June 2010 Archives
The Los Angeles County Fair Association announced today (June 25) that three new members have joined the organization.
Heidi Gallegos of Walnut, Thomas Hsieh of Pomona and resident Darryl Porter of Sherman Oaks are the new members, according to a statement from the association.
The association now has more than 50 members and an 11-member board
of directors.
The association consists of local leaders who have a wide range of
expertise, community involvement and knowledge.
The not-for-profit association is involved in various projects that
have a focus on education, young people and community service. It is
also responsible for the L.A. County Fair, Fairplex's signature event.
Gallegos is vice president of the Rowland Unified School District
board. She is a delegate to the California School Board Association
Region 23 and a member of the Regional Economic Association of
Leaders of California's Education Subcommittee.
Gallegos is also president and chief executive officer of the Regional Chamber of Commerce San
Gabriel Valley; secretary/treasurer of the Los Angeles County
Business Federation; chairwoman of the Mt. San Antonio Community
College Bond Oversight Committee; and a member of Rotary Club of
Walnut Valley.
In addition, she is a recipient of the California
PTA's Golden Oak Service Award and was named 2008 Woman of the Year
for the 60th Assembly District.
Gallegos served in law enforcement as a peace officer and trainer at
the Los Angeles Police Academy for 12 years. She is a graduate of
Biola University, Glendale Community College and the Los Angeles
Police Academy.
Hsieh served more than 10 years with EarthLink before starting his
own company, SplinterRock. He managed more than 450 employees with
EarthLink as vice president of engineering.
His community involvement with nonprofits includes founding president
on the board of Pomona Hope, which grew to have a community center,
after-school program, computer lab and job creation as well as an
economic development program in partnership with Pomona. He also
serves on the board of Servants Partners.
He received an executive MBA from the Drucker School of Management
and a bachelor of science degree in physics from Harvey Mudd College.
Porter is co-chief executive officer and founder of
PorterGeller Entertainment in Hollywood. The company
focuses on film, television and new media projects based on iconic
brands and trademarks.
Porter previously was senior vice president with the Tribune
Entertainment Co. Business Group and senior associate at McBride,
Baker & Cole in Chicago.
He is a graduate of DePaul University College of Commerce, and the
University of Illinois College of Law.
Tips to help young bike riders be safe will be presented
Saturday (June 26) by members of the Pomona Police Department.
The Police Department's Traffic Services Unit organized the free
bicycle rodeo from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Pomona Civic Center
Plaza, 505 S. Garey Ave.
The event is geared to children from 3 to 10 years old and aims to
provide bike safety education.
Motorcycle officers will meet with children to provide safety
information, offer bike inspections and help young bike riders
navigate through a riding course.
Representatives from Coates Cyclery will be available to make minor
adjustments to bikes.
A limited number of bike helmets will be given away to children who
are Pomona residents.
Children will have a chance to have their pictures taken in a police
vehicle or motorcycle while wearing police gear.
Officers will provide free hot dogs and drinks.
Actors at least 18 years old who have a talent for frightening others
may want to take part in an open casting call between 9 a.m. and 2
p.m. Saturday (June 26) at Fairplex, 1101 W. McKinley Ave.
Candidates will go before an American Idol-style panel of judges.
The successful candidates will be offered the role of a ghoul or
monster at Nightmare at Scareview Farms, the annual Halloween
attraction at Fairplex.
"Monsters don't need anything but their screams and howls. We will
provide the costumes," said Ed Mendez, who represents RWB Party
Props, the production company that puts on Scareview Farms.
"Scareview Idol," as the event is being billed, will be in the Big
Red Barn, the home of Scareview Farms. A temporary haunted maze has
been set up for the audition.
Participants in the casting call can enter Fairplex through Gate 1 on
McKinley Avenue.
Nightmare at Scareview Farms will include five mazes -- "The Bride of
Pitchfork," "Cleopatra's Tomb," "Transylvania Terror," "Skull Island"
and "Zombies of the Grave."
Halloween Nightmare at Scareview Farms is from 7 to 11 p.m. Oct.
14-16, Oct. 21-23 and Oct. 28-31.
Children and their families will be able to travel back in
time Sunday (June 27) afternoon and see what life was like
around the late-1800s if they visit the Phillips Mansion.
The Historical Society of Pomona Valley's Ice Cream Social
will bring together various activities that are fun and educational.
The social will be from 4 to 7 p.m. at the mansion, 2640 Pomona
Blvd.
Admission to the social is free. All activities are $1.
The activities will give children an idea of what Pomona was like
during the Victorian period, said Mickey Gallivan, president of the
Historical Society of Pomona Valley.
"It's very important that kids learn about history, that they get a
feel for it and have pride in it if we're ever going to make things
better," she said. "You have to have a history in order to envision a
future."
Having an understanding of one's history leads to stronger families
and communities that can also work to address problems such as gangs
and vandalism, she said.
The society's Hands on History program takes students to the
Palomares Adobe and La Casa Primera so they can see what life was
like in the 1830s when Don Ygnacio and Don Ricardo Vejar came to this
area.
The ice cream social is similar, but focuses on the period around
1875, which is when the mansion was built, Gallivan said.
Through such programs, children "learn that people in Pomona have done great things. They've
made important inventions, were creative, powerful, rich and
benevolent," she said.
Among the activities at Sunday's ice cream social will be croquet and lawn bowling games, sack races and a flea circus.
Visitors will be able to tour the mansion and learn about original
owner Louis Phillips, who lived in the home for 25 years until his
death in 1900, Gallivan said. Phillips' wife lived in the home until
1918.
Children will also be able to see and, in some cases, use historic
artifacts.
Children will have a fun time learning about a period in the city's
history and create an everlasting memory, Gallivan said.
Lovers of action and adventure films will want to
visit the Fox Theater on Sunday (June27) for a screening of the film "Raiders
of the Lost Ark."
The 1981 film, which stars Harrison Ford, was directed by Steven
Spielberg and produced by George Lucas. It is the first film in the
Indiana Jones franchise.
The Friends of the Pomona Fox have organized the screening
event, which will include a classic cartoon and a special
surprise, said John Clifford, president of the Friends group.
Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for children ages 12 and under.
Guests will have a chance to the take their picture with a cut-out of
Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones.
Guests will also be eligible to win door prizes.
Doors open at 1 p.m. The film starts at 2 p.m.
The Fox Theater is on the southwest corner of Garey Avenue and West
Third Street in downtown Pomona.
Its summer and that means the Pomona Concert Band
will be taking the stage of the G. Stanton Selby Bandshell at Ganesha
Park, 1575 N. White Ave.
The 63rd Annual Summer Concert Series kicks off at 8 p.m. July 1 at
the bandshell behind the park's community center.
