A View from the Heights

Rowland Superintendent Maria Ott works with Michael Feng and Korbin Amper at Shelyn Elementary. She is being honored today by the California Association for Bilingual Education. Ott has been named its administrator of the year.

Incorporated in 1976, the nonprofit group in Covina promotes bilingual education throughout California. The association has 5,000 members in more than 60 chapters.

Read our story about the local superintendent in the Rowland Heights Highlander.

Posted by Richard Irwin at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Blandford Eementary School In Rowland Heights will hold a special Asian night today. It will begin with an Asian barbecue dinner from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The cost is $5 for adults and $3 for children.

Activities will feature three half-hour cultural rotations from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Community leaders as well as teachers will teach origami, martial arts, Korean dance, abacus math, calligraphy, geography and Chinese zodiac lessons.

At 6 p.m., there will also be a song/dance by the Chinese after-school program. The school will also be raffling school sweatshirts. Raffle tickets are $1. All proceeds go to PTA.

Posted by Richard Irwin at 2:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Teens can enjoy an afternoon of video games such as Guitar Hero, Rock Band and DDR at Rowland Heights Library. The fun begins at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 25.

Snacks will be provided by the Friends of the Rowland Heights Library.
The library is at 1850 Nogales St. For information, call Adrian Romero at (626) 912-5348.

Posted by Richard Irwin at 5:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Hacienda Heights Improvement Association will review the Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Pacific Heights project at its next meeting on Monday, Feb. 23.

Project manager Elsa Trujillo and the project biologist from Pacific Communities are expected to attend.

The association meets at 7 p.m. in the Hacienda La Puente Unified board room at 15959 Gale Ave. in Hacienda Heights.

Posted by Richard Irwin at 5:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Helping others, that's what it's all about. And our schools are certainly jumping in with both feet.
Literally!

Bixby Elementary in Hacienda Heights participated in the "Jump for Heart," for the American Heart Association. They were joined by the kids from Valinda Elementary who also jumped for the heart association at their campus.

Palm Elementary in Hacienda Heights held a "Pennies for Patients" assembly in the cafeteria, on Friday. The kids raised money for the The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Kindergarten teacher Kristy Rivera reported that one student, Rudy Pedroza, raised more than $480. Amazing!

Principal Edna Moore said the school wanted to raise $1,400 this year. This is the second year that Palm has raised more than $1,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Congratulations!

Posted by Richard Irwin at 1:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Rowland Heights Library will hold a book sale in the lobby from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21.

The sale will include children's books, young adult books and adult books, as well as books on tape and VHS movies.

The library is at 1850 Nogales St. For information, call (626) 912-5348.

Posted by Richard Irwin at 5:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Daylon McCutcheon, former NFL player for the Cleveland Browns, will be the keynote speaker at today's celebration of Black History Month at Nogales High School. The event begins at 6 p.m. in the school's Little Theater.

The local high school is celebrating the accomplishment's of African-Americans.

There will also be performances by singers, steppers, dancers and poets!

The grand event is being hosted by teachers: Mrs. Haywood, Mr. Cofer, Mrs. McQueen & Ms. Nelson

Refreshments will be sold to raise money for ASB.

Posted by Richard Irwin at 10:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We don't want to hound parents about good hygiene, but Harold the Healthy Hound will.

The playful puppet will present "How to be Healthy," a show for parents on hygiene for children. The show is presented by Rowland Unified's First 5 program.

The hourlong puppet show begins at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday in Room 23 at Hurley Elementary School in La Puente.

The show helps parents prepare their children for school from birth to age 5. The First 5 program provides resources, educational/literacy programs, child-development information, access to medical services, special needs referrals, and parent group support.

Resource kits are available free of charge, in multiple languages with videos and materials to enhance the skills of parents. The First 5 Story Mobile van visits local neighborhoods, providing a variety of literacy experiences for preschool children.

For more information, call (626) 854-2228.

Posted by Richard Irwin at 10:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

KCAT TV Channel 3 in Hacienda Heights will broadcast the last live "Marty's Corner" show on Saturday, Feb. 21.

The local television program has entertained viewers throughout Hacienda Heights for 16 years. But on March 1, the studios at KCAT will close.

If you want to be a part of the last live studio audience of "Marty's Corner," the show begins at 8 p.m. on the Wilson High campus at 16433 Wedgeworth Dr.

Go to www.martyscornerlive.com for details and directions.

Posted by Richard Irwin at 12:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Are our schools safe?

Here's your chance to ask Tony Argott, the new school police chief for the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District.

Argott will present a school safety seminar for parents at 8 a.m. Tuesday in the multipurpose room of Wedgeworth Elementary School in Hacienda Heights. It will be followed by a PTA meeting.

Meanwhile, parent education classes on the new laptop computers being given to district students continues at Baldwin Academy at 8:30 a.m. and 5:45 p.m. in the school cafeteria.

Los Robles will also hold a PTA Meeting in its cafeteria at 6:30 p.m.

Posted by Richard Irwin at 5:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Get ready for a good ole country hoedown!

Soroptimist International of Puente Hills will hold its fourth annual Country Hoedown Barbeque fundraiser on Sunday, Feb. 22 at the Industry Hills Expo Center.

The money will be used to support the club's charity work, including Delhaven Center in La Puente, Soroptimist Village in Norwalk, Project Independence for women and girls in Afghanistan, the Heifer Project in Panama, and much more.

The Country Hoedown is a family event, so break out your cowboy gear. The "watering hole" opens at 2 p.m., with "grub" and festivities at 2:30 p.m.

