Mountain Views News, Sierra Madre Edition [Pasadena] Saturday, August 11, 2018

SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 2018

AROUND SAN GABRIEL VALLEY

1200 STUDENTS PREPARED FOR A 

GREAT SCHOOL YEAR:

Thanks Again, Foothill Unity Center

ASSEMBLYMEMBER HOLDEN 
RECOGNIZES PASADENA 
TOURNAMENT OF ROSES’ FIRST 
AFRICAN AMERICAN PRESIDENT, 

GERALD FREENY


By Joan Schmidt

 For the 20th year, Foothill Unity Center has 
provided 1200 students with a great start for the 
new school year. There is NOT ENOUGH one 
can say about this phenomenal non-profit started 
by Josephine Anderson thirty-eight years ago 
as a food pantry. Perhaps this is why Dr. Adam 
Kendall, a medical doctor, and talented musician 
performs and donates his profits to the Center. 
Two late friends Jan and Bob Wight were also very 
committed to the Center.

 What can I say about the event? It just gets better 
each year. The Venue was Santa Anita Park; the 
welcoming ceremony at their Chandelier Room. 
So many dear friends attended: Executive Director 
Betty Mc Williams and past Executive Director, 
Joan Whitenack, President Mary Ann Lutz (former 
Monrovia Mayor), Directors :Reyna Diaz (DUSD 
Board Member), Lois Gaston(former Duarte 
Mayor), Ulises Gutierrez, Dr. Phunte Riddle, Dr. 
Katherine Thorossian (MUSD Superintendent) 
Pamela Velazquez, Eric Bell, Karen Herrera 
(Deputy City Manager, Duarte), and Alice Wang. 
Also attending were Arcadia Mayor Sho Tay, 
Monrovia Mayor Tom Adams, Monrovia Mayor 
Pro tem Becky Shevlin, Duarte Mayor Pro Tem Liz 
Reilly, MUSD Vice President Terrence Williams, 
Kristi Lopez for Senator Anthony Portantino, and 
Alfonso Somilleda for Assemblywoman Rubio.

 The event is for students Grades K-preregistered 
college students from qualified low income families 
from Altadena, Arcadia, Azusa, Baldwin Park, 
Duarte, Irwindale, Monrovia, Pasadena, Sierra 
Madre and South Pasadena. The students received 
new backpacks, school supplies, clothing, shoe 
cards, haircuts, manicures, books, and vision, 
dental and hearing screenings. This year’s event 
included a college area with representatives from 
11 colleges who promoted scholarships, financial 
aid and higher education. CHP Officers attended, 
explained auto safety, use of booster seats and 
provided them to parents who needed them. APD 
officers and volunteers and AFD also were on hand 
to assist in making this day so phenomenal.

 This event is a JOINT COMMUNITY EFFORT. 
I first must acknowledge Lyd and Mo Photography, 
Pasadena, who donated their time and skills. 
(Visit the Center’s website to see many awesome 
photos.) Other community partners include Party 
Works Interactive, Volunteer Center of the San 
Gabriel Valley; Eastern Star, South Pasadena # 21; 
Eastern Star Arcadia/Pasadena #108; Arcadia Elks 
Lodge 2025; Monrovian Family Restaurant; Western 
University; Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, 
USC; Chap Care; So CA Edison; Custom Comfort 
Mattresses, Panda Restaurant Group/Panda Cares; 
Citrus College Cosmetology, E.L.S Outlet Store; 
Wells Fargo Foundation, George Frederick Children’s 
Foundation, Starbucks, Monrovia; Embassy 
Suites, Arcadia; Court Yard, Monrovia; Monrovia 
Transit; Duarte Transit; and Monrovia Reads.lls 
Fargo Foundation, George Frederick Children’s 
Foundation, Starbucks, Monrovia; Embassy Suites, 
Arcadia; Court Yard, Monrovia; Monrovia Transit; 
Duarte Transit; and Monrovia Reads.

 VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU to Foothill Unity 
Center and the MANY awesome Community 
Partners! Please visit www.foothillunitycenter.org 

On Friday, the California State Assembly Floor, Assemblymember Chris Holden recognized Gerald 
Freeny for his confirmation as the first African American president of the Pasadena Tournament of 
Roses Board of Directors. Freeny will provide leadership for the 130th Rose Parade on Tuesday, January 
1, 2019.

 “Gerald Freeny’s confirmation as President of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses is a significant 
milestone in Black History,” said Assemblymember Chris Holden. “Freeny is an example of the Black 
excellence that occurs every day and exemplifies the progress Tournament of Roses has made to further 
diversity and inclusiveness within their ranks.”

 Gerald Freeny rose through the ranks of hundreds of “white suit volunteers” to become the 130th 
president of the Association. He previously worked as the chairman of parade operations, and has been 
a volunteer member of the Tournament of Roses Association since 1988.

 Gerald Freeny announced “the Melody of Life” as this year’s theme for the Tournament of Roses to 
encourage creativity and music as a way to bring people together.

 “Many in the Pasadena community have waited and fought for this moment, and we are all excited 
about the leadership Gerald Freeny will bring to the Tournament of Roses,” said Holden.


UPPER SAN GABRIEL VALLEY MWD SUPPORTS 

PROPOSITION 3, THE WATER SUPPLY AND WATER 
QUALITY ACT OF 2018

MONROVIA, CA – The Board of Directors of 
the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water 
District (Upper District) unanimously voted 
to support Proposition 3, the Water Supply 
and Water Quality Act of 2018. This statewide 
initiative would authorize $8.877 billion 
in general bonds to fund projects in water 
supply, water quality, watershed protection, 
fish and wildlife habitat, water conveyance, 
infrastructure repair, and groundwater 
sustainability and storage. 

 Proposition 3 is a citizen’s initiative water 
bond that will appear on the November 2018 
California general election ballot. If approved, 
the bond would provide available funds for 
key issues important to the San Gabriel Valley 
such as, safe drinking water and wastewater 
treatment, stormwater management and 
urban runoff, wastewater recycling, watershed 
restoration and urban water conservation. 

 “With increasing climate challenges and 
aging infrastructure, investment in our water 
system and habitats is critical for our State and 
is needed more now than ever before” stated 
Board President Ed Chavez. “This bond measure 
would provide substantial benefits across the 
state and specifically for the San Gabriel Valley, 
by providing available funding for improving 
our local water supply and allow for investments 
in recycled water projects.” 

 Proposition 3 distributes most of its funding 
through grants to local governments, Indian 
tribes, non-profit organizations, and private 
water companies for specific projects. The 
initiative provides funding to more than a 
dozen state departments and are continuously 
appropriated funds ensuring programs are 
adequately funded. The Water Supply and 
Water Quality Act of 2018 is sponsored by a 
wide variety of conservation, agricultural, 
water, and environmental justice organizations. 
To find more information about Proposition 3, 
visit www.waterbond.org.

Jan Greteman626.975.4033Jan@JanGreteman.comJanGreteman.com#01943630Judy Webb-Martin626.688.2273Judy.Webb-Martin@podley.com#00541631 
Katie Orth626.688.0418 
KatieO@podley.com#00942500 
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