The series will include nine Thursday evening concerts with the
finale on Aug. 26. All performances are free to the
public.
The opening concert will celebrate America's Birthday with "An
American Musical Journey," according to a statement from
the band.
Music of American composers will be featured throughout the concert.
Also participating in the concert will be the Carolers of the
Claremont Chorale in Alfred Reed's "Testament of An American."
The concert will be dedicated to the memory of Helen Selby,
wife of band founder, G. Stanton Selby, who died recently.
For more information on the band, visit www.pomonaconcertband.org or send an e-mail to
Director Linda Taylor at director@pomonaconcertband.org or band
president Allan Small at president@pomonaconcertband.org
POMONA - Esther Flores' graduation from the School of Extended Educational Options on Wednesday represents triumph over many obstacles.
Flores, 17, of Pomona has overcome health problems and academic challenges that others might have found insurmountable. She had a heart transplant when she was 15 and numerous other hospital stays.
"I used to go to Garey High School, but I missed a lot of school," Flores said.
She would often show up to a doctor's appointment only to find herself hospitalized. The doctors would perform tests "and they wouldn't like my result and would admit me to the hospital. That would put me behind in my academics," she said.
Flores was born with hypothyroidism - a disease caused by insufficient production of hormones by the thyroid gland. However, she wasn't prescribed the proper dosage of medicine to control the condition, which would affect her heart later, Flores said.
Her heart condition surfaced when she was a sophomore at Western High School in Las Vegas. Her family had moved to Nevada from Corona after she completed her first year of high school.
Flores became ill and was hospitalized. Doctors found fluid building up in her body, which affected her heart and lungs. Doctors determined she needed a new heart.
Flores had transplant surgery at Children's Hospital Los Angeles on March 12, 2008.
As her condition improved, Flores began working with a teacher at the hospital on math and language arts. She continued to do so while she stayed at the Ronald McDonald House in Los Angeles, where she was monitored by doctors.
In fall 2008, Flores enrolled at Garey High and was eager to start her junior year. But her body tried to reject the new heart, and she often stayed home and in the hospital.
She returned to Garey High in September 2009 to start her senior year, but health problems again kept her out of school for long periods.
About that time, her home and hospital teacher talked with her about the School of Extended Educational Options in Pomona.
The teacher explained that SEEO, a charter school of the Pomona Unified School District, would allow her to move at a faster pace to make up classes that she needed to graduate.
Before Flores could transfer, SEEO administrators and Sebastian Black, lead teacher specialist, went over Flores' case, paying special attention to her medical needs.
"We all had concerns about her health," Black said.
The administrators wondered if she would be able to physically handle being at school and have any special needs.
Once that was addressed, Flores started at SEEO and seemed to thrive there.
"I think she was happy to be around other students and have the communal exchange," Black said.
SEEO helped her calculate how many credits she needed to graduate.
Because she had moved so many times during her high school years, "my credits were everywhere," Flores said. "We didn't know what my credits were."
After researching the matter, school officials determined Flores was 50 credits - mostly electives - away from graduating.
With a graduation plan in hand, Flores combined hard work, discipline and commitment to meet the requirements, Black said.
Flores has always been focused on what she needed to do to achieve her goal, he said.
"She was like, `I need this. I want to graduate,"' Black said.
SEEO has a low student-to- teacher ratio and resources to help students who have encountered academic challenges and are committed to meeting graduation requirements, Black said.
Flores "took full advantage" of those resources, he said.
Flores said she had moments when her goal seemed unachievable.
"I thought I wasn't going to be able to make all the classes, but I did and I'm so proud," she said.
Alma Salas, Esther's mother, said her daughter would sometimes become tired but would never get discouraged.
"She put a great deal of effort in spite of all she has been through," Salas said.
Esther said she hopes to attend Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut and enroll in the nursing program.
"I like helping people, and I have a lot of patience, and I see a lot of people don't have that," Esther said.
Someday, she would like to work as a nurse at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.
"I like children," Flores said.
"I would know what they're feeling and I could share my experience with them."
POMONA - City leaders this week abandoned a fire service reconfiguration proposal meant to save money when they voted to cancel escrow on a piece of land needed for the plan.
City Council members voted unanimously Monday night to pull out of escrow on the 1.84-acre parcel on North Garey Avenue, south of La Verne Avenue.
The land was needed to build a new fire station that would provide service to the areas now served by stations 182 on White Avenue and 186 on Bonita Avenue. Under the proposal the two stations would have closed.
Resident Carol Schlaepfer told council members before the vote that if they were sincere about backing away from the reconfiguration proposal "you are going to make a lot of people very, very happy."
The proposal submitted by the Los Angeles County Fire Department was meant to reduce Pomona's fire service costs by $1.6 million to $1.7 million annually.
To carry out the plan would have involved the city's purchasing the Garey Avenue property for $1.40 million. The land purchase in addition to the cost of building a new station would have brought the total cost of the new station to about $7 million.
Residents who attended two community meetings in May where the proposal was presented objected to it with some expressing concerns the station closures would impact response times.
Other residents objected to the costs associated with the project at a time when the city is having to make profound cuts to balance its budget.
Members of a council budget committee were expected to present a recommendation to the full council to back away from the property purchase at the June 7 meeting. However, the item was moved to this week's meeting to give the council time to review an analysis of the proposal from a consulting firm hired by the city.
The analysis recommended the city accept the proposal.
At the meeting Councilman Freddie Rodriguez said it was good to see residents express their views on the proposal.
He added this is not the time to pursue such a plan nor is there community support for the concept.
"I think it's fair to say don't close anything at this time," Rodriguez said.
A provision in the escrow agreement on the property called for the city to pay the owners of the land $15,000 if it did not close escrow within the first 60 days of entering escrow.
If the city did not close escrow within 180 days the city would have to pay the property owner $60,000.
Redevelopment Director Raymond Fong said that since the city was terminating escrow before July 26 the city will not face any costs.
POMONA - City leaders adopted an operational budget this week but not before Mayor Elliott Rothman secured additional cuts within the Pomona Police Department in order to keep three police positions.
Council members adopted the city's operating budget which contains the $79.4 million general fund that is used to pay for services such as police, fire, the library and parks and recreation.
The budget was approved on a 4-3 vote with council members Cristina Carrizosa, Tim Saunders, Steve Atchley and Mayor Elliott Rothman voting in favor and Council members Danielle Soto, Freddie Rodriguez and Paula Lantz voting against.
Before the vote, Finance Director Paula Chamberlain told council members city personnel reviewed the council members' requests to reinstate a number of programs and did so through a series of steps that include leaving some currently vacant positions open for some time in order to use those funds on the projects.
