Mountain Views News, Sierra Madre Edition [Pasadena] Saturday, October 22, 2016

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016

SECTION B

AROUND SAN GABRIEL VALLEY

MOUNTAIN VIEWS NEWS ENDORSEMENTS FOR THE 
17 CALIFORNIA STATEWIDE BALLOT MEASURES

Please take time to research these measures, Check them out below and find your polling place and more on Voter’s 
Edge California at http://votersedge.org/en/ca/ballot/election/area. Below are our recommendations

NEIGHBORHOOD TREATMENTS SCHEDULED IN 
SAN GABRIEL VALLEY TO CONTROL INVASIVE 
AEDES MOSQUITOES




PROPOSITION 51: SCHOOL BONDS. FUNDING 
FOR K-12 SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE 
FACILITIES. YES

Authorizes $9 billion in general obligation bonds for 
new construction and modernization of K-12 public 
school facilities; charter schools and vocational 
education facilities; and California Community 
Colleges facilities. Fiscal Impact: State costs of about 
$17.6 billion to pay off both the principal ($9 billion) 
and interest ($8.6 billion) on the bonds. Payments of 
about $500 million per year for 35 years.

PROPOSITION 52: MEDI-CAL HOSPITAL FEE 
PROGRAM. YES

Extends indefinitely an existing statute that imposes 
fees on hospitals to fund Medi-Cal health care 
services, care for uninsured patients, and children’s 
health coverage. Fiscal Impact: Uncertain fiscal 
effect, ranging from relatively little impact to annual 
state General Fund savings of around $1 billion and 
increased funding for public hospitals in the low 
hundreds of millions of dollars annually. 

PROPOSITION 53: REVENUE BONDS. 
STATEWIDE VOTER APPROVAL. 

Requires statewide voter approval before any revenue 
bonds can be issued or sold by the state for certain 
projects if the bond amount exceeds $2 billion. Fiscal 
Impact: State and local fiscal effects are unknown 
and would depend on which projects are affected by 
the measure and what actions government agencies 
and voters take in response to the measure’s voting 
requirement.

PROPOSITION 54: LEGISLATURE. LEGISLATION 
AND PROCEEDINGS. NO

Prohibits Legislature from passing any bill unless 
published on Internet for 72 hours before vote. 
Requires Legislature to record its proceedings and 
post on Internet. Authorizes use of recordings. Fiscal 
Impact: One-time costs of $1 million to $2 million 
and ongoing costs of about $1 million annually to 
record legislative meetings and make videos of those 
meetings available on the Internet.

PROPOSITION 55: TAX EXTENSION TO FUND 
EDUCATION AND HEALTHCARE. YES

Extends by twelve years the temporary personal 
income tax increases enacted in 2012 on earnings 
over $250,000, with revenues allocated to K-12 
schools, California Community Colleges, and, in 
certain years, healthcare. Fiscal Impact: Increased 
state revenues—$4 billion to $9 billion annually from 
2019-2030—depending on economy and stock market. 
Increased funding for schools, community colleges, 
health care for low-income people, budget reserves, 
and debt payments.

PROPOSITION 56: CIGARETTE TAX TO FUND 
HEALTHCARE, TOBACCO USE PREVENTION, 
RESEARCH AND LAW ENFORCEMENT. YES

Increases cigarette tax by $2.00 per pack, with 
equivalent increase on other tobacco products and 
electronic cigarettes containing nicotine. Fiscal 
Impact: Additional net state revenue of $1 billion to 
$1.4 billion in 2017-18, with potentially lower revenues 
in future years. Revenues would be used primarily 
to augment spending on health care for low-income 
Californians.

PROPOSITION 57: CRIMINAL SENTENCES. 
PAROLE. JUVENILE CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS 
AND SENTENCING. YES

Allows parole consideration for nonviolent felons. 
Authorizes sentence credits for rehabilitation, good 
behavior, and education. Provides juvenile court 
judge decides whether juvenile will be prosecuted 
as adult. Fiscal Impact: Net state savings likely in 
the tens of millions of dollars annually, depending 
on implementation. Net county costs of likely a few 
million dollars annually.

