-West Bureau Sexual Assault Detail at (213) 473-0447. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on “webtips” and follow the prompts.

offiCer’s QuiCk aCtion saVes Woman from burning Car

LOS ANGELES, CA -- Two officers from the Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) Hollywood Area are being commended for their quick action and life saving heroism early Monday morning.On June 27, 2011, at around 7:30 a.m., LAPD Of-ficer Michael Kim and partner, Officer Jimmy Lam, were near Santa Monica Boulevard and Western Avenue helping fellow Officers with traffic control in aftermath of a Hit and Run Traffic Collision there.Unrelated to the traffic collision, Officer Kim saw a Dodge Caravan stopped at a nearby traffic light with heavy black smoke coming from (See page 7)

Monday, july 4th - Sunday, July 10th, 2011 page 5www.vannuysnewspress.com

Community News & Events

ViCa announCes reform paCkageSHERMAN OAKS, CA -- The Valley Industry & Commerce Association’s (VICA) is proposing eight reforms to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) that would streamline the environmental approval process, create greater investment reliabil-ity for businesses and make compliance timelines more manageable.“Since its passage, the business communi-ty has been working for reasonable CEQA reform,” said VICA Chair Daymond Rice. “The eight ideas VICA has introduced will take significant steps to keep CEQA from hurting the state’s economic recovery.”VICA proposes the following CEQA reforms (**complete position paper avail-able upon request**):1. Simplify the approval process for projects that are deemed necessary for economic revival and sustained economic health.2. Grant expedited processing to projects designed to comply with existing environ-mental regulations.3. Ensure once is a project is entitled that it is subject only to the laws in effect on the date of entitlement.4. Develop adequate definitions for vague terminology in CEQA that lawmakers will incorporate into CEQA through legislation.5. Require that all environmental analyses be entitled to the benefits of the substantial evidence test when challenged, to help prevent frivolous lawsuits.6. Require plaintiffs to prove substantial environmental concern over economic gain in the project’s stall or failure.7. Require the petitioner to pay the lead agency for preparation of the administrative record upon submission of challenge.8. Make petitioners liable for frivolous and meritless lawsuits by requiring the applicant plaintiffs, if unsuccessful, to compensate lead agency defendants and the real parties in interest that generally indemnify them.“The economic climate we live in now is much different that it was when CEQA was passed,” said VICA President Stuart Waldman. “VICA’s reform package considers the changes that have taken place while balancing the state’s economic and environmental needs.” Check out www.vica.org for more information.

ViCa supports bridge for tax extensionsSHERMAN OAKS, Calif.—The Valley Industry & Commerce Association’s (VICA) board of directors voted at its June meeting to support an extension of current tax rates until a special election can be held later in the year to let voters decide whether to con-tinue the rates for the additional five years, as requested by Gov. Jerry Brown.“While VICA still feels that voters should ultimately decide if these tax rates should be continued for another five years, the board felt that it was important to California’s future and financial solvency of nonprofits and educational institutions to keep the taxes from expiring before voters can weigh in,” said VICA President Stuart Waldman.The current tax rates are set to expire July 1 and without an extension would mean drastic cuts to education, public safety and vital social services.Earlier in the year, VICA supported placing the tax extensions on a special election ballot, but stopped short of supporting the taxes themselves. Lawmakers were unable to reach an agreement that would allow voters to weigh in on the extensions before their expiration, making the tax “bridge” necessary to keep the state from falling farther into the red. “The state’s budget situation is bad, but not passing the tax bridge would make things even worse,” Waldman said.