Where possible city staff will use gas tax, bond proceeds and redevelopment agency funds to pay for street improvements to free up general fund dollars to pay for the restoration of programs, Chamberlain said.
City staff was able to restore after-school and summer programs at six of the city's 12 community centers; restore three of four graffiti removal workers; and reinstate two civilian community service officer positions to work on crime prevention matters.
After the presentation Rothman said he would
like to bringing back five patrol officer positions.
Due to the budget reductions 15 police officer positions were designated for elimination. One of the 15 officers has already resigned.
Rothman said, "One of our priorities should be to provide police protection to our residents."
Lantz said getting to Monday's point in developing a budget was no easy task.
"I think it's been a real effort to come to this reality," she said.
But then Rothman proposed directing Police Chief Dave Keetle to look for places within the police budget to make cuts in order to restore five officer positions.
Keetle said the department couldn't cut into civilian positions without having an impact on sworn personnel and, in turn, on service delivery to the public.
The department must keep a balance of sworn and civilian positions or risk not having enough civilians to handle administrative duties. Without sufficient civilian personnel, sworn officers would have to be pulled from crime-fighting work to handle those duties, Keetle said.
Lantz said she would like to restore five sworn police positions but doing so would have an impact on other areas of the department.
Cutting civilian jobs to keep sworn positions was counterproductive and in the end the officers wouldn't be fighting crime, she said.
"They would not be out on the street chasing bad guys. They would be behind desks," Lantz said.
Keetle said there were areas within the department that already had minimum staffing levels. If the council wanted to restore positions there were some unpalatable trade-offs to be made, he said.
"If you eliminated all the crossing guards in the city you can buy back an officer," Keetle said.
Other changes would involve reducing civilian personnel and closing the department's front window on weekends.
Rothman suggested eliminating five civilian positions that include an analyst's position, two management positions and two community services officers, in order to get three sworn officers back on the budget.
After the meeting Rothman said some of the positions are supervisory in nature.
"Some of those positions are managers over very few employees," he said.
Eliminating those positions "shouldn't be too encumbering and should keep (police officer) boots on the ground," he said.
POMONA - Members of the Rotary Club of Pomona, a number of senior citizens and city officials gathered outside Washington Park Community Center last week for the dedication of a pair of benches purchased by the Rotarians.
Each year, the service club takes part in projects involving youths and education, but this year the club wanted a project that would benefit seniors, said Roseanne Bader, the club's president-elect.
"We do so much for young people, but we wanted to do something for seniors," she said.
Youth-oriented projects include the club's Student of the Month program and scholarship programs.
In speaking with representatives of Pomona's Community Services Department last fall, Rotary Club members learned there was a need for a bench that seniors could use to wait for the Pomona Valley Get About buses that take them home after attending activities at the center, Bader said.
About 25 seniors who attend the senior-lunch program at Washington Park Community Center use Get About transportation, she said.
However, those seniors had no place to sit while they waited for the shuttle and would frequently use folding chairs until their ride arrived.
The club bought two eight-foot benches at a cost of about $2,000, said Bader, who spearheaded the project
POMONA -- Roy O. Day could spot a political winner.
Day, a Pomona native and businessman, ran numerous political campaigns. But there was one politician he helped -- Richard M. Nixon -- whose career would lead to the White House.
Day's children, residents of the Inland Valley, recalled this week their family's interaction with Nixon and his own family.
In 1945, Day was chairman of what was called the Fact Finding Committee of the One Hundred, which had been established to find a suitable Republican candidate for what was then the 12th Congressional District.
The incumbent at the time was Democratic Rep. Jerry Voorhis who had held the seat for 10 years.
The group interviewed several people until a Whittier bank executive suggested the group consider a young Navy officer.
"I knew then he was highly salable merchandise," Day said in a 1968 newspaper account. "Pat (Nixon) wore the wrong-color nail polish. Dick tended toward flamboyant ties. But we knew we had a winner."
The newspaper clip is part of a collection of news stories, letters and other documents the Day children donated to the Richard Nixon Library in 1999.
Three of the four Day children said this week that their father supported Nixon for the same reason he backed other candidates -- he considered they were upstanding citizens who were interested in doing what was best for the city, the state or the nation.
Among the things that impressed Day was that Nixon "was local, he was serving in the (Navy). He had a child or two and was well-rounded," recalled Roy Day Jr., Day's youngest child, of Upland.
Nixon "was very bright and was a very good speaker," said Linda Day Baker of Fontana, Day's oldest child. "He could field questions better than everyone else."
Early on, Day saw potential in Nixon and thought he could one day become president.
Day became Nixon's first campaign manager, a detail Nixon never forgot, and played a role in Nixon's Senate campaign, all of which were launched in Pomona, Day Baker said.
As a little girl, Day Baker said she can recall Nixon visiting with her father.
"I sat on his lap, and he had this deep, deep voice," she said.
Day Baker said her father would often organize gatherings at the family's Pomona home that were attended by members of the House and the Senate.
Nixon was often among the guests.
Day and Nixon would meet at the Day residence periodically. It was a place where Nixon knew he could talk about anything on his mind, knowing it would never be repeated anywhere, Day Baker said.
"This was sort of a little haven for (Nixon)," she said. "He knew that he could trust Daddy."
During those chats Day would give Nixon advice, she said.
Day Baker said as a young woman in her 20s, after years without seeing Nixon, she saw him and his wife, Pat, in Oklahoma where she was living at the time.
The Nixons were on the campaign trail for the Eisenhower-Nixon ticket. Day, his wife, Florine, and Day Baker were at a campaign event and part of long line waiting to see the Nixons.
When the Days got to the couple, Nixon and his wife greeted them warmly, she said.
"They spent time reminiscing about the good old days," Day Baker said.
Day was with Nixon one day while he was running for the vice presidency when a woman came up to him and gave him some rosary beads and then left.
Nixon then turned to Day and asked him to get the woman's name and address for him so he could send her a thank-you note.
Day Jr. said he can recall from an early age his parents made sure he had a solid grasp of proper phone etiquette.
The skill was critical since it wasn't uncommon for calls to come from Nixon's assistant Rose Mary Woods.
Day Jr. said when he would answer such calls he would answer as courteously as possible.
After putting down the phone, "I'd run off and say 'Dad, Dad, the president is on the phone!"
"I always wanted to say something back but I didn't know what to say," Day Jr. said.
Patricia Day Hayes, who lives in the family home in Pomona and was named after Nixon's wife, is the youngest of Day's three daughters.
While Nixon was president she became the liaison between the family and the White House and continued in that role after Nixon left office.
"I could pick up the phone, and my calls always got through," she said.
