In the spirit of the Lunar New Year, Temple City’s large Chinese population hosts its own festivities.
Written by ANGELA LI / Published February 5, 2010
The Temple City Chinese American Association, along with the city, sponsored a festival for Lunar New Year at Temple City Park on Saturday, January 30.
The festival featured a winding list of entertainment shows including performances from S.K. Taekwondo. Gymnasts and dancers of all ages performed pieces in the traditional Chinese style, showcasing their cultural arts.
Various types of merchandise, boutiques, and information booths surrounded the gazebo.
There was one booth where people could practice calligraphy. With a brush, they were able to write special Chinese characters associated with character traits onto a square piece of paper, effectively making a traditional New Year’s fortune.
If you were too shy to do your own calligraphy, another booth featured several professional calligraphers who could transform anything you wrote down for them into a beautifully designed masterpiece. Characters would “become” dragons, phoenixes, fish, flowers, trees, and other designs. A crowd had gathered, watching in curious astonishment at their skill.
Visitors could also get free snacks provided by local restaurants and free yellow phone book distributed by the Chinese yellow book company. A fundraising booth was selling beautiful Chinese lanterns, key chains, and other jewelries, and behind it was a children craft booth for children to have fun coloring the 2010 Chinese year-mascot, the tiger.
The Lunar New Year celebration lasted three hours, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. It concluded with raffle tickets drawing. All winners went home with blessing gifts. This early celebration for Lunar New Year has added more cultural color into the city of Temple City.
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Active for a third year, the Green Dream Festival is meant to not only promote environmental issues, but also social ones as well.
Written by RAYMOND TRAN / Published February 5, 2010
A variety of colorful booths covered Gabrielino High School’s campus on January 16 to celebrate its third annual Green Dream Festival.
The festival began as a gathering of numerous organizations to help promote social and environmental awareness. Different groups such as Joy Apparel and TCHS Environmental Club joined to stress the importance of the environment’s well-being, as organizations like the League of Women Voters advocated social equality in the local community. A large majority of high school students attended the event with visitors throughout the San Gabriel Valley.
During the Green Dream festival, multiple booths were set up to teach attendees simple ways to help the environment. Spectators were drawn in by easy how-to tips on conservation, and were briefly instructed on how they could do their part and save the environment.
There was a wide collection of stands ranging from face painting to club fundraising, and visitors had the opportunity to travel throughout the high school campus to find information about topics such as recycling and chemical water pollution. The festival also featured guest speakers, along with performances from bands like This Blank World and Sailors on Air Balloons. Professional speakers raised awareness on the growing issues of electronic waste and plastic pollution, and proposed new solutions such as alternative energy sources for the dilemmas.
Last year, one of the main projects of the festival was to fundraise for Lifestraws, portable water filters that could be used in third-world countries.
This year, multiple booths continued to support fundraising for Lifestraws, as performers and a variety of guest speakers supported the cause.
One of the main themes during the festival was recycling. Numerous organizations supported recycling and claimed that it was a solution to nearly all environmental afflictions.
Overfishing and different kinds of pollution could be cut to minimum if people recycle, and organizations strongly made recycling the purpose of their presentations.
The Green Dream Festival held at Gabrielino High School provided visitors with opportunities to interact with their community and fellow students to help save the environment.
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Attorney: Wilson in poor health due to “stress of the situation.”
Written by MATTHEW WONG / Published February 4, 2010 (ONLINE ONLY)
Former Temple City mayor Cathé Wilson did not attend Thursday’s pre-trial hearing for medical reasons, her attorney said.
Wilson, and Temple City councilwoman Judy Wong were supposed to have been present during the October 8, 2009 court session in downtown Los Angeles. Only Wong personally showed up, though the former’s legal representative, Robert Wilson, was present.
According to Robert Wilson, who is not related to his client, Cathé Wilson has been suffering from poor health.
“She’s not able to walk currently. She’s having dizzy spells, anxiety, depression,” Wilson described to Alfred Lee, a local news reporter.
He continued, “The doctor’s advising her…[to] not come to court because of the stress of the situation.”
Wilson may not even attend the next scheduled court hearing, her attorney stated.
Deputy district attorney Max Huntsman, the prosecutor, commented that Wilson’s appearance was not necessary Thursday.
