Mountain Views News          Saturday, January 10, 2015

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Mountain Views-News Saturday, January 10, 2015 

SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 2015

 

AROUND SAN GABRIEL VALLEY

COMMUNITY: #LASD ALTADENA 
STATION EXPLORER PROGRAM 

Open enrollment for the Altadena VIDA program will take place 
on Monday, January 12th, 2015, at 6 pm, and Monday, January 19th, 
2015 at 6 pm. These enrollment dates are for the next VIDA class 
starting on February 11, 2015. Enrollment will be at Eliot Middle 
School, room # 127. Eliot Middle School is located at 2184 Lake 
Avenue, Altadena, CA 91001. You can locate the application at http://
vida.la/docs/full-vida-application-0313.pdf

The goal of V.I.D.A (Vital Intervention Directional Alternatives) 
is to put at-risk youth back on the right track through military 
structured activities. The program is a total of 16 weeks starting 
on February 11, 2015. Program participants will meet twice during 
the week. Wednesday’s from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm involving the child 
and the parent, and Saturday’s from 8:00 am - 4:00 pm, involving 
only the child. The VIDA program is designed to build leaders by 
developing self-esteem, teaching team work & discipline, improving 
academics, and strengthening the family core by improving family 
relationships. There is also a component of the program which offers 
tutoring, counseling, and drug testing. If you have a child between 
the ages of 11-17 who has a problem with academics, drugs, alcohol, 
disobedience, or problems with the law, this program may be just 
what they need to get them on a successful path. If you have any 
questions about the program, contact Deputy Walters at (661) 753-
6293, for additional information.

THE FROSTIG CENTER TO HOST DINNER AND AUCTION TO RAISE 
MONEY FOR CHILDREN WITH LEARNING DIFFERENCES

Pasadena, CA - Dining, dancing, inspiring 
entertainment and hard-to-resist auction 
treasures await guests attending The Frostig 
Center’s benefit Saturday, February 21 at the 
Altadena Town & Country Club.

 Proceeds from the event, “Celebrating 
the Students of Frostig - Courageous Hearts, 
Exceptional Potential,” will support the school’s 
Arts Program and FrostigBeyond, giving young 
adults the transition support they need for 
success after high school. 

 Whit Johnson, co-anchor of NBC Southern 
California’s “Today in LA” will serve as Master 
of Ceremonies for the evening. Frostig’s music 
and drama students will perform and long-term 
Frostig Center board members will be honored 
for their dedication. The event will also feature 
an auction of getaways to Napa Valley, Lake 
Arrowhead and New Mexico, a Florida resort 
package, artwork, culinary experiences, jewelry 
and much more. 

 Arts education and transition services play 
a critical role in teaching students who learn 
differently the life skills necessary to find 
success, skills such as self-expression and self-advocacy, awareness of 
personal strengths and weaknesses, and perseverance.

 “Every day, starting right at first grade, Frostig School helps students 
with learning differences develop these crucial qualities so they can reach 
their full potential,” said Dean Conklin, Frostig’s executive director. 
“Sometimes success achieving these life skills doesn’t happen during math 
class. Sometimes language arts doesn’t hold the key either. 

 “For many Frostig students, music, art and drama have unlocked 
the door to confidence, creativity, and a previously unknown strength,” 
Conklin said. “Kids who have a hard time talking to others or who find 
typical academics frustrating suddenly find joy and accomplishment 

acting and singing in the school play or selling their creations at our 
annual Evening with the Fine Arts.”

 The benefit begins at 6 p.m. Saturday, February 21 at the Altadena Town 
& Country Club, 2290 Country Club Drive in Altadena. Tickets are $150 
per person and can be purchased by calling The 
Frostig Center at 626-791-1255.

 Funds raised will go to upgrading the 
lighting and sound equipment, curtains and 
stage in the school’s performing arts venue. 

 Proceeds with also help provide staff and 
a dedicated WorkSpace to support Frostig 
graduates in their post-high school goals. This 
assistance might include help with college 
homework, job development or independent 
living skills. Other students may need 
community based support at the beginning 
of a new endeavor, such as navigating a new 
campus, learning the public transportation 
system, banking or shopping. 

 There is no mistaking the crucial importance 
of these kinds of transition support services for 
students with learning differences. According 
to a study published by the American Academy 
of Pediatrics, more than half of all young adults 
on the autism spectrum are not in school or 
employed during the two years after high 
school. 

 Both Frostig’s Arts and Transition programs 
aim to teach students with learning differences the tools needed to find 
their success. And some of those tools just can’t be found in the traditional 
classroom. 