Nixon never forgot the Days, always taking the time to send a note on special occasions, Day Hayes said.
When the Watergate scandal surfaced, Day became concerned. Nixon had distanced himself from Day by then, and Day was uncomfortable with the people he saw around the president, Day Baker said.
Her father questioned the ethics of some of those people, she said.
Still, during that period, Day gave interviews and spoke in defense of Nixon.
When Nixon resigned and left the White House, "it was like a funeral to us," Day Hayes said. "We grieved. We mourned."
The Nixons returned to California. It was in the late 1970s when the Days had an opportunity to visit the Nixons in their San Clemente home.
Day Hayes made the arrangements and handled security matters, but in the end it was just two families getting together to share some time, the Day siblings said.
POMONA - A group of second- and third-graders held on to the edges of a green, yellow, blue and red parachute in the playground of Mendoza Elementary School ready for the instructions of an AmeriCorps volunteer.
The students were to lift the parachute as high as they could and then lower it.
"Up is really slow, down is fast," said AmeriCorps volunteer Andretta Swift.
The children raised the parachute in the air, some standing on the tips of their feet, before bringing it back down to the ground with all their might.
The children's movements sent several small stuffed toys flying into the sky, drawing laughter and squeals of excitement from the students.
Twice a week students at Mendoza take part
Vianney Lopez, 7, center, Karina Garcia, 7, and their classmates play with a parachute during a YMCA of Pomona Valley activity April 28 at Mendoza Elementary School. The YMCA, in partnership with the Pomona Unified School District, has organized activities for children to participate in during recess and after school. (Khai Le/Correspondent)
in organized games and activities during recess and lunch as part of the YMCA of Pomona Valley's Playground Partners program.
Playground Partners began as a pilot project at 16 Pomona Unified elementary schools during the 2008-2009 school year with YMCA staff members providing organized games once a week, said Jane Taylor, executive director of the YMCA of Pomona Valley.
The arrival of a group of AmeriCorps volunteers and additional grants allowed the program to expand to two weekly visits this academic year to all 29 of the district's elementary schools, Taylor said.
Through Playground Partners, students are "getting physical activity, picking up new skills and having a great time," Taylor said.
Children like attention and a program like this one offers just that, Taylor said.
"What we're trying to show them is that they can get attention by being good kids," Taylor said.
Structured activities during recess and lunch are good for children but the responsibilities of the schools' staff are such they can't organize games, she said.
Playground Partners has been welcomed by many principals, including Alicia McMullin at Mendoza.
Through the program's organized activities children are able to be active physically, something important at a time when the rate of childhood obesity is on the rise, she said. At the same time students are engaged in fun, structured play.
Students know which days Playground Partners staff will be on campus and they look forward to the visits, McMullin said.
Such activities have another positive effect.
McMullin said she has noticed that on days Playground Partners visit campus fewer disciplinary issues arise.
"The only negative is when they don't show up," she said.
Taylor said as part of all activities children are encouraged to be respectful, caring and honest to classmates and others around them.
Instilling those principles in children means "the chances of bullying each other at lunchtime decreases greatly," Taylor said.
Among the games the children play are kickball, pillow polo, jump rope and games involving the ever popular parachute.
"The activities they bring are things (students) wouldn't usually be doing," McMullin said.
Second-grader Elizabet Garcia said she looks forward to the days when she can take part in the games led by the biweekly visitors.
On those days she tries to finish lunch quickly so she can go out and play, she said.
Third-grader Christian Escobar also enjoys having the program staff on campus.
"I like how they bring fun stuff to school," said Christian, who enjoys kickball, baseball and the parachute.
Taylor said her organization is working to continue offering Playground Partners at all of the elementary schools the coming school year but funding is limited.
"Right now we have funding for one day a week," Taylor said.
However, grants and other funds are being sought in order to provide the program twice a week, she said, adding she is optimistic the program will be able to operate on that scheduled.
Opportunities are available for businesses, service clubs and individuals to help out in various ways, Taylor said.
Businesses can pick a school and commit to sponsoring a second day of activities, provide volunteers interested in working with children or come up with a combination.
As for the help of AmeriCorps volunteers, Taylor said her organization has been told more volunteers will be sent to the YMCA, but nothing has been arranged officially yet.
College students majoring in areas such as kinesiology also would be welcomed if they were interested in volunteering.
"We're going to make this work because the kids need it," Taylor said.
To sponsor a school and for questions on how to be involved in the Playground Partners program contact Jane Taylor at YMCA of Pomona Valley, 909-623-6433.
POMONA - Some voters on Tuesday walked or drove to the polls.
But for about a dozen patients at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, their hospital rooms became a polling place - complete with "I Voted" stickers, hospital spokeswoman Kathy Roche said.
Hospital volunteers on Monday started preparing for Election Day by visiting patients. The volunteers asked the patients if they were registered to vote and wanted to cast a ballot, Roche said.
Once patients interested in voting completed emergency ballot requests, the volunteers submitted them to the registrar of voters in either Los Angeles or San Bernardino counties, based on where a patient lives, she said.
Officials with the registrars' offices reviewed the applications and, if they were approved, issued ballots to the patients, Roche said.
On Tuesday, volunteers headed to San Bernardino and Norwalk to collect ballots and deliver them to patients, she said.
Volunteers were prepared to review the voting procedures for both counties with patients, Roche said.
Once patients finished voting, volunteers collected the ballots and delivered them to a polling place in each county.
The hospital has provided the voting opportunity to patients for more than 15 years, Roche said.
"We want to do anything we can to assist patients that want to vote," she said. "We're indebted to our volunteers ... They assume all of this responsibility."
POMONA - Community center activities and Neighborhood Watch programs are among the services some City Council members want to protect from budget cuts.
But to save those and other programs, which add up to about $826,000, cuts must be made in other areas, city administrators said at Monday night's council meeting.
Council members approved budgets for the city's redevelopment agency, housing authority and capital improvement program but held off on approving the city's $165.5 million proposed operating budget.
Included in the operating budget is $78.9 million from the general fund, which pays for services such as police, fire, the library and parks and recreation.
Council members directed department directors to review their portions of the budget and look for places to reduce costs in order to fund other projects.
Among the proposals that went before the council was reducing after-school and summer recreation activities at six of 12 community centers around the city.
But Councilwoman Cristina Carrizosa said she found other areas that could be cut from the budget.
"I think we can squeeze more," she said, seeking greater funds for community center programs.
Councilman Tim Saunders said after-school programs provide help to working families, giving their children supervised activities they can take part in until parents come home from work.
"That's one thing parents have to be able to count on," he said.
"It's hundreds of kids, and it's at every center."
Restoring such programs would cost $300,000, city administrators said.
