The Council Weekly Prepared by the City Manager’s Office, City of San Gabriel WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2013 TOP STORIES ACE & City dedicate historic millrace, Sept. 24 PRESERVING A FRAGMENT OF 1820’S AGRICULTURAL WATER SYSTEM The Alameda Corridor East Construction Authority and the City of San Gabriel invite the community to attend a dedication ceremony of the historic Chapman’s Millrace. The event will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, September 24 in Plaza Park, adjacent to the San Gabriel Mission. In June, workers supervised by archaeologists carefully maneuvered a 20‐foot, 30,000‐pound section of fragile masonry waterway associated with a mill built in 1923 to Plaza Park. The section was reinstalled and opened for public display in late summer. ACE relocated the millrace from the railroad right‐of‐way in preparation for excavation as part of the San Gabriel Trench Grade Separation project. The historic millrace channeled water from springs located near present‐day Huntington Drive in the San Gabriel Valley to a gristmill constructed by Native American laborers in the 1820s under direction from the priests at the San Gabriel Mission. The section in the park will feature flowing water, historical signage and landscaping. Please RSVP your attendance no later than Tuesday, September 17 to Ricky Choi at [email protected]. See attached flyer. We hope to see you there! New affordable housing resources available With the loss of redevelopment, cities like San Gabriel experienced a significant loss in their ability to help develop affordable housing. Now, prospective home buyers can visit the City’s website for new resources on how to help fulfill their dreams of owning a home. Several programs are offered by the Los Angeles Community Development Commission and the Southern California Home Financing Authority (SCHFA) to those wishing to purchase in San Gabriel or unincorporated areas of the county. There are also programs to assist with home repairs, foreclosure prevention, special needs and emergency shelter housing. Direct Learn more at www.sangabrielcity.com 1 Or call 626.308.2800 for more information The Council Weekly links to contact information are found under each program description. For more information, please visit our website or contact Consultant Monika Koos at 626.308.2800, ext. 5123. EDITOR’S NOTE No Council Weekly next week. We’ll return Sept. 25. There will be no issue of the Council Weekly next Wednesday, September 18. The newsletter will resume Wednesday, September 25. EYE ON SAN GABRIEL News from San Gabriel City Hall PARKS & RECREATION Case management programs available for older adults Did you know there are a variety of free services for older adults available at the Adult Recreation Center? The Case Management Program assists older adults, 60 years and older, with acquiring medical equipment, meal assistance, healthcare and finding forms of transportation. The City works with Santa Anita Family Services (SAFS) to provide these services. The Case Management office is open from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Monday and Thursday, at the Adult Recreation Center, 324 S. Mission Drive. Appointments are recommended. For more information, please contact Senior Services Case Manager Stacy Chavez at 626.308.2822 or 626.358.1185 (after hours). Register and reserve your spot in fall recreation classes The Parks and Recreation department offers over one‐hundred recreation classes, including Art, Computer, Dance, Fitness, Music, Tennis, Tiny Tots and more. Check out the GUIDE magazine and register early to reserve your spot in these popular classes. Registration began this past Monday, September 9. For more information, please contact Tymeri Cuervo at 626.308.2875 or [email protected]. To register online for classes, please click here. Learn more at www.sangabrielcity.com 2 Or call 626.308.2800 for more information The Council Weekly COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Community gathers to discuss proposed Arroyo condos Developer Frank Lac and architect Alex Chang hosted a community meeting last Wednesday to introduce the neighborhood to their proposed 46‐unit condominium project at 235 S. Arroyo. The unique site is located west of Alhambra Wash and would require construction of a bridge to access the condominiums from Arroyo. Approximately 20 people attended the meeting for the new proposal. They voiced concerns about traffic, bridge location, location of guest parking, maintenance of the wash, noise, fire access and provision of utilities. The development team plans to revise the project to address these concerns and will hold another community meeting in the near future. For more information, contact City Planner Mark Gallatin at 626.308.2806, ext. 4623 or [email protected]. City Planner Mark Gallatin to lead SGHA discussion San Gabriel Historical Association is hosting a general meeting and dinner beginning at 6 p.m. next Monday, September 16 at the Grapevine Room on 324 S. Mission Dr. San Gabriel City Planner Mark Gallatin will lead a discussion on “Historic Properties in San Gabriel.” This event is open to the public, and the cost is $15 per person. