Big band opens the Puente Hills Concerts in the Park

 

708_Manny_Glass_BandThe Manny Glass  big band orchestra began the Puente Hills Concerts in the Park series last night in Schabarum Park. The orchestra played patriotic music to celebrate the Fourth of July. They are also known for playing popular tunes from the 40’s big band era.

This summer’s lineup of musicians is sure to offer something for everyone! The series will offer new bands and sounds, as well as bringing back the year-to-year favorites!

Be sure and leave Tuesday nights open from 7 to 9 p.m. on your calendar this summer – you won’t want to miss a moment of the fun!

Vector Control finds West Nile virus in Diamond Bar and Hacienda Heights

As summer heats up, the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District  advises residents to protect themselves from mosquitoes and West Nile virus. It has confirmed additional West Nile virus positive activity in the communities of Diamond Bar and Hacienda Heights (zip codes 91789 and 91745, respectively).

Vector control confirmed a WNV positive mosquito sample in Diamond Bar and a WNV positive dead bird in Hacienda Heights. This is the first sign of virus activity this year in both communities. View District statistics here. Statewide this year, there have been more than 100 positive mosquito samples and more than 250 positive dead birds. View more at westnile.ca.gov.

“This is a reminder that West Nile virus continues to be a problem here in Los Angeles County,” says Levy Sun, the public information officer. “We can anticipate more activity as the season progresses.”

West Nile virus is transmitted to people and animals through the bite of an infected mosquito.  There is no cure for West Nile virus.  One in five persons infected with West Nile virus will exhibit symptoms.  Symptoms usually occur between 5 and 15 days and can include fever, headache, body aches, nausea, or a skin rash.  These symptoms can last for several days to months.  One in 150 people infected with the virus will require hospitalization.  Severe symptoms include high fever, muscle weakness, neck stiffness, coma, paralysis, and possibly death.

Any water left standing for more than one week in containers such as flower pots, fountains and pet dishes provides the perfect breeding habitat for mosquitoes.  GLACVCD would like to remind residents that even the smallest of breeding sources can contribute to a large public health problem within the Greater Los Angeles County area.

Residents can take an active role in reducing the threat of WNV in their neighborhoods by taking the following steps:

  1. Eliminate stagnant, dirty water in clogged rain gutters, rain barrels, pet dishes, discarded tires, or anything that holds water for more than a week
  2. Ensure that swimming pools, spas, and ponds are properly maintained
  3. Request FREE mosquitofish from your local vector control district for placement in ornamental ponds
  4. Go online to ReportMosquitoes.org or call 562-944-9656 to report the following:
    • Mosquito problems near your home or neighborhood
    • Neglected (green) swimming pools in your neighborhood (including vacant homes)

For more information, residents can contact Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District at562-944-9656 or online at www.glacvcd.org.

Fire officials warn of an intense fire season at Diamond Bar Center

The Los Angeles County Fire Department met with other local and federal agencies in Diamond Bar to discuss and warn the public that the upcoming fire season will be “intense,” due to ongoing drought conditions in the state.

“The last fire season never really ended,” said Shawna Legarza, director of Fire and Aviation Management for the U.S. Forest Service. “We fought fires in mid-December and the middle of January. We’ve never had that before.”

The Forest Service director noted that California hasn’t had significant rainfall since 2010. Legarza said the ongoing drought means fire conditions are running two months ahead of what you would normally find.

Which means Southern California is dry as you would expect to find it in September. To cope, fire officials are preparing for wild fires much earlier than usual.

“We could have fires start all over the state in these conditions. So we started adding staff in January, that’s unprecedented,” explained Ken Pimlott, Director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Cal Fire has spent $242 million in the fiscal year ending last night on wildland fires.

The conference was held one year to the day from when 19 firefighters were killed in the Yarnell Hills fire in Arizona. The firemen were remembered in several ceremonies Monday as well as by fire officials in Diamond Bar.

“I was a hotshot for 20 years and many of Granite Mountain Hotshots were my friends,” Legarza said. “I think about these people, as well as another 14 firefighters who died almost 20 years.”

That group of firefighters died July 6, 1994, on Storm King Mountain in Colorado’s South Canyon Fire. Though the investigations continue, shifting winds, steep canyons and a lack of situational awareness were all factors in the deaths.

Read more in Rich Irwin’s story WILDFIRE.