Councilwoman Paula Lantz sought funding for additional community service officers.
In its budget, the Police Department reduced the number of community service officers, which are civilian positions, from six to two.
Lantz said if cuts to police officer positions will be made, then programs such as Neighborhood Watch need to be bolstered. She called for funding four additional community service officers.
Capt. Paul Capraro responded that those extra officers would cost $284,000 and would require the elimination of two sworn officers.
Mayor Elliott Rothman lobbied to restore five of the 15 police officer positions being eliminated.
Police Chief Dave Keetle said any further cuts will hurt services.
"We're running out of options," he said. "There are fewer and fewer positions we have to look to for funding."
On Tuesday, Rothman said he thought the requested adjustments can be carried out, allowing the city to restore some services such as police.
Services can be provided by cutting money for items such as tools, furniture and equipment and redirecting the funds to services, he said.
"Those aren't items that are going to affect the community," Rothman said.
During the meeting, Rothman asked council members if they supported proceeding with the search for areas to cut.
Councilman Steve Atchley said he was opposed to several of the modifications council members were seeking unless specific and viable alternatives were offered.
If not, "this to me is a meaningless discussion, and I object to every single one" of the modifications, he said.
The library was one area where slight improvements were made.
Library and Community Services Director Greg Shapton said under an updated proposal the library would be open 26 hours a week, two more hours than in the previous proposal. The library would be open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday.
A total of seven full-time positions would be reduced to three-quarters time, and nine full-time positions would become half-time positions.
Shapton said the proposal provides service during peak hours and gives patrons who can't make it to the library during the week a weekend day to access services.
Council members are expected to meet Monday morning for a strategic planning session at Cal Poly Pomona, followed by a study session on police matters at 5p.m. at Pomona City Hall, 505 S. Garey Ave.
Police representatives are expected to bring back information on alternative budget cuts to provide the programs council members requested.
At this week's meeting, Lantz proposed making a 10 percent cut to council compensation and council discretionary funds.
"As council member Carrizosa was saying, every little bit helps," Lantz said.
Council members now receive $800 a month in compensation, and the mayor receives $1,600 a month.
Each council member also gets $33,310 in discretionary funds. The mayor gets $39,318.
Half that money comes from the general fund and half from the city's redevelopment agency and can be used for office expenses, travel to conferences and mileage reimbursement.
Members of the council also use the funds to provide assistance to groups and organizations with activities.
Council members may use some of those funds to help offset the cost of programs at community centers, Rothman said.
　
　
Hands-on activities of all kinds will be among the things families will find at the third annual Nancy McCracken Science, Math, Service Learning and Arts Expo Saturday (June 12) at Fairplex.
The free activities will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Building 9 of Fairplex, 1101 W. McKinley Ave.
Every age group, from pre-schoolers to adults, will find something at the expo, said Sarah Ross, chairwoman of Promoting Academic Achievement Task Force of the Pomona Youth and Family Master Plan Community Board.
Visitors will find more than 50 booths with displays on everything from how to put together an award-winning science project to art pieces showcasing the artistic abilities of district students, Ross said.
Representatives of the Pomona Police Department's crime scene investigators, space exploration displays from Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, and many other features will be part of the event.
Information on area colleges will also be available.
A program such as this feeds a students curiosity and can turn a young person onto school, Ross said.
"I think kids are hungry for this kind of activity," she said. "There are so many things they can see and touch and learn about."
There was a time when events were organized at each school regularly but the pressure that testing brings to education makes it difficult to offer such events, Ross said.
Students visiting the event can see the connection between building robots and science and math and careers related to these academic fields.
"They will find something to be totally dedicated to," Ross said.
"We hope to pique the interest of kids and see what is possible," she said.
Teachers will also will find information they can use in their classrooms along with details on other educational resources, Ross said.
Fairplex is at 1101 W. McKinley Ave.
Free parking will be available at Blue Gate 9 on White Ave.
The Willie White Park Focus Group will host a Juneteenth Celebration from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday (June 17).
The celebration will be at the Willie White Park Community Center, 3065 Battram St.
Juneteenth festivities commemorate the celebrations of June 19, 1865, the day slaves in Texas learned they were free.
On Jan. 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation that declared slaves in rebel states free. However, the news did not reach some slaves until Union Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and made an announcement.
The event will include the participation of guest speaker Chris Frausto who will discuss slavery and the slave trade.
Following the presentation, the Juneteenth Celebration of Freedom Feast will begin featuring Southern cuisine.
The event is free and open to the public when guests bring a food dish.
Willie White Park Focus Group organizes monthly meetings on the third Thursday of the month where participants have the chance to speak with elected officials and representatives of local government, the Pomona Unified School District and other agencies.
For information on the event and the organization call 909-596-4273 or 909-392-8666.
Graduation season begins next week for students from various secondary schools in the Pomona Unified School District.
Here is a list of the schools along with the time, day and location of their commencement ceremonies.
Tickets are required for the ceremonies and can be obtained through the graduates.
Ceremonies will take place at different locations within the Fairplex, 1101 W. McKinley Ave.
- Park West High School commencement ceremonies will begin at 5 p.m, June 18 at the Avalon Pavilion.
- Diamond Ranch High School commencement ceremonies begin at 6:30 p.m. June 18 in the Grandstand.
- Adult and Career Education ceremonies will begin at 5 p.m. June 21 in Building 4.
- Ganesha High School commencement ceremonies will begin at 6:30 p.m. June 21, in the Grandstand.
- Village Academy High School commencement ceremonies begin at 5 p.m. June 22, in Building 4.
- Garey High School commencement ceremonies will begin at 6:30 p.m. June 22 in the Grandstand.
- The School of Extended Educational Options along with Pomona Alternative School will have their graduation ceremonies at 5 p.m. June 23, in Building 4.
- Pomona High School commencement ceremonies begin at 6:30 p.m. June 23 in the Grandstand.
The Friends of Casa will be among the sponsors of the "Thunder in the House, Ride for Heroes" on June 19.
The event will take place at the Chino Fairgrounds, 5410 Edison Ave., in Chino.
Motorcycle enthusiasts along with those who prefer the use of four-wheeled vehicles will find an array of activities at the event.
The event is meant to raise money to provide physical rehabilitation services at Casa Colina Centers for Rehabilitation to active military personnel, veterans, law enforcement personnel, firefighters and other first, according to a statement from Casa Colina.
Motorcycle riders will be able to take part in a morning ride, the Poker Run, that begins at 9 a.m. starting from the Chino Fairgrounds. As part of the ride motorcycle enthusiasts will have a chance to win various cash prizes.
The ride will end at about 11 a.m. at the fairgrounds and will lead right into the day's Musical Festival and Barbecue taking place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Music Festival will feature live music by long-time event supporters and performers, the Reno Jones Band. In addition, the Phil Gates Band will perform.