PROPOSITION 58: ENGLISH PROFICIENCY. 
MULTILINGUAL EDUCATION. YES

Preserves requirement that public schools ensure 
students obtain English language proficiency. Requires 
school districts to solicit parent/community input in 
developing language acquisition programs. Requires 
instruction to ensure English acquisition as rapidly 
and effectively as possible. Authorizes school districts 
to establish dual-language immersion programs for 
both native and non-native English speakers. Fiscal 
Impact: No notable fiscal effect on school districts or 
state government.

PROPOSITION 59: CORPORATIONS. POLITICAL 
SPENDING. FEDERAL CONSTITUTIONAL 
PROTECTIONS. YES

Asks whether California’s elected officials should use 
their authority to propose and ratify an amendment 
to the federal Constitution overturning the United 
States Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. 
Federal Election Commission. Citizens United ruled 
that laws placing certain limits on political spending 
by corporations and unions are unconstitutional. 
Fiscal Impact: No direct fiscal effect on state or local 
governments.

(continued on page B4)

 In an ongoing effort to control 
Aedes albopictus (Asian tiger 
mosquitoes) the San Gabriel 
Valley Mosquito and Vector 
Control District will conduct 
truck-mounted fogging in the 
early morning on Thursday 
October 20, 2016 in a small 
area of Rosemead. The focus 
of the treatments is to reduce 
increasing larval and adult 
populations of Aedes albopictus. 
This mosquito is an aggressive 
day biter capable of transmitting 
several serious viral diseases 
including Zika, chikungunya, 
and dengue.

 The treatments will cover 
an area of Rosemead north of 
Arroyo Rd above SR 60, east 
of (and including) Paramount 
Blvd./San Gabriel Blvd., south of 
(and including) Rush Street, and 
west of Whittier Narrows Golf 
Course . The treatment area is 
based on recent surveillance 
data and the likelihood of 
reducing the population of 
mosquitoes. The actual streets 
and properties that will be 
treated within this zone may 
be adjusted as data are received 
between now and the treatment 
day. These adjustments will be 
posted within the treatment 
zone 24-48 hours prior to 
treatments.

 The District will begin 
treatments on the morning of 
Thursday, October 20, 2016 at 
approximately 12:00 a.m. and 
conclude by 5:00 a.m. This time 
window was chosen to avoid 
traffic and outdoor pedestrian 
activity as well as maximize 
favorable weather conditions. 
An alternate date of Friday, 
October 21, 2016 at the same 
time may be used in case of 
inclement weather affecting 
treatment.

 Two different products will 
be applied targeting immature 
(larvicide) and adult (adulticide) 
Aedes albopictus. The larvicide, 
VectoBac®WDG will be applied 
by a truck-mounted fogger as 
a low volume mist. The active 
ingredient in VectoBac®WDG is 
Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis 
(Bti). This product is specific for 
mosquitoes, with no known risk 
to humans and wildlife when 
applied according to the label. 
Additional information about 
this product can be found at:

http://publichealth.
valentbiosciences.com/docs/
resources/vectobac-wdg-
specimen-label.pdf

 The adulticide AquaDUET™ will 
be applied by a truck-mounted 
fogger as an ultra-low volume 
mist. The active ingredients are 
Prallethrin, Sumithrin®, and 
piperonyl butoxide. Additional 
information about this product 
can be found at:

https://www.clarke.com/filebin/
productpdf/aquaduet.pdf

PRECAUTIONS:

 The signal word on the U.S. 
Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA)-approved label 
for AquaDUET™ is CAUTION, 
which indicates that it is-slightly 
toxic with minimal potential 
risk to people. Residents are 
not required to take any special 
precautions, however are 
advised to remain indoors with 
doors and windows shut during 
the treatment period.

 AquaDUET™ may be toxic 
to fish and aquatic insects. 
The District recommends that 
residents cover fish ponds 
during the application to 
prevent possible deposition of 
droplets. Outdoor pet food and 
water bowls should be moved 
indoors or covered during the 
treatment. The product breaks 
down rapidly in sunlight and 
will not leave a residue.

 The San Gabriel Valley 
Mosquito and Vector Control 
District is committed to 
managing Aedes albopictus, 
which is an invasive species 
capable of transmitting several 
diseases that endanger public 
health. Applying pesticides by 
truck is one more tool vector 
control districts can use to 
target this mosquito.

What can residents do about 
invasive Aedes mosquitoes?

