p5, v6.49 — Around The San Gabriel Valley

Around The San Gabriel Valley

Mountain Views News Saturday, December 8, 2012

MVNews this week: Page 5

AROUND SAN GABRIEL VALLEY

Mountain Views News Saturday, December 8, 2012

“What’s Going On?”

News and Views from Joan Schmidt

“HAPPY HOLIDAYS” OR “MERRY
CHRISTMAS”?

By Christoper Nyerges

[Nyerges is the author of “Self-Sufficient Home,” “How to Survive Anywhere,” and
other books. He can be reached at Box 41834, Eagle Rock, CA 90041, or www.ChristopherNyerges.
com.]

SUPERVISOR MIKE ANTONOVICH
SWORN IN FOR 9TH TERM

The morning may have been dreary and the traffic terrible, but nothing
could dampen spirits of 700+ who attended the Swearing in of Supervisor Mike
Antonovich for his NINTH term! The Oath of Office was administered by the
Honorable John A. Arguelles, Retired Justice of the California Supreme Court.
Standing beside the Supervisor were his son, Michael Junior and daughter Mary
Christine. Emcee for the event was actor, George Cheung and among the notable
guests were Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez and Michael Reagan, son of
our former President Ronald Reagan. There were Consulate Generals from 10
foreign nations, City and Town Council Members and many community members. Representing the
Monrovia-Arcadia-Duarte Town Council were Linda Sells, John Nicoloro, and Terrence Brown who
sat with Monrovia Council Member Becky Shevlin.

The luncheon following the ceremony was sumptuous and I was awestruck by so many
attendees. I thought about this great man and how I met him in 1993. After our Town Council
formed, he held a breakfast meeting which included the City Councils and City Managers of Arcadia,
Monrovia and Duarte. Many friendships began from that meeting that still exist today. I also recall
the Community Development Commission coming to a Town Council meeting and speaking of low
cost housing. They brought Habitat for Humanity to Duarte and I saw firsthand sixteen families
given homes and hope for the future. On a shelf, I have a huge binder overflowing with letters from
various county agencies who contacted me after I wrote Supervisor Antonovich for assistance. There
isn’t enough space to mention all, but here are some noteworthy ones. Supervisor Antonovich is
responsible for transit service in the unincorporated area. In the old days, we had to walk several
blocks to an incorporated city to get a ride to the doctor’s! Now the Monrovia Transit provides that
service for all three county areas. There’s also the great gym at Pamela Park, where so many great
events can be held, and this helped bring the community together. For 20+ years, the residents in lower
Arcadia were unsuccessful to get a stop sign at Daines and Tyler. The Sheriff’s Department did a sting
on cars ignoring the crosswalk law. Many tickets were issued. I gave the info to Jay Gomez, Supervisor
Antonovich’s Field Deputy at the time, who relayed the info to his boss. A stop sign appeared and
ALL residents were thrilled! Other issues involved Parks and Recreation (bathroom doors for stalls at
Pamela Park), traffic and lighting issues, animal control, metro bus service, handicapped ramps and
much more!

When I think of our Supervisor, I visualize a man who is the champion of youth, seniors and
animals. He helped keep our Live Oak and Duarte Library opened and is always trying to educate the
public on current issues. I am proud to call Supervisor Antonovich my friend.

“Merry Christmas!” said my Jewish friend when he greeted me with a
smile. “Merry Christmas,” I replied. I asked him if it ever bothered him
that nearly everyone greets with “Merry Christmas” during December.

“Not at all,” he told me. “I mean, Hannukah is over, and I recognize that
90% of Americans are Christians.”

“What do you think about people saying ‘Happy Holidays,’” I asked.

My friend laughed. “When people ask me that, I ask them, ‘What holiday are you referring to?’ Most
say nothing, but some say, well, it’s New Years too.”

It was refreshing that my Jewish friend was OK with the “Merry Christmas” greeting. In fact, he liked
it. “I don’t expect the vast majority to conform to me,” he explained.

Fair enough. Then why are we so afraid in our political correctness to say “Merry Christmas”? Are
we really worried that it might offend someone? Yes, there are other holidays: the secular Kwanzaa
invented by a Long Beach State College teacher for African Americans, New Years (though most
Chinese celebrate not January 1 but the Chinese New Years which usually falls in early Februrary),
pagans who simply celebrate the solstice, and the month of Ramadan which sometimes falls near
December, but not often as it moves forward through the calendar.