Vendors, a beer garden, a car show, a bike show, children's games, drawings, and other activities will be part of the event.
Tickets are $35 per couple or $20 for individuals. Children ages 12 and under will be admitted for free.
Raffle tickets for a 2010 Harley Davidson Street Glide are $10 each and are available before and during the event and can be purchased in advance at Casa Colina Foundation or on Casa Colina's website: www.casacolina.org
For more information about Casa Colina Centers for Rehabilitation, the event, or to donate to Casa Colina Foundation, e-mail foundation@casacolina.org or call (909) 596-7733, ext. 2223.
The event is being organized by Friends of Casa, an independent group of motorcyclists, ABATE Local 19, ABATE of California and the American Legion Riders.
The Fox Theater in Pomona will offer a comedy show June 19 featuring comic Rick Martinez.
The 90-minute show will take place at the Fox, 301 S. Garey Ave., in the Pomona Arts Colony.
Following the show an after party will be offered in the theater's "Rooftop Lounge" featuring DJCre-8.
Martinez, a native of New York, has performed at the major Improve comedy clubs in addition to local comedy clubs, according to a statement from production company Flappers Comedy.
Martinez is working on the movie "Lean like a Cholo" and has appeared in the independent film "Up Against the Eight Ball" which was screened at the NY Film Festival.
In addition, Martinez has been on VH1's "When Comics Ruled the World" and is the creator of "Latin Knights," a collaboration of the hottest Latin comics in the industry.
Two shows will be offered, the first at 8 p.m. and the second starting at 10 p.m. Audience members must be 18 and over.
Tickets can be pre-purchased ahead of time at www.ComedyCasting.com
For ticket and show information go to ComedyCasting.com or www.RickMartinezComedy.com or call 818-845-9721.
Baseball fans can help the American Red Cross next weekend by making a blood donation and receive a gift afterwards.
Members of the Dodgers Booster Club and of the Angels Booster Club are inviting area residents, as well as baseball fans, to assist the American Red Cross by being a blood donor.
A blood drive is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 19 at the American Red Cross Blood Services Southern California Regional Headquarters, 100 Red Cross Circle, Pomona.
Blood donors can make an appointment to give blood by going to redcrossblood.org and entering the sponsor code: homerun.
Donors can also call 1-800-REDCROSS to make an appointment.
Donors will receive a commemorative t-shirt and a voucher for two free tickets to either a Dodger game or an Angels game as a gift.
Enjoying an evening of fine wine and classic cars can help support educational activities at Fairplex.
That's just what attending the fourth annual Wine and Cars Under the Stars at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum at Fairplex can do.
The June 19 event offers attendees a chance to taste award winning wines that were part of the Los Angeles International Wine and Spirits Competition and combines that with plenty of classic cars.
Event proceeds benefit The Learning Centers at Fairplex.
The Learning Centers programming includes the FairKids Discovery Club, a program that annually bring more than 100,000 school children to the L.A. County Fair free of charge; the Child Development Center offers more than 300 children from across the area with top quality early childhood education; and the Career and Technical Education Center at Fairplex, a vocational education program for high school students.
Tickets to the event are $100 per person.
An auction, entertainment, gourmet cuisine and a drive-in movie - "Beach Blanket Bingo" - will be part of the evening's activities.
POMONA - A proposed balanced budget that calls for eliminating dozens of positions and closes a more than $14 million budget gap will go before the Pomona City Council tonight (Monday, June 7).
The proposal requires the elimination of close to 100 positions, of which about half are already vacant, according to a city staff report.
Council members are expected to conduct a public hearing on the budget before they vote.
The open portion of the meeting will begin at 6:45 p.m. in City Hall, 505 S. Garey Ave.
The city's operating budget totals $165.5 million. Within the operating budget is the city's general fund, which is used to pay for a large part of the city's services, including police, fire, library and parks and recreation programs.
The general fund has estimated revenues totaling $78.96 million, with proposed spending set at $78.93 million, the staff report said.
Through cuts, the city is closing a more than $14 million budget gap that resulted from a drop in revenue.
The drop is the result of various factors, including the closure of two auto dealerships, a recreational vehicle dealership and the closing of two national retailers - Toys 'R' Us and Circuit City, City Manager Linda Lowry said recently.
In addition to the loss of those businesses, the city has also experienced a drop in the sale of building-related materials along with a decrease in revenue from the Utility Users' Tax, primarily due to changes in the prices of natural gas, Lowry said.
Councilman Steve Atchley said Friday he thinks it may take another meeting before the City Council votes on the budget, which must be adopted by June 30.
"We'll probably end up wrangling," he said. "I fear we'll have to come back on (June) 21st" to adopt a budget.
All council members have services they'd like to keep from the being cut "but we are now out of options," Atchley said.
To spare one program will require eliminating another, he said.
Councilwoman Cristina Carrizosa said Friday she planned to review budget information during the weekend. She will be looking for possible options that would allow the city to keep six community centers around the city open, in addition to funds to stretch out the library's hours of operation.
To reduce costs, plans call for reducing the library's hours to 24 per week while closing Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Six library positions, some of them part-time spots, are being affected, according to a city staff report.
In the area of police, 63 positions are being cut. Of those 15 are civilian positions and 48 are sworn. Of the sworn positions, 33 have been unfunded for some time, a city staff report said.
Public works will have 17 positions affected, including four of eight graffiti-removal worker positions that are being eliminated.
Street tree maintenance is being outsourced, resulting in the elimination of two positions.
At tonight's meeting, city staff are expected to provide council members with a presentation on different types of taxes the city could use to increase revenue.
Options include sales tax increases, changes to business licensing or a utility users' tax increase - all of which would have to go for a vote and require a simple majority to pass, a staff report said.
Other options include a public safety tax, a street maintenance assessment or a recreation special assessment. Because those types of taxes would be directed to specific purposes, they would require the approval of two-thirds of participating voters to gain approval, the staff report said.
Atchley said he'd prefer to stay away from any tax increases but is comfortable with giving voters the chance to decide whether they want to tax themselves in order to provide for critical city services.
A ballot measure calling for an increase of the city's Utility Users' Tax from 9 percent to 11 percent for 26 months will appear on the November ballot.
Pomona resident John Mendoza collected the necessary signatures needed to place the measure on the ballot.
The measure could raise about $975,000 during the 2010-2011 budget year; about $3.9 million in 2011-2012; and $3.6 million in 2012-2013, a staff report said.
The funds would go to the general fund, but certain residents, such as those found to be legally handicapped, would be exempt from the tax, the staff report said.