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pleasant alternatiVes to “Carmageddon”By Jean Strauber, Travel EditorIn two weeks “Carmageddon” will be upon us. With the 405 Freeway closed and the other freeways and canyon roads to the city promising to be one big traffic jam, I have suggested a couple of alternatives. I suggested that you can drive to the San Fernando Mission de Espana which is located on Brand Boulevard just east of Sepulveda Bouelvard in Mission Hills. After you visit the mission why not picnic at the lovely park across the street? The second suggestion was to take the Metro subway and spend the day in Hollywood. In fact, why not take an overnight suitcase and spend a night at the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel? For that weekend the MTA has announced that riders on the Orange Line busway as well as the Red and Purple subway lines will NOT have to pay any fare!Here are some other suggestions for the weekend of July 15-17th:• My first suggestion: Take the Metro subway to its final destination, Union Station. Disembark and stroll through the Union Station, cross Alameda Street and you’ll find yourself in Olvera Street with its historic buildings, shops and fine restaurants. Your children will enjoy watching the glass blowers and the candle makers. Guided tours are offered in Olvera Street. You can sign up for them at the Old Firehouse in the Plaza. One of the more interesting sites is the restored Pio Pico House, the home of one of the early Spanish governors of Alta California. Or, continue strolling on Alameda for three blocks and you’ll find yourself in front of Phillippe’s, the home of the French Dip. Still not hungry? Then, turn left (west) and stroll one block and you’ll find yourself in Chinatown. Here too you’ll find many choices of restaurants. • Second: How about a visit to the 4.5-acre Gardens of the World located in Thousand Oaks, just across the street from the Thousand Oaks Civic Plaza? Founded by Ed and Lyn Hogan, founders of Pleasant Holidays, who wanted to do something to give back to the community where they have lived and conducted their successful business. By establishing these gardens they are sharing with the community the beauty that they have seen during their travels around the world. Just recently I visited the gardens with a group of friends. We met at the Resource Center where we met our volunteer docent, Andrea Martin. Located in the center of the Gardens of the World

is a traditional American Bandstand. On Sunday afternoons during August you can come and listen to cool jazz on a hot summer evening. The Gardens encourage you to bring chairs or blankets for comfortable seating while you dine on your picnic supper. Bring your own food or purchase take-out from the many restaurants you find in Thousand Oaks. However, no pets, smoking or glassware allowed. Leaving the Resource

Center we followed the footpath which led us past the shaded picnic area. Some in our group had brought picnic lunches while others decided that we would eat at a nearby restaurant after the tour.The first garden we encountered on our tour was The Japanese Gardens, where you will find an authentic Japanese Pagoda set in the midst of a Koi pond. We watched as the Koi swam towards Andrea as she fed them from a jar labeled “Koi Food.” We saw groves of Bamboo and Black Bamboo along the footpath. Andrea pointed out the rock formations in the pool representing a turtle and a crane, explaining that both are symbols of longevity. She pointed out the Dragon’s Gate waterfall so named for the fable that if a Koi can swim to the top of the waterfall, it will turn into a dragon.We continued on the footpath towards the Mission Courtyard. This garden is dedicated to the early history of the state of California and the mission trail. In fact a lifelike statue of Father Junipero Sera is situated in the grassy area in front of the Courtyard. Much to our surprise we found out that the priest was only 5’2”, the same height as the statue. In the courtyard we viewed the orange and lemon trees. Grapes were growing on a nearby arbor. On the walls of the courtyard local artists Bridget Duffy and Mark Fenton had painted murals of the 21 other missions founded by the Franciscan fathers. Returning to the footpath we cross into the beautiful French Garden. The highlight of the area, to me, is the replica of the French Fountain that one sees in Versailles. In this garden we found low-lying hedges and colorful flowers arranged in intricate designs. We oohed and aahed as we felt the velvet smoothness of the “Baby Elephant Ear” that grows in this garden. From the French Garden, the footpath will take you to the English Perennial and Rose Garden. Andrea pointed out that there were more than 500 species of roses in the gardens. As in a typical English garden, plants such as star jasmine are seen throughout permeating the air with their heavy fragrance. We were also impressed with the beauty of the variety of roses planted, with Andrea pointing some of the varieties. The final garden that we visited was The Italian Garden. What beautiful cypress trees standing so tall and straight. Here too you found a “chain” fountain that was inspired by Italian architecture. Our tour ended with us saying farewell to Andrea and the opportunity to return to any of the gardens for a closer examination. If you want to attend the Ninth Annual August Concert Series here is the schedule:- Aug 7th- The Phil Norman Tentet. This jazz ensemble has played with musical legends such as Tom Jones, Julio Iglesias, Mel Torme, The Beach Boys and Barry Manilow.- Aug 14th- The Barry Rillera Blues Band which will be offering blues and Barry’s own original music. Barry was one of the original members of the Mustangs, which were one of the first rock house bands that performed at Disneyland for many years.- Aug 21st- Open Hands with legendary musicians Bill Maxwell, Justo Almario, Greg Mattheson and Abraham Laboreal. These artists have performed with music legends Stevie Wonder, Barbra Streishand, Al Jarreau, Quincy Jones, Herb Alpert and many others.- Aug 28th- The Late Nite Big Band led by Joel Gray. Special guest vocalists. The Gardens of the World is located at 2001 Thousand Oaks Boulevard. Parking is available in a small parking lot or along Thousand Oaks Boulevard. For more information go to www.gardensoftheworld.info or call (805) 557-1135.I want to thank my GCG/VNNP colleague Irv Leemon for taking such fine pictures. Third Suggestion: Why not visit any of our fine Valley parks? Sherman Oaks Memorial Park has lovely picnic grounds, Reseda Park, Northridge Park with its refurbished plunge, North Hollywood Park with its magnificent picnic grounds, Lake Balboa with its picnic area. Or, rent one of the paddleboats and enjoy an afternoon of paddling on the lake. And, of course, there’s Warner Center Park with their Sunday afternoon concerts.