On the radio, a Christian man told the radio host that the didn’t celebrate Christmas, that it was a
lie. The host was shocked. What is the lie, the host asked. The man said that he didn’t like the tale
of Santa Claus, and that Jesus wasn’t born on the winter solstice. The host, in so many words, called
the man an idiot.

But the conversation brought back memories of my researching the roots of Christmas back in my
teens, when I discovered that Christmas is eseentially a pre-Christian holiday. Initially, I found myself
disenchanted with that social norm of Christmas celebrations. If this isn’t really about the birth
of Jesus, I wondered, why should I participate in this pagan practice. But over the years, I have had a
different point of view about how to regard this odd Christmas holiday which is really a mish-mash
customs from all over the world from various times.

First, a bit of history. Yes, it is true that the so-called “pagans” observed the solstices and equinoxes
as their high holy days. In fact, nearly all religions in the past did so. “Pagan” originally referred to
the country people who lived outside of Rome-proper, but gradually became a derogatory term for
non-Christians.

We do not know when Jesus was born. The scriptures provide clues but no exact dates and no indication
that this followers ever made a big deal about the birthday. And who was Jesus? He was a Jewish
rabbi, probably an Essene, who observed the Jewish holy days. His followers changed their holy day
to Sunday, in part to attract the “sun worshippers,” and also to separate themselves from the Jewish
Saturday Sabbath. Remember, early Christians were killed and tossed to the lions. But by the 4th
Century, Constantine had a vision and declared Christianity the official religion of the kingdom. He
Christianized all the “pagan” holy days, which is how The birth of the Sun was turned into the Birth
of the Son. In fact, the observation of the winter solstice has been regarded with great reverence
for as long as we can tell. During
this winter’s deep, the sun was
in its lowest part of the sky as it
rose each day. Four days after the
solstice, the rising sun appears to
rise further north on the horizon
– the sun has risen! This astronomical
event has long had great
metaphysical and personal value
to the millenia of people who
have observed and celebrated it.

Though you may have many opinions
about whether or not it was
fair and square for the church to
have stolen and renamed the pagan
holy days, that does not make
it inherently wrong. In fact, there
is no inherent wrongness to it at
al. As with most things in life, its
value is wholly up to us, to use
the timing for spiritual upliftment
and evolution.

REGISTRAR’S
OFFICIAL
RESULTS
VERIFIES

FAILURE OF
MEASURE J

LOS ANGELES COUNTY
— “Now that the Registrar
has verified that Measure
J has failed, it is vital that
we move forward this time
with an equitable regional
transportation system that
includes rail connections
to LAX, Bob Hope, Ontario,
Palmdale, Long Beach
municipal airports and
other transit needs,” said
MTA Chairman Michael D.
Antonovich.

Supervisor Antonovich emphasized
the need to work
with the input and cooperation
of all our cities and unincorporated
communities.
“We must stop undermining
communities including
the San Fernando Valley,
by sending their tax dollars
over the hill to the Subway
and Expo Line projects. It
is wrong to tax some communities
to fund the private
interest of one.”

“Our County’s 88 cities
and 134 unincorporated
communities voters spoke
– Measure J was not the answer
to developing a cost-
effective regional transit
system that meets our entire
county’s current and future
needs,” he added. “Unlike
Measure J, a new plan will
not lock funding to communities
at their 2004 population
percentages, paralyzing
the Santa Clarita, San
Gabriel, Antelope Valleys
and the South Bay’s ability
to meet their transit needs.”

The voters’ rejection of
Measure J allows our county,
cities and unincorporated
communities to present
a regional transit plan that
will include connective rail
to our airports and extend
the Gold Line to Claremont,
Bob Hope Airport, and
South El Monte.

LA COUNTY PROPOSED CLEAN
WATER MEASURE

The Los Angeles County Flood Control District is proposing to
adopt a Clean Water, Clean Beaches Measure, which would establish
an annual fee to pay for clean water programs. The proposed
clean water fee would be imposed upon property owners within
the Los Angeles County Flood Control District, which includes
most of Los Angeles County (with the exception of portions of the
Antelope Valley), for the purpose of improving water quality and
reducing pollution from stormwater and urban runoff.

A mailer was recently sent out to all residents affected by the
proposed increase in accordance with state law which also notifies
property owners of the right to protest the proposed fee.

The San Gabriel Partnership for Economic Development quickly
responded by contacting its members. Their statement is listed
below.