Carrizosa said she's concerned about increasing the Utility Users' Tax.
A great deal of work and effort was required to bring down the city's Utility Users' Tax, which reached double digits in the 1980s and '90s.
The tax was lowered with the goal of showing businesses that city was interested in helping them out, she said.
An increase to the tax, among the highest in the area, could prompt businesses to leave Pomona for cities with a lower tax, Carrizosa said.
Mayor Elliott Rothman said voters will have a chance to decide in the fall if they want to increase the Utility Users' Tax.
"Hopefully it will be enough to get us by" until the economic climate improves, Rothman said.
Seeking any other taxes at this time would be counterproductive and could prompt voters to reject a measure such as Mendoza's, Rothman said.
But Rothman said he would like to hear what tax-related ideas other members of the council have to offer.
The former superintendent of the Pomona Unified School District was in Southern California on Friday (June 4) to accept Hispanic Business Magazine's Woman of the Year award.
Thelma Melendez de Santa Ana left the district last year to take the job of assistant secretary for elementary and secondary education at the U.S Department of Education in Washington, D.C.
Melendez de Santa Ana was presented the award at a luncheon at the Los Angeles Athletic Club where she was also scheduled to deliver the keynote address, said Cynthia Martinez, senior research assistant for the magazine.
Those looking for ideas on how to spend a Sunday afternoon may want to consider stopping in at the Palomares Adobe for a picnic with live entertainment.
The Historical Society of Pomona Valley will extend the hours the adobe is open to the public Sunday (June 13) and June 20.
Visitors are invited to tour the historic adobe from 2 to 7:30 p.m. and bring a picnic lunch they can enjoy in the arbor of the property.
Live entertainment will be offered at 6 and 7 p.m.
On June 13, the Village Mandala Community Drum Circle will perform.
On June 20, classical guitarist Richard Kibble will perform.
The Historical Society will have homemade desserts and cool drinks for sale.
Visitors will be asked to make a suggested donation for going through the adobe but there will be no additional charge if they chose to stay for the entertainment or to picnic.
Even though the adobe is on busy Arrow Highway visitors will find a relaxing environment, said Mickey Gallivan, Historical Society president.
The Palomares Adobe is at 491 E. Arrow Highway in Pomona. Parking is at adjacent Palomares Park.
A proposal to close two fire stations in Pomona and build a new one along North Garey Avenue could come to a stop tonight (Monday, June 7).
The Pomona City Council's budget subcommittee has directed city administrators to put an item on Monday night's council agenda calling for the cancelation of escrow on a property sought for a new fire station, according to a city staff report.
City Council members will consider the subcommittee's recommendation Monday.
Last month, two community meetings were conducted at City Hall where City Manager Linda Lowry and Los Angeles County Fire Chief P. Michael Freeman spoke.
At the meetings a proposal was presented calling for the closure of two fire stations -- Station 182 at 1059 N. White Ave. and Station 186 at 280 E. Bonita Ave. -- and replacing them with one centrally located station to be built on Garey Avenue south of
La Verne Avenue.
With such a reconfiguration of stations, fire service costs could be reduced by $1.6 million to $1.7 million annually, according to fire department estimates.
Members of the public expressed opposition to the proposal.
Some expressed concerns related to response times while others were concerned about the costs associated with the construction of the new station, estimated to be around $7 million.
Should the city terminate escrow before July 27 it will not have to pay the property owner of the Garey Avenue site a $15,000 holding fee, the staff report said.
The City Council will meet in closed session at 5:30 p.m. and go into the open portion of the meeting at 6:45 p.m. in City Hall, 505 S. Garey Ave.
Mt. San Antonio College will award more than 2,000 associate degrees to the Class of 2010 at the institution's 64th commencement ceremony Friday.
The ceremony begins at 6:30 p.m. at the campus stadium.
The campus is located at 1100 N. Grand Ave. in Walnut.
Mt. SAC students filed a total of 2,424 graduation petitions for associate in arts and associate in science degrees, according to a college statement.
The college will also award bachelor degrees in aviation management through a partnership with Southern Illinois University.
Western University of Health Sciences announced recently it has received its first commitment for an endowed scholarship for the College of Podiatric Medicine.
OsteoMed L.P. made the first of five installments that will total $20,000, according to a statement from the university.
The funds will go toward the establishment of the OsteoMed Endowed Scholarship.
Once the university receives the total contribution eligible students will be awarded $1,000 scholarships.
"One of OsteoMed's ongoing key initiatives is to support continuing medical education on many levels," said Toby Miles, vice president of marketing at OsteoMed. "With Western (University's) new College of Podiatric Medicine in place, it's a great honor to give foundational support for the future leaders in podiatric medicine."
A committee of College of Podiatric Medicine faculty members will select a scholarship recipient in part based on students' written statement describing how they will contribute to the community after graduation or their plans for extracurricular involvement in the community, the statement said.
Students must also have a first year minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.2 to qualify for a scholarship, the statement said.
OsteoMed, a small bone implant device company, is one of the top manufacturers of surgical devices, the statement said.
The company, which has been in business for 20 years, is a firm supporter of podiatric medicine.
Fairplex will be the site of a household hazardous waste collection event scheduled for June 12.
The collection will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Los Angeles County residents can safely dispose of hazardous waste free of charge.
For information on the event and materials to be collected visit the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works site at www.CleanLA.com.
Access to the dropoff site at Fairplex will be from Gate 23 on Arrow Highway.
Fairplex is at 1101 W. McKinley Ave.
The Nancy McCracken Science, Math, Service Learning and Arts Expo will take place June 12 at Fairplex in Building 9.
The free event will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Pomona Unified School District students from pre-school to high school will have exhibits on display.
A variety of exhibits appealing to students and adults alike will be offered including one from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena that includes models of space exploration equipment, 3-D images of the moon and other items.
A paper airplane contest and the work in robotics of Pomona Unified students will also be part of the expo.
Teachers will find information on free educational resources.
Fairplex is at 1101 W. McKinley Ave. Free parking will be available at Blue Gate 9 on White Ave.
The National College Resources Foundation will host its second annual Career Internship and Vocational Expo June 12.
The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Fairplex, 1101 W. McKinley Ave. Building 3.
The free expo, being offered in partnership with the Career and Technical Education Center at Fairplex, will include seminars on topics such as resume writing, interview techniques, job etiquette and dressing for success.
Representatives of several companies will be present offering information on internship programs and career opportunities.
A scholarship contest will take place at the event.
New Image Global, Inc is sponsoring the contest open to students enrolled in two- or four-year college.
Contestants will submit a 300-word or less essay on the topic of "Why Is This Scholarship Important To Me?" by 1 p.m. the day of the expo.
Winners will be announced at the expo.