Monday, july 4th - Sunday, July 10th, 2011 page 7www.vannuysnewspress.com

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Hotels, Resorts & Spas(Continued from page 4) -- underneath it. Officer Kim alerted his partner to the smoke and both Officers began walking towards the Caravan. As they neared the van the bel-lowing smoke turned to flames.Officers Lam and Kim immediately requested Los Angeles City Fire Department (LAFD) personnel to respond to put out the fire, and jumped into action to get the oc-cupants out of the van. The van’s driver was unaware and confused about the Officer’s actions and could not hear them giving her directions to get out, because the windows were closed. Officer Lam and Kim began pounding on the windows to alert the driver to the danger, but overwhelmed and confused the driver accidentally locked herself in the car, preventing Officer’s from getting to her.Once the toxic black smoke began filling the inside of the van, the driver realized the grave danger she was in and was able to unlock the doors, but still unable to free herself from the vehicle because she was still strapped in her seatbelt. After both Officers’ efforts to unlock the seatbelt failed, Officer Kim used his pocket knife to cut away the seatbelt, allowing Officer Lam to pull the driver to safety. After safely removing the driver, Officer Lam saw a child seat in the rear seat and began to go back inside to res-cue a child, but was told there was not a child in the car.Without hesitation and putting their own safety at risk, both Officers worked to remove the driver from the van, even as they were being exposed to extreme danger from the toxic thick smoke and hot flames engulfing the vehicle. Officer Lam and Officer Kim used fire extinguishers from their police vehicles to fight the fire until LAFD arrived and put the stubborn fire out.It was later discovered that the driver had been having mechanical problems with the van, and had smelled gasoline after filling her tank that morning. The driver was very grateful for the Officers efforts and believes that had it not been for their brave and selfless action, she would not have survived the ordeal. For further information please contact Media Relations Section at 213-486-5910.

CoWslip’s belle bed & breakfast in ashland, oregon a real gem

ASHLAND, OREGON -- It’s time to visit Cowslips Belle, one of Ashland, Oregon’s original bed and breakfasts established in 1984 and now also offering vacation rent-als. They believe, where you stay is one of the most important parts of a true Ashland, Oregon visit and they hope to fulfill your needs in their luxury accom-moda-tions.From the moment you step inside the 1913 Crafts-man bungalow or carriage house you will find a relaxing place to stay with all the mod-ern day comforts sprinkled with old-fashioned hospitality. For your convenience, they provide free wireless Internet access. A Cowslips Belle B & B and Vacation Rentals are just 3 short blocks to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, historic Ashland Plaza, the natural beauty of Lithia Park, and the finest Ashland restaurants and shops.As Bed and Breakfast Guests, join other B&B’ers in the dining room surrounded with vintage furnishings and accented by Maxfield Parrish art. The daily fare includes scrumptious breakfasts with a hearty serving of lively conversation. Cookies, coffee, tea and sherry are available throughout the day and evening. Linger as long as you like.As a Self-Catered Vacation Renter preferring affordability, value, space, amenities, and privacy without the breakfast, turndown service, housekeeping, and daily refreshments, they offer you a great location, luxury and comfort along with a unique experience not found in a hotel – an exceptional value.Come enjoy A Cowslips Belle in lovely Ashland, Oregon. Experience theater at its fin-est with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, music under the stars with the Britt Festival, musical comedy at the Oregon Cabaret Theater, visit all the Rogue Valley and Applegate Valley wineries, explore the Pacific Crest Trails, raft down the Rogue or Klamath Riv-ers. So many things to do and it is all just waiting for you.Refresh and Renew -- Soothe your soul with the sound of rippling water from the koi pond and waterfalls, soothe your body with therapeutic massage and spa treatments at one of the many Ashland spas. They encourage you to have a good read on one of our garden decks. Refresh, Renew, Relax.At Your Service -- Whether you wish to explore by foot or car, the staff will be happy to help plan your Ashland vacation or answer your questions. They can also assist you with reservations for dinner, Southern Oregon raft trips, bike rentals, or any other activ-ity you choose. Check out www.cowslip.com for more information.