“If we were starting a trial, she’d have to be here,” Huntsman responded to Lee.
The former city official and councilmember Judy Wong are being charged with soliciting bribes in exchange for support of the Piazza at Temple City project. The project, a mixed-use development, received the city council’s unanimous backing in 2006, including Wilson and Wong.
Temple City voters ousted Wilson in the March 2009 city council elections. Wong, who is currently serving her second term, is not up for election until 2011.
Prosecutors in charge of the bribery case are seeking a minimum two-year jail sentence for both women. The former mayor faces a maximum prison sentence of nine years, while Wong faces a maximum jail term of ten years and four months.
For the record, both Wilson and Wong have maintained their innocence.
If a criminal trial proceedings move forward, former state assembly and city council candidate Scott Carwile and former Piazza manager Jay Liyanage are expected to testify on behalf of the prosecution. Liyanage and Carwile previously accepted plea bargains offered to them in May and June, respectively.
The next pre-trial hearing will be held on November 17.
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Mayor asks staff to research options for city council to consider.
Written by RANDY SHUN / Published February 3, 2010 (ONLINE ONLY)
Temple City’s council chambers may get a renovation, if city council members move forward on an idea the mayor has presented.
“We’ve been talking about this [the remodeling] for some time,” mayor Fernando Vizcarra said on Tuesday, October 6, 2009.
The mayor described a couple of aesthetic issues he noticed, including the chairs, carpet, dais, and audio system of the council chambers.
“The chairs that we are sitting in are somewhat ancient,” he complained. “The springs are sticking out.”
If the city council ultimately agrees to a renovation, a priority would be the sound system, Vizcarra said.
“I would agree with you that the décor, as a matter of fact, the whole city hall, merits some updating,” mayor pro tempore Vincent Yu stated.
Councilwoman Cynthia Sternquist also agreed with the mayor’s suggestion. Sternquist urged the city council to look into replacing the chairs.
Councilperson Judy Wong also agreed with the mayor.
“I say go for it,” commented councilman Tom Chavez, after giving his blessing to a remodeling of the council chambers.
Patrick Horton, a Temple City resident, suggested flat screen televisions. “As nice as our projection screen looks, it might be good to look at some other modes of presenting information,” he said.
City staff will begin looking into the options available, in addition to the costs of the renovation.
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Thi served as editor-in-chief from 2008-2009 and as editor emeritus in 2009.
Written by CHRISTINE KEUNG / Published January 29, 2010
A sophomore at the University of California, San Diego and Temple City Voice’s (TCV) editor emeritus, Margaret Thi has a busy schedule balancing her schoolwork and helping out the Voice.
She spent this summer helping Editor-in-Chief Sophia Chang train new staff members and editors and preparing the publication for its next step.
Her experience as the former editor-in-chief helped her perform administrative duties as well as advise the new leaders.
During administration changes or transitions, she meets up with the new staff and gives them an overview of what their role in the Voice is, training them once a week.
This work includes formatting the layout, editing, and planning meeting agendas.
“[Being an] editor emeritus is different from being the editor-in-chief because I just train, whether it be the new editor-in-chief or the [senior editor],” says Thi. “I sometimes have to help out with the editor-in-chief’s responsibilities because it’ll be too overwhelming for [him or her] to handle all these new responsibilities at once.”
As one of the founding members, Thi sees many changes in TCV since its inception.
“The staff has definitely expanded, and because some have stayed on staff for more than one or two years, they’re more experienced which is really helpful in training new members.”
“I think even the content of the articles we cover has improved significantly because all the new editor-in-chiefs bring in new ideas for potential articles. It also seems much more organized from when I first started.”
Although Thi has temporarily put her role in the organization on hold in order to focus more on school, she still plans to sporadically help the group.
“I am definitely looking forward to having more TCV-run events and I am hoping that our staff will continue to grow so that TCV can continue to thrive as a student-run newspaper.”
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Pulido Named City Manager
San Fernando city administrator begins new job on October 26.
Written by RANDY SHUN / Published January 29, 2010
The search for a permanent city manager, the highest appointed office at City Hall, is over.
Jose Pulido, 44, has been named the new city manager. Temple City mayor Fernando Vizcarra made the announcement during the October 6, 2009 city council meeting.