For additional information on the expo go to www.thecollegeexpo.org or call (909) 396-0151.
Ink'd Chronicles will hold a fund raising event - Tattoos for Angels - June 12 to benefit spinal muscular atrophy or SMA.
The event will take place from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Ink'd Chronicles, 264 W. Second St. in the Pomona Arts Colony.
Spinal muscular atrophy involved the degeneration of motor neurons which results in muscular atrophy and weakness.
The condition can result in death in very young children in other cases adults can live with the disease and show mild weakness.
Tattoo artists will donate their time and talents for the event.
Clients can bring a design or develop an idea by working with an artist.
All of the tattoo proceeds from the event will be donated to Families of SMA, a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization which has the goal of finding an effective treatment and cure for SMA.
For more information call Terry Dipple at terry@inkdchronicles.com or call 909-622-5351.
Repertory Opera Company will offer three performances of Carmen.
Performances are scheduled for 2 p.m. June 12, 19 and 26 at First Christian Church of Pomona, 1751 N. Park Ave. Tickets are $30 each.
As part of the performance a free pre-show lecture will be offered at 1 p.m.
The Repertory Opera Company cast for Carmen includes singers, dancers and children who are residents of cities from across the San Gabriel Valley and the Inland Empire, according to a statement from the opera company.
Many of the performers are Pomona residents.
The company includes singers that have sung with Opera Pacific and Los Angeles Opera and regional opera houses, the statement said.
For tickets or more information go to www.repertoryoperacompany.org or call 909-230-4949.
POMONA - A group of Garey High School art students were recognized recently for their efforts in creating a mural for Madison Elementary School.
Twelve of the 17 students who participated in the project were recognized at gathering on the elementary school campus last week and were presented certificates from Madison Principal Jesus Peralta and Pomona Mayor Elliott Rothman, said Garey art teacher Christina Longstaffe.
"Books Can Take You to a Different World," as the mural is titled, consists of nine wooden panels that now cover what used to be a blank wall on the Madison campus.
The panels were installed about three weeks ago and quickly have become a source of joy and pride for the young students, Peralta said.
"It was just a big delight for all of our little kiddos," he said.
Madison children frequently take family members to the mural to point out what part of the mural they worked on, Peralta said.
The idea for the project came about as a result of a conversation between Peralta and Garey Principal Stacey Wilkins.
Peralta spoke about the blank wall to Wilkins, who then spoke with Longstaffe and inquired if her students would be interested in completing a mural for the elementary school.
Various students volunteered to carry out the project contributing ideas which Longstaffe incorporated into one design.
The Garey High students did the majority of the work but also provided opportunities so every Madison student could participate in the project.
Most of the painting was carried out in early March as part of Read Across America activities at the school.
Read Across America is an initiative of the National Education Association meant to instill an interest in reading in children. Activities most often are organized on March 2, the birthday of Dr. Seuss, author of "The Cat in the Hat" and other classic children's books.
POMONA - Nurses and other medical professionals on a one-day strike gathered in front of the American Red Cross Blood Services Southern California Regional Headquarters Wednesday afternoon (June 2) for an afternoon rally.
More than 250 health care employees who work for the regional headquarters and who are represented by the Service Employees International Union, Local 721, participated in the event calling for better staffing levels of blood donor centers and mobile blood donation teams.
Employees, including registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, phlebotomists and others, are also concerned about the cost of their health care benefits.
Several unions in six states participated in Wednesday's one-day strike of
A protester argues with a security guard as a vehicle tries to leave the American Red Cross Blood Services Southern California Regional Headquarters in Pomona on Wednesday afternoon. More than 250 union employees, mostly Red Cross nurses, were protesting for higher wages during their one-day strike. (Will Lester Staff Photographer)
American Red Cross blood drive operations, involving about a thousand employees nationwide.
Therese Mendoza, a registered nurse who serves as chairwoman of the employees' bargaining team locally, said among the top concerns for her and her colleagues are staffing levels.
Areas where people are donating blood should have a minimum of two health care employees in case a donor has a reaction while giving blood or afterwards, and that's something the Red Cross wants to change, she said.
At times one employee could end up alone with several donors while the second employee is collecting medical information from another donor or is busy with other matters, Mendoza said.
"We feel that's just not safe," said Mendoza, a Hacienda Heights resident who works as a charge nurse at one of the regional headquarters' donor centers.
Having more than one person in the donor area becomes crucial not only for the safety of donors but to keep them coming back, she said.
"If you have a bad experience (as a donor) you are not going to come back," Mendoza said.
Sylvia Dominguez-Bailey said if a donor has a reaction, it can slow down a blood drive.
Dominguez-Bailey, a resident of Pomona who works as a medical assistant for the regional headquarters, travels to different locations around Southern California to collect blood at blood drives.
"We need to have enough staff to make sure we're both efficient and know everyone is OK," she said.
A representative of the American Red Cross Blood Services Southern California regional headquarters said the staffing matter is something that is a concern of employees in other states but is being brought up in negotiations with all the individual Red Cross organizations.
The regional headquarters abides by staffing standards set by the state of California that are different from what Red Cross facilities in other states have, said Nick Samaniego, spokesman for the regional headquarters.
As for the health insurance matter, that is something addressed by the American Red Cross at the national level.
"It's a nationwide plan, we're not in a position to negotiate," Samaniego said.
At this point there are no plans to make changes to the current insurance benefits, he said.
During the rally Rep. Judy Chu, D-El Monte, said she understands the workings of Red Cross and the vital role employees play.
"You are the ones that are out there making sure the blood supply is out there (and) that it's safe," Chu said.
It's the nurses and medical personnel who know best what is needed when it comes to collecting blood and working with donors, she said.
A delivery driver tries to squeeze his vehicle in between protesters while a guard attempts to assist him as he leaves the Red Cross regional office in Pomona on Wednesday. (Will Lester Staff Photographer)
Because the nurses and other medical employees are required to give 10 days notice before going on strike the regional headquarters had planned for the work stoppage.
"We scaled back blood drives for the day," Samaniego said.
Instead of having dozens of drives, staff scheduled two at high schools, he said.
"Only a portion of the collection team was out," he said. "We didn't have to bring (personnel) from outside."
Nurses in leadership positions and union nurses that didn't participate in the strike worked in the collection drives, he said.
On a typical day the headquarters collects between 1,200 and 1,500 units of blood but on Wednesday it was expecting to collect "less than 300 units combined," Samaniego said.
The strike was not expected to affect the headquarters' ability to proved blood to the 150 Southern California hospitals it serves, he said.
Should a problem arise in meeting the region's blood needs the headquarters would draw on the Red Cross' national supply, Samaniego said.
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