Thursday, March 10, 2016 Vol. 14 No. 48 NEWS NEWS HEALTH OBITUARIES Downey High New Assembly Is coconut oil Residents robotics speaker good for us? mourned SEE PAGE 2 SEE PAGE 4 SEE PAGE 7 SEE PAGE 3 CITY COUNCIL ROUNDUP THURSDAY, FEB. 25 Downey to bring back July 4 At 4:30 a.m., a license plate reader (LPR) alerted officers of a FridayWeekend63˚ stolen car, which officers located in the area of Wiley Burke and at a Quinn. Officers arrested the driver, a La Palma resident, and the Glance passenger, a Downey juvenile, for grand theft auto. The driver fireworks show Saturday 6864˚⁰ was also in possession of a loaded handgun and the juvenile By Eric Pierce the request of council members, the “While certain individuals make Friday was a reported runaway. Editor proposal would have given the public meetings longer than they need to only one opportunity to speak at city be, that’s what we signed up for,” he council meetings. said. Friday, FEB. 26 DOWNEY – In honor of Downey’s Sunday 66˚ ⁰ Under current rules, members Ashton ultimately changed his 70 Crime Impact Team officers were deployed Thursday and Friday 60th anniversary, the City Council Saturday on Tuesday voted to host a fireworks of the public can address their city mind, and the public’s right to address evening throughout the city and issued 9 traffic citations, 4 show and community festival July 4 council representatives both on their government representatives -- parking citations, 7 municipal code citations, impounded 1 at Downey High School. topics not listed on the agenda and for five minutes -- was preserved. also on items up for consideration in ••• vehicle, and arrested 9 people for narcotics, disorderly conduct, The festival will include a main the consent calendar. THINGS TO DO and warrants. Four of the arrests and six of the municipal code stage for live performers, carnival Teacher and community leader The proposed change to public Alex Gaytan was awarded the Mayor’s citations occurred at Rio San Gabriel Park. games, and swimming in the Downey High pool as a DJ plays music. comment rules was in response to Distinguished Service Award. one particular gadfly who rambles The event will be capped with Gaytan is the advisor for Downey SUNDAY, FEB. 28 incoherently at council meetings, a 23 1/2-minute fireworks show at extending meeting times and High’s KIWIN’s, a youth service club At 10:55 a.m., a 16-year-old male was throwing traffic cones at dusk. drawing the ire of council members that performs extensive volunteer passing cars in the 9600 block of Firestone. The juvenile armed Council members approved the and the public. service in Downey. himself with a knife and threatened a motorist who stopped to fireworks festival, which is estimated Councilman Sean Ashton Some of their projects include packaging thousands of meals for confront him. The motorist tackled the juvenile and held him to cost about $61,000, with the proposed keeping the same public Arc Walk understanding that a significant needy families in Haiti; packing until police arrived. The suspect was arrested for assault with a comment rules, but limiting speakers Saturday - Stonewood Center, portion of hard costs will be offset by to a maximum of three minutes, sandbags in preparation of El Nino 8 a.m. deadly weapon and taken to Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall. donations and sponsorships. down from the current five. storms; and collecting socks and blankets for the homeless. Celebrating people with intellectual The city council voted 4-1 Councilman Luis Marquez and and developmental disabilities. At about 10:00 p.m., officers assisted the Downey Fire to approve the festival, with Mayor Pro Tem Fernando Vasquez Last year, the students helped $25 on-site registration Councilman Sean Ashton opposed. refurbish an old American Legion Department on a structure fire at the new Walmart in the agreed with this, but Mayor Alex ••• Saab did not. post in Hollydale (an ongoing Downey Promenade. DFD put out the fire and believes the project). “What are we doing here?” asked cause was electrical, not arson. A proposal to shorten the public comment period at City Council Saab. “We’re reducing the public’s ••• meetings failed to pass Tuesday chance and opportunity to speak.” Gaytan was also appointed night. Councilman Roger Brossmer to Downey’s Green Task Force, Drafted by the city attorney at agreed. replacing outgoing commission Neighborhood watch block captain meeting member Chuck Frey. Wednesday Miss South Gate Saturday - South Gate Park DOWNEY – The Downey Police Department’s Neighborhood Watch Auditorium, 4 p.m. program will host its fourth annual block captain meeting Wednesday, March 16, from 6-8 p.m. at the Barbara