In addition, Supervisor Michael Antonovich issued a statement
calling a flyer that was mailed out misleading.

Residents are encouraged to study this proposal carefully and,
should they object, file a protest by the January 15, 2012 deadline.

ALTADENA-PASADENA SOROPTIMISTS HOST
ANNUAL SILENT AUCTION

A little rain didn’t dampen the spirits of the Altadena-Pasadena branch of Soroptimist International,
as the club held its 17th annual Silent Auction on Sunday, Dec. 2nd. This event took place at the
Altadena Senior Center from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., where attendees bid on treasures that included Rose
Parade seats, paintings by local artists, restaurant gift cards, chic fashion jewelry, and a variety of
themed gift baskets.

The members of Soroptimists lent their time and talents to making this event a success. They solicited
donations from local businesses, created imaginative gift baskets, baked delicious appetizers and
transformed the Altadena Senior Center into a festive shopping environment. At the end of the
event, the items went to the highest bidders. Shirley Manning, 1st Vice President and Phyllis Howard,
newsletter editor, presented raffle prizes to lucky ticket holders.

This auction is Altadena-Pasadena Soroptimists’ largest fundraiser of the year. With a slogan of
“Women Helping Women,” the mission of Soroptimist International is to assist women and girls in
the local community and around the world. Several of the agencies benefiting from the Altadena-
Pasadena club’s auction include Door of Hope, Ecumenical Council, Cancer Support Community/
Silver Saturday, Rosemary Children’s Services, and the Soroptimist Women’s Opportunity, Ruby, and
Violet Richardson awards.

Jane Harris, Silent Auction Committee Chair remarked, “I am so appreciative and grateful to be part
of such a resourceful and energetic group!”

To learn more about this organization, visit www.soroptimist.org.

ANTONOVICH
WARNS “CLEAN
WATER” TAX

FLYER MISLEADING

LOS ANGELES COUNTY—
Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich
urged county residents
to check their mailboxes for
the “Official Notice to Property
Owners of Public Hearing”
which could result in a property
tax increase.

“While the mailing looks like
junk mail, it is an important
document that allows one to
protest the proposed parcel
tax,” he said.

“It is vital that property owners
return the protest form to stop
this additional tax,” he added.
“Property owners, schools and
businesses already pay flood
control taxes and now they are
being asked to fork over more
money at a time when families
are struggling, schools are
hurting and businesses are fleeing
the state.”;

Residents have until January
15 to file their objection by returning
their protest form or
protesting at the public hearing
on January 15, 2013 at 9:30
a.m. in the Hearing Room of
the Board of Supervisors at the
Hall of Administration. If a
majority of the property owners
do not object, the Board
of Supervisors can approve
a mail-in-ballot to be sent to
all property owners in March.
Passage requires only a simple
majority.

Those who misplaced this
mailer, please call (800) 218-
0018 or email water.info@dpw.
lacounty.gov.

To view sample flyer click
the following link: http://antonovich.
com/wp-content/uploads/
2012/12/LACWCB_Ballona-
Creek-Watershed-Notice1.
pdf

From The San Gabriel Valley
Partnership For Economic
Development:

The County recently sent out
notices to residents regarding
an important upcoming measure
that affects every property
owner. The measure is
called the Clean Water, Clean
Beaches Stormwater Quality
Measure and is attempting to
pass a parcel fee on all property
ranging from about $10
for a condominium to a maximum
of $50,000 based on
size, land use, and expected
runoff.

You should have recently
received the notice, which
contains your proposed fee,
as well as more information
about the measure and its
specific effects on your region.
A sample copy can be
found at http://www.lacountycleanwater.
org/files/managed/
Document/581/LACWCB_
Ballona%20Creek%20Watershed%
20Notice.pdf

Also a part of the notice is
a tear-off protest portion,
which can be signed and
mailed in by January 15th to
protest the measure. More
than 50% of property owners
must protest in order to stop
the process now. If that is not
the case, then mail-in ballots
will be sent out in April and
must be returned by late May.
If passed, the fee would appear
on December 2013 tax
bills.

We realize that this fee influences
our members in conflicting
manners, however we
wanted to remind you about
this important measure and
ensure that you are able to
make the most informed decision
possible.

From left: Soroptimist members Jane Harris, Mary Ann Bennett, Pat O’Fallon, JoAnn
Maisterra, Phyllis Howard and Marge Laris at the club’s silent auction.

We’d like to hear from you!

What’s on YOUR Mind?