Where is ashland, oregon?Ashland is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States, near Interstate 5 and the California border, and located in the south end of the Rogue Valley. It was named after Ashland County, Ohio, point of origin of Abel Helman and other founders, and secondarily for Ashland, Kentucky, where other founders had family connections. It officially became a town with the name Ashland Mills in 1855. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 20,078. It is the home of Southern Oregon University and the internationally renowned Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Prior to the arrival of settlers in mid-19th century, Shasta Indians lived in the valley along the creek approxi-mately where Ashland is located. Early Hudson’s Bay Company hunters and trappers, following the Siskiyou Trail, passed through the site in the 1820s. In the late 1840s, settlers (mostly American) following the Applegate Trail began passing through the area. By the early 1850s, the Donation Land Act brought many white settlers into the Rogue Valley and in conflict with its native people. These often violent clashes continued until 1856.In 1851, gold was discovered at Rich Gulch, a tributary of Jackson Creek, and a tent city developed on its banks, the area now known as Jacksonville. Settlers soon arrived to the Ashland area in Janu-ary 1852, including Abel Helman, Eber Emery and his brother James Emery, Robert Hargadine and others. In order to capitalize on mining in nearby Jacksonville, Helman and the Emerys established a lumber mill on Ashland Creek. During the 1860s and 1870s the community grew, establishing a school, churches and other businesses. In 1871, the Post Office dropped “Mills” from Ashland’s name.

page 8 Monday, july 4th - Sunday, July 10th, 2011www.vannuysnewspress.com

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blumenfield Comments on state budget passageSACRAMENTO, CA -- Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield (D-San Fernando Valley), Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, issued the following statement in response to the passage of the 2011-2012 state budget.“This is a serious budget for a serious time. It is best described as making the best out of a bad situation. But this budget is our backup plan. It is not the fair and balanced approach that the governor originally proposed and a majority of legislators preferred. We stand united with the governor in making some very difficult but necessary choices today for the greater good so that Califor-nia will have a budget in place on time. This budget makes real progress towards our long-term financial stabil-ity by eliminating 75% of our state’s budget gap projected for future years. And, we were able to hold off cuts that would cost us jobs and put roadblocks before our economic recovery.”

get inVolVed With the loCal Van nuys neighborhood CounCil

VAN NUYS, CA -- The Van Nuys Neighborhood Council meets the second Wednesday of each month at 6262 Van Nuys Blvd. at 7pm. Get involved and come to the meeting, or for more information, visit www.vnnc.org. The Van Nuys Neighborhood Council’s mission is to create an active bridge of communication and advisement between the Los Angeles City government and the stakeholders of the community to affect a perma-nent and positive change in the quality of life for those that live, work, own a business, worship and attend school in the Van Nuys area.VNNC’s vision for historic Van Nuys as well as the greater Van Nuys area is to restore the central retail business core to a true village area that serves the entire Van Nuys community. Celebrating ourcultural diversity with restaurants and retail businesses that will make Van Nuys a destination for everyone in the San Fernando Valley, not just a few. Embracing all elements of the community [residential, business, education and worship] as the vital core of the ‘Heart of the Valley’ we hope to realize a tight knit community that supports one another in making Van Nuys a safe, healthy, beautiful, interesting and vibrant place to live and work.

-- poem of the Week --

Great is the sun, and wide he goesThrough empty heaven with repose;And in the blue and glowing days

More thick than rain he showers his rays.

Though closer still the blinds we pullTo keep the shady parlour cool,Yet he will find a chink or two

To slip his golden fingers through.

The dusty attic spider-cladHe, through the keyhole, maketh glad;And through the broken edge of tiles

Into the laddered hay-loft smiles.

Meantime his golden face aroundHe bares to all the garden ground,

And sheds a warm and glittering lookAmong the ivy’s inmost nook.

Above the hills, along the blue,Round the bright air with footing true,To please the child, to paint the rose,The gardener of the World, he goes.