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Cristina Alvarado at 626.284.9694 or [email protected]. See the attached flyer for more details. POLICE Recognize and protect yourself from identity theft Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal identifying information such as your name, Social Security number, or credit card number without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) estimates that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. Protect yourself by reading your credit reports; carefully reviewing your bank, credit card and account statements; shredding all documents before throwing away; creating high‐security passwords; and using anti‐virus/spyware on your computer. If your identity is stolen, make sure to flag and order your credit reports and to create an identity theft report. For more information on identity theft, please click here or contact Detective Martin Garcia at 626.308.2837 or [email protected]. Learn more at www.sangabrielcity.com 3 Or call 626.308.2800 for more information The Council Weekly DUI/Drivers License checkpoint planned this weekend San Gabriel Police Department Traffic Unit will conduct a DUI/Drivers License Checkpoint this Saturday, September 14 at an undisclosed location within the city limits between the hours of 7 p.m. ‐ 3 a.m. DUI checkpoints are a proven enforcement tool effective in reducing the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol involved crashes. Research shows that crashes involving alcohol drop by an average of 20 percent when well‐publicized checkpoints are conducted often enough. Officers will be contacting drivers passing through the checkpoint for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment. Officers will also check for proper licensing and will strive to delay motorists only momentarily. Drivers caught driving impaired can expect jail, license suspension, and insurance increases, as well as fines, fees, DUI classes, and other expenses that can exceed $10,000. Funding for this checkpoint is provided to San Gabriel Police Department by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety. If you see a Drunk Driver, please call 911. For more information, contact Sergeant Rene Hernandez at 626.308.2960 or [email protected]. MISSION PLAYHOUSE Attend the Miss Panamerican International Pageant Showcasing the beauty and culture of Latin America, the Miss Panamerican International Pageant will take place 7 p.m. on Saturday, September 14 at the Mission Playhouse. Seven contestants, Miss Costa Rica Fabiola Charpentier Mora, Miss Nicaragua Berenice Quezada Herrera, Miss Guatemala Wendy Karina Albizures, Miss Ecuador Maria Jose Maza, Miss Venezuela Brigith Dayana Gomez Barco, Miss El Salvador Kency Garcia, and Miss Peru Daniela Neyra will compete for the title of Miss Panamerican International. For more information, please visit www.misspanamericaninternational.com or contact Miss Panamerican International at 562.904.1300 or 951.734.2360. Miss Panamerica Presents Miss Panamerican International Pageant SAT, SEPT 14, 7:00PM Learn more at www.sangabrielcity.com 4 Or call 626.308.2800 for more information The Council Weekly CENTENNIAL CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE CALENDAR Tell us about your history in SG OCTOBER THEME Health & Awareness October 12 5:00 p.m. Sound of San Gabriel Concert Presented by San Gabriel Valley Music Magazine, this concert will feature artists from groups such as El Chicano, Oingo Boingo and Los Lobos. Even includes a reception, food court, raffle and Silent Auction. Ages 12 and up. www.SGconcert.com October 13 San Gabriel Chamber Bridal Expo This expo is suited for anyone planning special events from weddings to balls to Quinceañeras and more. Information: 626.576.2525 See attached flyer and registration form. As our Centennial year moves into its final four months, there is still time to share archival, historical and family photos and documents October 19 that help tell our remarkable history. San Gabriel Valley Medical Center Health Fair SGVMC’s annual health fair provides residents Please contact the San Gabriel Centennial Committee Co‐Chair Mary with opportunities to learn more about their healthcare options and receive free screenings Cammarano at 626.308.2805 or [email protected]. We look and treatment. Special activities for kids. forward to hearing from you. Information: 626.570.6655 NOVEMBER THEME Collect some of the oldest street Let’s Be Thankful name signs in Southern California November 13 San Gabriel Rotary Trees of Giving The Public Works department replaced street The San Gabriel Rotary invites the community name signs throughout the city limits during th to attend the 4 Annual Trees of Giving 2010‐11. Many of the signs date back to 1966, luncheon. Themed trees decorated by making them some of the oldest among designers will be raffled to benefit PolioPlus.