Mountain Views News          Saturday, March 31, 2012

5

AROUND SAN GABRIEL VALLEY

 Mountain Views News Saturday, March 31, 2012 

PET OF THE WEEK: Carmel: Animal ID #A4406472

 
211 AND MORE

 Recently a special Los Angeles County Resource Workshop was held at 
Pamela Park Gymnasium for all who serve the greater Monrovia-Duarte area. 
Eddie Cordero from LA County Probation Department, who has worked 
tirelessly with the Sheriff’s Department and LA County Parks and Recreation 
Department, orchestrated this great event and invited me to attend. There 
was so much information given and so many resources made available that I 
don’t know where to begin. Around the room were many display tables and 
pamphlets that gave info and numbers to call. Throughout the day we heard 
speakers and there were several break sessions to browse around. 


 The opening speaker 
was Father Greg Boyle 
(right) who founded Homeboy Industries. He 
had been in this area once or twice before but 
I missed the opportunity to hear him, so this 
was a real thrill for me. This awesome man was 
born right here in Los Angeles and was one of 
eight children. His dad was a third generation 
Irish-American who worked in the family-
owned dairy. Mom’s job was caring for all eight 
kids and keeping track of them. Father Greg and 
his siblings worked with their dad in the dairy 
and I believe this helped mold him in the hard 
worker he is. After Father Greg graduated from 
high school, he became a Jesuit priest. He spent 
time in Bolivia and when he returned stateside, 
he was appointed Pastor of St. Dolores Mission 
in Boyle Heights. In between his tenure at St. 
Dolores Mission, Father Boyle was Chaplain 
of the Islas Maria Penal Colony in Mexico and 
Folsom Prison. He has been a priest for27 years. 


 Back in 1988, there were escalating gang problems and a solution was needed. Father 
Boyle pointed out that often problems can be traced to the family situation. These gang members 
have many needs and Father Boyle began positive alternatives such as establishing an elementary 
school, a day care program and finding legitimate employment for youths. His “Jobs for a Future” 
(JFF) was successful because many gang members wanted to leave the dangerous and destructive 
life on the streets. JFF paved the way for the establishment of Homeboy Bakery in 1992 and 
expanded to Homeboy Industries which now includes Homeboy Silkscreen, Homeboy/Homegirl 
Merchandise and Homegirl Café. 

 Father Boyle is an acknowledged expert on gangs and intervention and is a much sought 
after speaker for many venues from commencement exercises to conferences for teachers, social 
workers and criminal justice workers! Please go on line to find out more about this awesome 
man and his programs. 

 For me, finding out about 211 Info Line was amazing. Mary Sanders said it was the best 
kept secret. When you need ANY information, 2-1-2 is the number to call. They have a data base 
of 5000! You may call 2-1-1 ANYTIME, they’re available 24/7. They provide assessment. You ask 
a question and you will be referred to the agency that can assist you. Here are a few examples: 
Do I qualify for Med-Cal? Am I in need of social services? Do I need help with landlord/tenant 
issues? Am I homeless or in crisis? Do I qualify for food stamps? Is there violence in my home? 
Do I need health insurance for my kids? Do I need help with substance abuse? 


 There also was a flyer that said “Call 2-1-1 to get resources for children birth to five 
years old”. Do you realize that low cost subsidized child care, free health screenings, preschool 
programs, and infant/toddler In-Home Programs are available? 

 Field Deputy Brian Mejia from Supervisor Antonovich’s office, Irving Montenegro from 
Pamela park and representatives from the Department of Social Services (Pasadena Office: 
(626)791-6302; El Monte Office (626) 569-3677), LA County Libraries (Duarte: (626-358-1865), 
Live Oak (626) 446-8803), LA County Child Support Services Department (West Covina (626) 
901-3212), LA County Dept. of Public Health ( Monrovia: (626) 301-1938), LA County Dept. 
of Mental Health , LA County Office of Emergency Management, LA County Dept. of Animal 
Control , LA County Public Defender (Pasadena: (626) 356-5345, LA County DA Victim-Witness 
Assistance ( El Monte: (626) 927-2538 ), LA County Dept. of Consumer Affairs (213)974-9750 
and LA County Probation Department participated as well as Foothill Unity Center. 


 There are SO MANY resources available to help us. Call 2-1-1 and they will point you in 
the right direction for help!

“What’s Going On?” 

News and Views from Joan Schmidt


Meet a girl that will sweep your heart away, 
Carmel (A4406472). Carmel is a magnificent 
three-year-old black and tan spayed female 
Rottweiler/Flat Coat Retriever mix who was 
found in La Puente on March 16th and brought 
to the Baldwin Park Animal Care Center. 
Weighing fifty-seven pounds, Carmel walks 
beautifully on leash, sits and shakes hands on 
command, and rolls over for belly rubs. She 
simply stole everyone’s heart during our photo 
shoot. Perfect in every way, she is good with 
other dogs and didn’t seem to mind the cats 
she encountered on the way to have her photo 
taken. Carmel is an exceptionally great dog 
who is the ideal dog for an individual or family 
living in a private home, and we think she would 
love having children to play with. To watch a 
video of Carmel please visit: www.youtube.com/
watch?v=kw2MuVBcUKg

To meet Carmel in person, please see her at the 
Baldwin Park Shelter, located at 4275 N. Elton, 
Baldwin Park, CA 91706 (Phone: 626-430-2378 
or 626-962-3577). She is currently available now. For any inquiries about Carmel, please reference 
her animal ID number: A4406472. The shelter is open seven days a week, 12 pm-7 pm Monday-
Thursday and 10am-5pm Friday-Sunday. This is a high-intake shelter with a great need for adoptions. 
For more information about Carmel or the adoption process, contact United Hope for Animals 
Volunteer Adoption Coordinator Samantha at samanthasayon@gmail.com or 661-309-2674. To 
learn more about United Hope for Animals’ partnership with the Baldwin Park Shelter through its 
Shelter Support Program, as well as the many dogs of all breeds, ages, and sizes available for adoption 
in local shelters, visit http://www.unitedhope4animals.org/about-us/shelter-support-program/.


OCCUPY LIVES ON!

League of Women Voters Pasadena Forum 

Thursday, April 5, 2012

 Mario Brito, a leader of Occupy LA, will talk about what’s next on the Occupy 
front at a noon-time forum at Lunch with the League of Women Voters Pasadena Area, 
Thursday, April 5, at the Women’s City Club, 160 N. Oakland Ave., Pasadena. 

 Born in East Los Angeles, Brito at 15 began organizing English classes and civic 
participation to address the injustices his immigrant neighbors faced. At 17 he joined 
César Chávez and the United Farm Workers. He went on to become the youngest director 
of organizing for the construction union, Laborer’s International Union of North 
America. Today he is working with a broad base of unions, churches and immigrant 
rights groups to 

address the inequities between the richest 1% of the population and the rest of the population, 
particularly those on the bottom rung. 

 Registration for the event is 11:15 a.m., lunch at 11:30 a.m. and the program at 
noon. Lunch is $20, 

including tax, tip and parking. Lunch reservations and information are available by calling 
626-798-0965. Walk-ins for the free program are welcome. 


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No.327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com