Students from the Hacienda La Puente Adult School Food Service Program will prepare a barbeque buffet.

Festivities include music, line dancing and a hand and face artist.

The cost is $25 for adults, $12.50 for children 7-12, and free for children 6 and under.

The local Soroptimists come from La Puente, Hacienda Heights, Rowland Heights, Walnut, City of Industry, Diamond Bar, and Bassett.

For tickets and information, call President Nancy Clayton at (626) 810-1316 by Feb. 15.

Posted by Richard Irwin at 8:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Homestead Museum will host special living history tours this weekend to show the shocking revolution in American manners and morals from the conservative Victorian period to the modern Roaring Twenties.

The free tours take place on Feb. 14 and 15, with tour times each hour from 1 to 4 p.m. Reservations are strongly encouraged.

Characters from these periods will share stories about social customs, including courtship practices, petting parties, Valentine celebrations, women initiating marriage proposals, and marrying for practical reasons and not love.

The new car culture, racy movies, prohibition and true confession magazines fueled scandalous behavior in those eras.

Call (626) 968-8492 for reservations, or visit www.homesteadmuseum.org.

Posted by Richard Irwin at 8:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Seniors twirl during Steinmetz Senior Center's Valentine's Day Dance in Hacienda Heights this afternoon. (Leo Jarzomb / Staff)

Posted by Richard Irwin at 5:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Steinmetz Senior Center will hold a Valentine's Dance from 1 to 4 p.m. today.

The free dance includes refreshments, contests, and the music of Pons Lomboy.

Couples married the longest and the shortest will be among the many recognized.

The Steinmetz Senior Center is at 1545 S. Stimson Ave. in Hacienda Heights.
Call (626) 934-7041 for information.

Posted by Richard Irwin at 10:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Neighbors helping neighbors. That's what it's all about in Hacienda Heights.

New Horizons Caregivers Group and local civic groups banded together to help more than 400 families get through these hard times. The families received $200 worth of food at Palm Elementary School in Hacienda Heights on Jan. 31.

See our complete story in the Hacienda Heights Highlander.

Posted by Richard Irwin at 11:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Oswalt Academy in Rowland Unified School District is holding a unique fundraiser to help offset budget cuts.

Principal Astrid Ramirez and her staff will raise money for "puckering up with a pig!" For a dollar a vote, students and community members may choose the teacher or staff member they would like to see kiss a live pig.

The Mt. SAC Agriculture Department will provide the pig for a school-wide assembly on Feb. 13. The staff member from each grade level with the most votes will kiss the pig.

To buy tickets, call Oswalt Academy at (626) 810-4109. It is located at 19501 Shadow Oak Drive in Walnut.

Posted by Richard Irwin at 10:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Rowland Heights Community Coordinating Council will discuss traffic concern at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 9, at the Pathfinder Park Community Center, on the corner of Pathfinder and Fullerton Roads.

The speaker is John Ballas, city engineer for Industry, who will explain the proposed upgrade for the 57/60 freeways.

The meeting will also include reports from the California Highway Patrol and the Sheriff's Department, as well as presentations by representatives of elected officials, including U.S. Congressman Gary Miller, State Senator Bob Huff, State Assemblyman Curt Hagman, and County Supervisors Don Knabe and Gloria Molina.

President Beth Hojnacke encourages all residents to attend. For further information, visit www.rhccc.netfirms.com.

Posted by Richard Irwin at 1:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Bring your family to school continues at Kwis Elementary School in Hacienda Heights. One of the main events was the big Daddy Dodgeball event held on the playground yesterday afternoon.

There must have been between 30 and 40 dads duking it out on the basketball court for bragging rights. The play was fast and furious as the fathers dodged balls and tried to know each other out of the competition.

On Tuesday, grandparents were invited to attend the school with their grandchildren. They then enjoyed a lunch with them.

On Freaky Friday, parents will exchange places with their kids for the first hour of school. Good luck to the parents who have to run the mile scheduled for some students.

See our story and video in an upcoming edition of the Hacienda Heights Highlander.

Posted by Richard Irwin at 11:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The San Gabriel Valley Regional Chamber will hold a new members luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 4, at the Diamond Bar Golf Course, 22751 E. Golden Springs Drive in Diamond Bar.

The keynote speaker is Cynthia J. Kurtz, president and CEO of the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership.

Individual tickets are $35. Sponsorship for a table of 10 is $300.
For information and reservations, call (909) 860-1904. For chamber information, visit www.regionalchambersgv.com.

Posted by Richard Irwin at 1:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Good Time Travel Club at the Steinmetz Senior Center will visit the Lawrence Welk Theater on Tuesday, Feb. 3. The group will enjoy a performance starring Wayland Pickard as Liberace.

The bus will leave for Escondido at 9:30 a.m. and return at 7 p.m. The cost of $56 includes transportation, show and lunch. Light walking is involved.

The senior center is at 1545 South Stimson Ave., Hacienda Heights. For information, call (626) 934-7041.

Posted by Richard Irwin at 8:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Hacienda Heights Library will hold a doggone good time for families on Tuesday, Feb. 3, at 7 p.m.

The County of Los Angeles Public Library and Enrichment Works! presents "A Doggone Musical."
The program teaches pet safety as well as pet care in an entertaining way.

The library is at 16010 La Monde St. For more information, call Paula Vannucci at (626) 968-0356.

Posted by Richard Irwin at 12:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)