Mosquitoes lay their eggs 
and grow in standing water. 
Invasive Aedes are “container 
breeders” and lay eggs along 
the waterline of water-filled 
containers or on the stems of 
aquatic plants. Any item on 
your property that holds water, 
no matter how small will grow 
mosquitoes. Common sources 
include flower vases, plant 
saucers, buckets, used tires, and 
plants that hold water like “lucky 
bamboo” and bromeliads. 
Residents should inspect their 
property regularly, looking for 
and eliminating standing water. 
The eggs of invasive Aedes are 
extremely durable and can stay 
dormant in dry containers for 
months waiting for the right 
conditions to hatch. For this 
reason containers that have been 
left outside for a while should be 
scrubbed down with a brush 
and warm soapy water before 
being thrown away or stored in 
a dry place.

Basic protective measures 
should be followed:

-Wear mosquito repellent 
and protective clothing when 
outdoors while mosquitoes 
are active.

-Regularly inspect property to 
identify and remove sources 
of standing water where 
mosquitoes lay their eggs and 
grow.

-Ensure doors and windows 
are properly screened.

-Report increased mosquito 
activity, sources of standing 
water, and green pools to the 
District at (626) 814-9466 or 
online at www.SGVmosquito.
org.

Residents living in the City 
are encouraged to call the San 
Gabriel Valley Mosquito and 
Vector Control District at (626) 
814-9466 with any questions or 
to report mosquito activity. For 
more information, also visit

www.SGVmosquito.org


COUNTY TO EMPLOY DETECTION CANINES TO 
SERVE WITH D.I.S.A.R.M. TEAMS

LOS ANGELES COUNTY – A motion by Supervisor 
Michael D. Antonovich, calling for a report on 
expanding the use of detection canines to the 
Probation Department’s D.I.S.A.R.M. program was 
unanimously approved by the Board of Supervisors. 

 Initiated by Antonovich in February 2000, 
the D.I.S.A.R.M. (Developing Increased Safety 
through Arms Reduction Management) program 
has conducted over a quarter million searches 
seizing nearly 11,000 weapons and drugs valued 
at approximately $730 million from high-risk 
probationers. 

 “The use of these specially-trained dogs for 
detection of weapons and narcotics can improve 
safety concerns and allow residents to resume 
their normal daily activities sooner and with less 
disruption,” Antonovich said. “Having personally 
participated in D.I.S.A.R.M. search operations, I have 
witnessed the challenges faced by these probation 
officers and the vital need for canine assistance.” 

 The report is due in 2 weeks and will include 
additional information at the request of Supervisors 
Solis and Kuehl. 


REMEMBRANCE

RENE ANNETTE BRANCH

AUGUST 16, 1951-SEPTEMBER 17, 2016

By Joan Schmidt

I am sure most of my readers remember the 
Country Cottage on the north side of Foothill Blvd, 
just west of Myrtle Ave. It was a neat antique/craft 
store where one could find the most awesome gifts 
or craft supplies.

 Rene Branch was the owner for twenty-seven 
years and it flourished under her. “Mrs. Branch” 
was the mother of my students Zachary and 
eventually his two sisters Lisa and Laura. All of 
the teachers received beautiful craft gifts from 
her on holidays and at the end of the year. Each 
Christmas, I still take out my two angels.

 Rene loved her family-her mother, sisters, brother 
and of course husband Ernie and the children more 
than anything. Although she owned a store, she 
still had time to drive her kids and their friends to 
sports events, initiated cheerleaders and a talent 
show at our school. Lisa was able to twirl around 
during the talent show because Rene was under the 
stage. Rene and Ernie also chaperoned dances and 
Ernie’s band performed.

 Rene was born in Washington and had two 
sisters and one brother. She excelled in sports 
at high school and afterwards was a model. 
Eventually she came to California and met the love 
of her life, Ernie Branch. They bought a home in 
Monrovia and were married thirty-nine years till 
her untimely passing.

 Zachary, Lisa and Laurs spoke of a most selfless 
mother who did everything for her family. After 
her children’s marriages, that included spouses and 
grandchildren.

 Rene’s services were well-attended- the Church 
was full and I saw many former teachers, students 
and parents who came out to remember Rene and 
celebrate her life. God bless her family in the hard 
days ahead. It’s never easy to lose a loved one-
especially someone who was so devoted to her 
family.


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