Monday, july 4th - Sunday, July 10th, 2011 page 9www.vannuysnewspress.com

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hey! that’s not What a sideWalk is for! By K.D. Wallis, Contributing Columnist(.....Continued from Page 4)I decided to cross the street and see what happened next from a safe distance. The man kept his arm around the woman’s shoulder and led her to a spot on the little wall in front of the Guild, where he sat her down and continued to hold and comfort her. She was completely overwrought, her face distorted into a twisted, tearful red mass, so that it was nearly impossible to determine her age, although if I had to guess, I’d say she was in her thirties and was a slender brunette.Ecco and I returned to our car, which was parked close to Laurel Canyon. I still couldn’t get my phone to work, but thought I’d take one more look to see if the police or an ambulance had arrived, since it had been at least twenty minutes since the young man had called them. They hadn’t shown up yet, but the woman and man were still sitting in the exact same spot. There was nothing for me to do but drive home…and worry about all of this.My first thought was what a coward I was for not having tried to help the woman on the sidewalk. But after seeing her almost violent physical behavior with her rescuer – a tall, muscular young guy – I knew I was right to have kept my distance. Considering all of the crowded bars within a block or two of that corner, I’m fairly certain that she was drunk out of her mind, not suffering a seizure (which had been my alternative guess). That does not excuse the time it was taking for the authorities to show up to evaluate her condition, however, even if the young man who phoned them had told them he thought she was drunk (I don’t know if he did say that or not, but it’s possible). Several years ago, I had a stomach flu and fainted in front of my husband, in our driveway. He called 911 and they were there within fifteen minutes. This woman’s situation could have been a lot more serious that mine had been and was certainly a lot more public. I realize this is probably a silly question, considering the state of this state, but what took so long?This woman-on-the-sidewalk business reminded me of something else that has haunted me for years. A few summers ago, when we spent a week in Belgrade, Serbia, I was shocked by the number of helpless, sometimes limbless, women that we encountered begging on the sidewalks in the middle of that large, gray city. It was the boiling hot summer and most of them didn’t even seem to have water, let alone any type of shelter. We questioned our Serbian friends and were told, with a dismissive wave of the hand, that they were gypsies and to ignore them, that it was just a scam and not worth bothering our heads about. Well, scam or not, I can still see the middle-aged woman with no legs, stretched across her little patch of sidewalk; and the elderly, white-haired woman with barely enough strength to sit up. Serbia is a rather poor country, despite the well-dressed young people, but it isn’t considered “third world”. Neither is Santa Monica, where women sleeping on the sidewalks are horrifyingly plentiful. The closest to third world I’ve ever been is Baja California, where beggars on the sidewalks have always been commonplace, which, while undeniably heartbreaking, is somehow expected, even today. Helpless, destitute women lying on sidewalks are upsetting to say the least, no matter where they’re found, or how they got there. So, too, are men in that same position (although I think that most people assume that a man is better able to care for himself “in the wild”). And despite the fact that they are a rarity thus far, so are the pretty young women lying on the sidewalks of Studio City as Happy Hour comes to an end.

-- faCts of the Week --~ Like all cetaceans, including dolphins and porpoises, whales are descendants of land-living animals which returned to water after living millions of years in land.~ Whales are closely related to the hippopotamus.~ Whales’ brains go to sleep one half at a time.~ Whales can swim at a rate of about 30 miles per hour.~ The largest whale (and animal), the blue whale, can reach 94 feet long. The smallest whale, the dwarf sperm whale, grows to about 8 feet long.

page 10 Monday, july 4th - Sunday, July 10th, 2011www.vannuysnewspress.com

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-- Quotes of the Week --

Quotations about health:~ “A healthy attitude is contagious but don’t wait to catch it from others. Be a carrier.” -- Tom Stoppard~ “A healthy outside starts from the inside.” -- Robert Urich~ “Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.” -- John Muir~ “Healing in a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity.” -- Hippocrates~ “Healthy people live with their world.” -- Anne Wilson Schaef~ “I really believe the only way to stay healthy is to eat properly, get your rest and exercise. If you don’t exercise and do the other two, I still don’t think it’s going to help you that much.” -- Mike Ditka~ “To keep the body in good health is a duty... otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.” -- Buddha.

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HOLLY BERRY DOB: 08/15/2005 BREED: Female, DSH, Black/Gray/Red I may be a big sturdy girl but despite my ample size, there’s nothing I love more than to snuggle like a baby. Of course I’m quite a looker, but mostly I’m just a loveable and huggable kitty who wants nothing more than my very own person to keep warm on cold winter nights!

To adopt, please call 818-901-0190 or visit 7720 Gloria Ave. in Van Nuys.

Monday, july 4th - Sunday, July 10th, 2011 page 11www.vannuysnewspress.com

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