Friday, March 24, 2017 Vol. 11 No. 8 12040 Foster Road, Norwalk, CA 90650 LOST TROPHY: Former Excelsior High champion in search of his atheltic gold FridayWeekend70˚ By William Odis Martin was engraved with his name got at a Contributor stashed away and nearly forgotten. Glance Forgotten by all except the Saturday 6868˚⁰ NORWALK – Matt Rodriguez, Rodriguez family. Friday 76, won the only individual The Rodriguez’s are now on California Interscholastic the hunt, requesting local help Federation Championship in locating this treasured family Sunday 70˚ ⁰ the more than 70-year history 70 heirloom before Matt turns Saturday of Excelsior Union High School. 77-years-old. Rodriguez, class of 1958, was a master of the parallel bars and “My request is that someone proved it in Pasadena winning the will take the time to research THINGS TO DO CIF title for his school. the location of the old trophies and that [Matt’s] only CIF “He was a senior at that time Championship trophy be located and a member of the exciting and awarded to him for the second gymnastic team,” said Dolores and last time,” Dolores said. Rodriguez, Matt’s wife and high school sweetheart. “Hopefully this request will not fall on deaf ears and my “There was much excitement husband can receive a truly great in the Rodriguez household Mike Mendez and Cheri Kelley say gift for his birthday this spring.” following the great news [of his AutoCon 2017 Excelsior Union High win]. His success was written up farewell to Norwalk City Council Sunday - Los Angeles Convention in the school newspaper, which School has a long history in the Center, 1 pm community of Norwalk stretching also included a photograph.” Hundreds of unique vehicles, back to the early 1920s when The prized trophy Matt ■ The two veteran council members grew emotional reflecting on their decades-long tenure as city leaders. product launches, exhibits, live music, it served as a regional prizes and giveaways. secondary school for the cities of Bellflower, Artesia, NORWALK – With the City Hall Chambers filled, Norwalk officially said farewell to Mayor Mike Mendez Norwalk, and La Mirada. and Vice Mayor Cheri Kelley Tuesday evening. In the 1960s, the school Mendez and Kelley have served as part of Norwalk’s City Council for 29 and 20 years respectively, which was formally grafted into included seven and four year-long mayoral terms. the Norwalk-La Mirada It was a night of reflection on both councilmembers’ long tenures with the city. Unified School District and remained a staple at “I’ve given a lot of thought about the last 20 years. First I thought about where we were in 1997. Those of you the corner of Alondra and who were around remember those were pretty rough days…but we were ready to move forward. Then I thought Pioneer boulevards until its about all the accomplishments of the various city councils that I’ve been privileged to be a part of. The most Bubble Run important thing that we did was to have a balanced budget, each and every one of those 20 years,” said Kelley. closure. Saturday - Angel Stadium, 8 am Matt and Dolores have “There were lots of projects…I started to make a list and after page three I gave up. And there are many Run, walk, dance or play through yet to formally petition the more projects that are in various forms of completion as we sit here.” 3.1 miles of colored foam. school district, which now “It has been such a pleasure and honor to serve this community for 29 years,” said Mendez. “…probably utilizes the former high more important to me than anything else is all of you that live in this community and work in this community… school as an adult school, I’ve been blessed that people have supported me along the way and I really appreciate that.” but they are hopeful they can somehow acquire the At Tuesday’s ceremony, Kelley thanked the city managers that she had worked with during her time on Rodriguez received was placed lost trophy. council, as well as city staff, department heads, local law on display in the administration enforcement, and commissioners. “It only bears his name,” building until the school said Dolores. “Thus he believes “All of these wonderful people is the reason why I permanently closed its doors in it should be considered his struggled with my decision not to seek a sixth term,” June 1981, when the trophy that prop e r t y.” said Kelley. “How do you walk away from family?” Pro Wrestling Mendez later echoed many of these same thanks, Saturday - American Legion in South Gate, 8 pm also including the fire department, his current council member colleagues, and several former council Former WWE star Blue Meanie California seeking local input on headlines AWS Promotions’ 15-year members who were in the audience. anniversary show. L.A. to Anaheim high-speed railway Both Kelley and Mendez also thanked and made presentations to their families. SANTA FE SPRINGS – The California High-Speed