J. Riley Center. Young women will compete for Arc Walk: Why I walk scholarships and title of Miss South Downey’s emergency manager, Andrew Stevens, will introduce the Gate and her court. who receives training, love and care abilities of all mankind and not on “5 Step Neighborhood Preparedness Program.” Block captains will learn By Donna Lindley on a daily basis at The Arc. their disabilities. how to use this outreach program to effectively organize and prepare their neighborhoods for emergency incidents and disasters. DOWNEY – I walk because I I walk for the person who will I believe that God created man in believe every individual should be get their first real job at the age of his own image and we may all be a Block captains will have an opportunity after the presentation to discuss treated with dignity and respect. 40 through The Arc’s Employment little different, but we are all beautiful specific concerns related to their neighborhoods. I walk because people with Center. in our own way – disability or not. To RSVP, or for more information, contact neighborhood watch disabilities have traveled a road that I walk for the family in crisis The Arc Walk for Independence coordinator Jennifer Burkhardt at (562) 904-2374 or [email protected]. I cannot relate to, but yet I appreciate who will receive help from The Arc’s is a show of support for individuals what they have overcome. Center for Human Rights. who are edging closer toward I walk because for one morning I walk for the senior, who can independence - I pledge to support, Irish Heritage Festival Space Center to host ‘City of STEM’ festival a year, I can share time with my retire and enjoy the later stages of life encourage and cheer them on – Saturday - Downtown Long Beach, DOWNEY – Downey’s Columbia Memorial Space Center will host friends, family and people with in The Arc’s Senior Services. every step of the way. 12-9 p.m. a month-long, community-focused celebration of science, technology, disabilities and for this brief moment An all-day festival, with a parade I walk for people with severe I am excited that my community engineering and math March 28 through April 30. - they are the stars of the day. starting at 2 p.m. Marching bands, disabilities who celebrate even the comes together and puts aside Titled “City of STEM,” the festival will feature events throughout the dance groups, floats, and more. I may be one in several thousand, smallest successes. differences for one special morning community, including: but I want to show others that I care of Hope. Honorary dinner for retired NASA engineers (March 28) I walk for people with disabilities and more importantly to remind The Arc Walk for Independence Pub Science Night, L.A.’s only science-in-a-bar event that includes a who have been the focus of ridicule, myself that we all have special – a 20 year tradition – of walking arm scientst, drink specials and science trivia (March 29) staring eyes, jokes and who never gifts and talents regardless of our in arm together. The Arc’s motto for Girls in STEM Summit focusing on supporting young women in science received that warm smile and hello circumstances. the past 60 years is “When You Give (March 31) that I receive. I walk for the thousands who Help… You Give Hope.” I will make Music concert featuring science-themed bands (April 1) I walk not out of pity, but because spent most of their lives in large that motto a reality. Free admission to the space center the week of March 29 through April 2 I believe that everyone is worthy of institutions, but who can now thrive Support of the RoboTech in Long Beach (April 9) dignity and respect. A couple of hours on a Saturday in a warm and accepting community. morning – March 12 at Stonewood Cherry Blossom Festival On April 2, the space center will host its big Science Fest, featuring food I will focus this morning on the Center – let us come together. trucks, live music, rocket launches, and activities from nearly two dozen I walk to support that person Saturday and Sunday, Descano Gardens, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. of the space center’s partners, including Space X, Aquarium of the Pacific, Natural History Museum, L.A. Zoo, Heal the Bay, and others. Admission is Music, origami, food, and garden walks. free. $9 adults, $6 students and seniors, Arc Walk: Why I walk $4 kids Bunny breakfast March 19 at Golden Park DOWNEY – A limited number of tickets are still available for a “Brunch I’ve learned that Arc consumers FROM OUR FacebooK with Bunny & Spring Extravaganza” event Saturday, March 19, at Golden are some of the most loyal sports fans Park. in the world. Survey names Downey The event features breakfast prepared by Boy Scout Troop No.