 A resource for the San Gabriel and Greater Los Angeles communities, 
The Frostig Center was founded in 1951 by Dr. Marianne Frostig, a 
pioneer in the study, diagnosis and treatment of learning differences. 
Its mission is to improve the lives of children with learning differences 
through an integrated program of research, professional development 
and community outreach, and the Frostig School. The school offers a 
full range of academic and support services for children with learning 
differences (such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia and auditory 
processing disorders), high-functioning autism and ADHD. 

 For additional information about The Frostig Center or School call (626) 
791-1255 or visit our website at www.frostig.org.


FAIR TRADE TOWN STATUS IN ALTADENA IS ALMOST COMPLETE


ALTADENA, CA. (January 09, 2015) 
– What if you could help pull a family 
in a developing country out of extreme 
poverty by simply shifting your daily cup 
of coffee or tea to another brand? 

 Turns out, you can. That’s what fair 
trade is all about – and a dedicated group 
of Altadena residents wants to make 
sure there’s plenty of access to fair trade 
products in town. 

 Their committee—Fair Trade 
Altadena—is taking steps to declare 
Altadena a Fair Trade Town. It’s a 
designation that helps draw attention to 
local businesses and organizations that 
offer fair trade products, while raising 
awareness about the power consumers 
wield when they choose to buy fair trade. 

 Fair trade ensures consumers that the 
products they purchase were grown, 
harvested, crafted and traded in ways 
that improve lives and protect the 
environment.

 “With fair trade there is an understanding that your purchases have 
more influence than your political vote,” said Lori Webster, co-chair of 
the committee and Altadena resident. “We all agree that with fair trade 
you know you’re supporting fair prices, better working conditions, 
environmental stewardship and brighter futures for the people who 
make the high-quality products we buy every day.” 

 Fair Trade Altadena (FTA) is a coalition of citizens, community 
groups and ethical businesses working to increase the availability and 
use of fair trade products throughout Altadena. 

 To earn a designation as a Fair Trade 
Town, the committee has already 
identified eight retailers that sell Fair 
Trade products and eight organizations 
that serve fair trade items at their 
meetings or offices. In addition, the 
committee will ask the Town Council 
to pass a resolution declaring Altadena’s 
dedication to fair trade practices. 

 Several local retailers in Altadena already 
carry fair trade products, for example:

- Oh Happy Days – Coffee and Chocolate

- Hoopla! –Bags and tea

- Wishing Well Gift Store – Bags and coin 
purses

- Ralph’s – Ice cream, coffee and tea

- Rite Aid – Ice cream and tea

- Altadena Community Church – Coffee, 
tea and chocolate

 Visit the Fair Trade Altadena website to 
see a map of these locations. 

 Also, visit Hoopla! at 2591 Fair Oaks 
Ave. to sign a petition to make Altadena a Fair Trade Town, or to learn 
how to be involved with the campaign. 

About Fair Trade Altadena

 Fair Trade Altadena is part of a global movement to normalize fair 
trade as an institutional practice and consumer preference across 24 
countries and on six continents. More than 1,400 communities and 
thousands of schools and congregations on six continents have joined 
together to alleviate poverty through fair trade. In fact, our sister city, 
Pasadena became a Fair Trade Town in 2013. 

FOOTHILL MWD NOW 

OFFERING REBATES FOR 

LARGE RAINWATER TANKS 

Foothill Municipal Water District (Foothill MWD or District) is 
pleased to announce the availability of rebates for cisterns. Cisterns 
are large rainwater harvesting tanks typically used to supplement 
the water supply for landscape irrigation. They are substantially 
larger than rain barrels and constructed of durable material, 
such as reinforced plastic, polyethylene or metal. Foothill MWD 
collaborated with Hey!Tanks LA and TreePeople to develop the 
cistern rebate program.

 The offering of a cistern rebate complements an already existing 
rain barrel rebate program. The popularity of rain barrel rebates 
prompted the District to investigate an expansion of rainwater 
harvesting opportunities. While the rain barrel rebate program 
provides financial assistance for smaller rain catchment systems, 
the cistern rebate program will support residents looking to expand 
their rainwater harvesting capabilities.

 Rebates will start at $0.15 per gallon for cisterns that are a 
minimum of 300 gallons up to a maximum of $2,000 per customer. 
Click here for the rebate application.

“Rainwater is a valuable resource that is currently wasted to the 
ocean when it runs off into the stormwater system,” said Foothill 
MWD Board President Richard Atwater.

 Atwater points to the sediment accumulation behind Devil’s Gate 
Dam as an example of impeding stormwater capture. “Approximately 
1.3 million cubic yards of sediment have accumulated behind Devil’s 
Gate Dam since the Station Fire. This severely reduces the capacity 
for stormwater capture and recharge into the groundwater basin and 
ultimately impacts local water supplies. By capturing rainwater in 
large cisterns, we can at least use the water for our landscapes and 
reduce demands on imported water.”