Rail Authority is hosting a series of open house meetings about the proposed 30-mile Both individuals were honored and presented public transit system that would stretch from Los Angeles to Anaheim. gifts and proclamations by several notable elected officials, including Assemblyman Ian Calderon, County The Los Angeles to Anaheim Project section is the first phase of Assessor Jeffrey Prang, the office of Congresswoman the California High-Speed Rail system, which will use the existing Los Linda Sanchez, the office of State Senator Tony Mendoza, the office of Assemblymember Cristina Garcia, and Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) rail corridor. the office of L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn. Santa Fe Springs will host a public forum on Tuesday, April 4, 5:30- The two exiting council members were also commended by representatives of Cerritos College, Little Lake 7:30 p.m. at Town Center Hall, located at 11740 E. Telegraph Road. The School District, Norwalk La Mirada School District, the Cities of Artesia, Downey, Lakewood, Pico Rivera, and Friday Night Painting authority will also present a forum on Wednesday, April 5, 5:30 p.m. at Santa Fe Springs, the California Contract Cities Association (represented by former Councilmember Marcel Friday - Norwalk Cultural Arts Center, Buena Park High School, located at 8833 Academy Drive. Rodarte), Whittier Union High School District, the Norwalk Chamber of Commerce, and various community 7 pm Novice or master, learn to paint The authority invites the public to attend an upcoming open house clubs and organizations. in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. to ask questions and provide input regarding effects to the environment, Newly-elected Tony Ayala and Jennifer Perez – who will fill Mendez and Kelley’s seats – were also in 21 and older, $25 including biological resources, cultural resources, air quality, noise, attendance. They will be sworn into office on April 11. – Alex Dominguez, staff writer community impacts, environmental justice and more. FROM OUR FACEBOOK OPINION: Excelsior NLMUSD students leaders recognized for overcoming personal challenges Auditorium name change decision was motivated by color NORWALK – Recognized for with our administration staff, office debilitating illness doesn’t affect her overcoming life challenges and being staff, students and teachers.” resilience. Susan Ashby: He spent two inspirational school leaders and role years at Excelsior. Honor him models, two Norwalk-La Mirada Robelto is known for her “I believe that you should try at the place he spent most of Unified middle school students were outstanding attendance, and rarely your best until you get it right,” teaching career. Many wonderful Robelto said. teachers taught far longer and presented with the Association of missed a day while in elementary need to be honored. Don’t California School Administrators school. But in the spring of her ACSA is a public-school change the name on existing (ACSA) Every Student Succeeding sixth-grade year at Corvallis, she buildings...that’s not an honor. advocacy group serving more than Award. began battling leukemia. Robelto 17,000 educators in California. The was immediately taken out of class to Donna Welch: I’m sorry, what Every Student Succeeding Award on earth does the name of The award came with a $200 begin chemotherapy treatments and was given to 19 students across Excelsior’s auditorium have to ACSA scholarship. missed nearly two years of school. do with money? Whatever the California this year. Administrator school district decides to do Corvallis Middle School eighth- Robelto returned to campus in awards were also given to Norwalk- about utilizing the property, the grader Aaliyah Robelto maintained fall 2016 for her eighth grade year La Mirada Unified’s Student and name on the auditorium would high grades while fighting leukemia, and established herself as a model Family Services Director Chris not affect it in any way. and Los Alisos Middle School student while maneuvering through Moton and retired Superintendent Stacey Owens: Lee Mitchell was eighth-grader Daisy Esquivel earned medical appointments and dealing Ginger Shattuck. my choir director at John Glenn. straight A’s while grieving the loss of with the unpredictability of illness. A great, sweet, and itelligent her mother. The Association of California School Administrators recently presented Los Alisos “The determination and maturity man of many talents. He deserves this honor of naming Middle School eighth-grader Daisy Esquivel with the Every Student Succeeding “Aaliyah is a tremendously exhibited by these two amazing young “The ACSA Award means a lot to the school after him. Award. Photo | NLMUSD positive person who never women should be an inspiration to me,” Esquivel said. “It made me feel complains,” Corvallis counselor us all,” NLMUSD Superintendent Dr.