“We now have a new city manager,” the mayor said.
The incoming city manager was one of two finalists for the position. Over forty applicants had vied to be the successor to former city manager and city attorney Charles R. Martin, the mayor previously said.
Martin was removed from his positions as city manager and city attorney earlier this year. Since May, parks and recreation director Cathy Burroughs has acted as the interim city manager.
“I see a town and a city with a lot of potential,” Pulido said, after being invited to address the city council and the public.
He added, “I think where you see some downfalls, I see a lot of opportunity.”
Pulido currently works as the city administrator for the city of San Fernando, a position he has held since 2001.
According to the city’s official press release, Pulido has over 18 years of local government experience. Besides the city of San Fernando, Pulido has worked for the cities of Montebello and Pico Riveria, as well as Los Angeles County.
The new city manager holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and a master’s degree in urban planning from the University of California, Los Angeles.
“Jose’s full of energy, ideas, and experience,” mayor Vizcarra stated in the October 7th press release. “The Council believes he’s the right choice to help lead Temple City into the future.”
In addition to earning an annual salary of $195,000, Pulido will receive four weeks of vacation time.
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The Red Cross Club’s movement to collect funds for assisting Haiti victims will continue through February 5.
Written by SOPHIA CHANG / Published January 29, 2010
A series of massive earthquakes ranging from 6.5 to 7.3 in magnitude hit Haiti on Tuesday, January 12, 2010, killing around 70,000 people and devastating its already poor economy. According to CNN, Haiti is “the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and among the poorest in the world”.
Since last Friday, the Red Cross Club of Temple City High School has been taking part in an international movement to collect Haiti relief funds. Donation boxes are carried around by Red Cross Club members and are also placed in various locations throughout TCHS, such as the Media Center, Activities Office, and Counselor’s office.
Boxes and envelopes will be placed in each classroom this week.
Another club on campus, the American Cancer Society, is partnering up with Red Cross Club for this fundraiser, and their members are carrying envelopes to help collect donations.
“At this time, helping out is crucial,” says Vice President Samantha Yin. “Seeing pictures and watching videos through the media, everyone is willing to help. To the general public, I’d have to say that everyone is capable of donating a little bit of loose change here and there. This fundraiser does not benefit us at all, but the people in Haiti need whatever they can get.”
Red Cross Club was given 40 boxes by the Temple City Post Office to start the movement. According to Yin, there are approximately 40 boxes in distributed among classes and club members.
All collected money will go towards American Red Cross Disaster Relief.
For those who are unable to reach donation sites, online contributions can be made at www.american.redcross.org
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Carol Liu, formerly the City’s assemblywoman, gives a legislative update to the City Council.
Written by RANDY SHUN / Published January 29, 2009 (ONLINE ONLY)
California state senator Carol Liu (D-Temple City) paid the city of Temple City a visit Tuesday evening.
Liu, one of two state representatives for Temple City, attended the city council meeting of October 6, 2009. The state lawmaker spoke before the City Council and residents, offering a legislative update to those in attendance.
The legislator informed city officials that the legislative session had adjourned. She also stated a couple of her bills had passed, but were pending the governor’s signature or veto.
Liu then announced that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has called two special sessions to discuss a state tax commission’s recommendations and the federal “Race To The Top” program.
“I expect prison reform to be high on our agenda this next year,” the state senator said. Liu also publicized that she was appointed chair of the Women and Children in the Criminal Justice System senate select committee.
Currently, Liu is the chairwoman of the senate Human Services committee. She also sits on senate Education, senate Banking, Finance and Insurance, senate Elections, Reapportionment and Constitutional Amendments, and senate Public Employment and Retirement committees.
The state legislator also invited Temple City to be a part of her “Greening the 21st Senate District” initiative.
As the City’s state representative, Liu encouraged residents to ask questions about “what’s going on in Sacramento.”
“It is my goal to bring resources and information to my constituents that empower them to improve and maintain their quality of life,” she concluded.
Liu was elected to the state senate in November 2008. She previously served as Temple City’s state assemblywoman.
In addition to representing Temple City, the state lawmaker represents the cities of Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, La Canada-Flintridge, San Gabriel and several other Los Angeles communities.