 “This is an exciting program to roll out into the New Year,” stated 
General Manager Nina Jazmadarian. “Last year the Governor 
declared a statewide drought emergency in January. As California 
continues its annual wet season, the cisterns program will support 
our residents in capturing stormwater to combat the ongoing 
drought. With the large rainwater tanks, more water can be captured 
and used for an extended period of time.”

 Residents are encouraged to read all program requirements and 
recommendations prior to applying.

 Please submit completed applications to 4536 Hampton Road, La 
Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011. If you have any questions, please call 
818-790-4036 or email ddrugan@fmwd.com.

 Rebates will be on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are 
depleted.

 Foothill Municipal Water District provides imported water to 
Crescenta Valley Water District, La Cañada Irrigation District, Mesa 
Crest Water Company, Valley Water Company, Lincoln Avenue 
Water Company, Las Flores Water Company and Rubio Cañon Land 
& Water Association. Kinneloa Irrigation District, another retail 
agency, takes no water from Foothill.

Pictured L-R: Teresa Baxter, Fair Trade Altadena Campaign 
Co-Chair, Scott Webster, Committee Member, Lori Webster, 
Fair Trade Altadena Campaign Co-Chair

ANTONOVICH CRITICIZES COST OF

ISSUING DRIVER’S LICENSES TO ILLEGALS

LOS ANGELES COUNTY — Mayor Michael D. Antonovich sharply 
criticized the $240 million dollar cost to implement AB60, authored by 
Democratic Assemblyman Luis Alejo of Watsonville and signed by Governor 
Brown, to issue 1.4 million California driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants 
over the next three years. 

 “Once again, the state has shortchanged the needs of foster children, 
emancipated foster youth, the mentally ill, and public safety by reallocating 
funding to a program that provides illegals with driver’s licenses,” said Mayor 
Antonovich. “The $240 million dollars should be used to enhance programs 
that serve the needs of the underserved and underprivileged which have been 
neglected for years by the state.”

 Implementation of this program will require hiring an additional 900 
Department of Motor Vehicle employees. The funding for those employees 
will not come from the State General Fund; rather AB 60 assumes the 
cost will be covered by the license applications themselves at $32 a license. 
However, the DMV is already considering raising the fee for all new drivers’ 
license from $32 to as $100 to cover the implementation cost of AB 60. 

 “AB 60 is an irresponsible law which provides another incentive to those 
who break federal immigration laws.” said Mayor Antonovich. “In Los 
Angeles County alone, children of illegal immigrants born here are receiving 
over $640 million a year for welfare and food stamps. In addition the cost 
to provide medical services exceeds $500 million. These costs do not even 
include those illegal immigrants incarcerated in County jails”.

 Extremely long waits for scheduled appointments and walk-in appointments 
have been reported at most DMV offices. Residents living near DMV offices 
have reported dangerous conditions associated with parking and long lines 
on residential streets. The impacts of these lines and crowds have caused 
exasperation from business leaders as well as residents.

ASSEMBLY MAJORITY LEADER HOLDEN’S 
STATEMENT ON GOVERNOR’S 2015-16 
PROPOSED BUDGET

PASADENA - “I echo the Governor Brown’s sentiment that ‘self-
discipline and real prudence’ are essential to keep our budget balanced 
and maintain the progress California has seen in the past few years. I 
thank the Governor for his leadership on the Rainy Day Fund and for 
following through on his promises to voters by saving $2.4 billion for 
future economic downturns.

 This budget includes big gains for public education. I am very pleased 
to see $7.8 billion in new funding for K-12 education and California’s 
community colleges. Although I had hoped the Governor would be 
able to give the University of California a larger budget increase, $120 
million in additional funding is significant. The Cal State University 
system will get a similar amount. I remain committed to making college 
more affordable. 

 As a former mayor and city councilmember I am pleased to see 
Governor Brown paying back $533 million to local governments. This 
money will have a direct benefit to all Californians by improving local 
services and ensuring local governments can meet their obligations.

 And, after years of neglect I am glad that Governor Brown is 
now willing to have a conversation about reinvesting in our state’s 
infrastructure. I stand ready, willing and able to have that conversation 
with the Governor and my Legislative colleagues and draft a workable 
infrastructure plan to rebuild California’s infrastructure, create jobs 
and put California’s economy on track for sustained growth.

 The Governor’s proposed budget puts California on solid ground to 
continue to build up reserves while investing in a growing economy. 
I look forward to working with the Governor and the Assembly to 
produce a workable budget.”