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Initial test of live streaming failed due to City’s firewall.
Written by RANDY SHUN / Published January 28, 2010 (ONLINE ONLY)
A non-profit organization hired to televise and stream city council meetings will try again to broadcast a live video feed of an upcoming meeting.
“Community Media of the Foothills (CMF) will be conducting a test just before the next City Council meeting to determine if live Internet video streaming works yet or not,” wrote assistant to the city manager Gary Flod in the weekly’s city manager’s report on October 1, 2009.
CMF had attempted to broadcast the previous city council meeting live, but failed due to the City’s firewall protection.
“A similar test before the last Council meeting did not work due to some problems with the City’s firewall configuration,” Flod said.
Assuming the issues have been corrected, the first live web broadcasting of a city council meeting will occur next Tuesday, October 6.
In April, the City Council selected Community Media of the Foothills to film city council meetings. Replays of meetings have been available since June 16.
To prepare for live video streaming of meetings, City Hall underwent an infrastructure upgrade this summer for higher speed Internet service.
“The new Internet service will provide up to 3 Mbps (Megabytes per second), allowing for the live video streaming of City Council meetings,” wrote the assistant to the city manager in August.
Right now, Temple City residents can view past meetings online at www.kgem.tv/category/temple-city or the most recent meeting on the Charter Cable Television Channel. On Channel 55, the public can watch the City Council at 7:30 a.m., 12 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. (However, beginning in January 2010, the City’s government channel will move from Channel 55 to Channel 3.)
Under the contract signed, Community Media of the Foothills will be paid $600 per meeting. CMF will work to televise and stream regular and city council meetings only.
Based in Monrovia, CMF has experience with recording city council meetings. The non-profit organization has worked with the cities of Monrovia, San Marino, and Sierra Madre.
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The Asian American Expo promotes the upcoming Chinese New Year with its own celebrations.
Written by KAREN TANG / Published January 22, 2010
The Asian American Expo blasts off the Chinese New Year with its 29th anniversary, giving Asian food an exciting look and businesses a chance to promote their products and activities.
The event was held at the Pomona Fairplex Grounds on January 16 and 17. The location was large enough to host eight hundred exhibitors and over a hundred thousand attendees, spanning through five large exhibition halls and seven stages. Every year, more than 100,000 Asian people are expected to attend this event, becoming the largest Asian trade show with different performances each hour on each stage.
This year, the Asian American Expo featured live performances from more than ten groups of entertainers and performers including live concerts from the hottest Asian singers. Guests can experience cooking demonstrations, Japanese Taiko drumming, Native Malaysian dances, Thai traditional dances, Flamingo dancing, Sambala Samba (Brazilian) dancing and ballroom dancing.
The Lakers girls also performed their cheer; other groups such as Chinese Kung Fu Institute performed Chinese martial arts, Hi-Tao Entertainment group demonstrated Chinese acrobatics, Hipo Wang sang Chinese opera, Mrs. Yu Dance Group demonstrated traditional Korean dances and The Palm Springs Jazz Group entertained the audience with their mesmerizing music. Lion and dragon dances are also performed for the Lunar New Year celebrations to kick off the New Year.
The Harvest Youth Ministry group located in our own Temple City also participated in this spectacular event by performing some dances and splendid activities. Their brilliant performance brings joy to the crowd.
“It was an amazing experience,” Temple City High School junior Vivian Chow states, “[It was both] fun and enjoyable, all the while spreading my belief in Christianity.”
Overall the Asian American Expo 2010 was a kick off event to celebrate the Lunar New Year coming up in February. Remember to mark your calendars next year to attend this fabulous event!
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Recent Entries
- Temple City Hosts Its Own Lunar New Year Festival
- Green Dream Festival Brings about Environmental Awareness
- Ailing Ex-Mayor Fails to Attend Hearing
- Temple City May Remodel City Council Chambers
- Catching Up with Former Editor-in-Chief Margaret Thi
- Pulido Named City Manager
- High School Red Cross Club Collects Funds for Haiti
- State Senator Addresses Temple City Officials
- City to Re-Try Live Web Streaming of Meetings
- Asian American Expo Boosts the Hype for Chinese New Year
- Temple City High School Induces the Jitterbug with Dance Concert
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