Temple City Voice

The school board elections for the Temple City Unified School District are just around the corner, and it is never too soon to begin making a decision.

Residents who fall within the Temple City Unified School District must register to vote by October 22, 2007, in order to vote in the election on November 6, 2007. For more information on how to register, visit http://www.lavote.net.

Robert McKendrick is the only incumbent running again for one of three spots on the School Board. Board President Mukesh Luhar and Board Clerk Emile Cales decided not to run.

McKendrick’s opponents include: Dan Arrighi, a former Temple City Councilmember; Rachel LaSota, a civil service employee; Janet Rhee, a financial analyst; Robert (Bob) Ridley, a government finance officer; and Joan Vizcarra, a marriage-family therapist and former TCUSD Board member.

Arrighi, who lost in a historic Council election in March, is currently a Water Resources Manager of the San Gabriel Valley.

Vizcarra served on the School Board from 1989-2003.

The deadline for candidates to register to run was August 15, 2007.

This article was written by Jason Wu. It was published in the Temple City Voice on August 29, 2007.

At the June 6th, 2007 Board of Education Meeting, Chief Business Official David Jaynes gave an update on the Emperor Elementary replacement situation to the Board of Education.

Jaynes confirmed that designs for a five-classroom structure to replace the burned classrooms have been submitted to the Division of State Architect. The designs were submitted on May 8th, 2007 and approval could take about six months.

In January 2006, classrooms were burned at Emperor Elementary school. Recently, ATE Environmental, Inc. completed demolition of the fire-damaged classroom structure.

The District has estimated a total cost of $3.1 million dollars for the building. The District insurance company has only covered $1.5 million dollars. In the face of escalating construction costs, the TCUSD will continue to negotiate with the insurance company on “an acceptable offer for replacement costs.”

Construction is slated to begin in February 2008. Students will probably occupy the structure the following school year.

The re-building of the Emperor classrooms caused controversy among Board members in the Fall 2006.

In September 2006, Board Members Robert McKendrick and Matt Smith voted against a five-classroom proposal. One Board meeting later, a motion was made to reconsider an earlier decision regarding Emperor’s replacement classrooms, drawing concerned teachers, administrators, and parents.

At that meeting, Temple City High School English teacher Ryan Hoague suggested that the District keep the plan for a five-classroom structure to provide room for future expansion.

The motion to reconsider construction of a five-classroom building failed 2-3.

Emperor Elementary has the highest API score, 904, in the Temple City Unified School District.

In other matters, Temple City High School student Delilah Do succeed Adrian Chiang as the Student Board Member.

Herr Lichtunddunkel wrote this article. It was published in the August 22, 2007 issue of the Temple City Voice.

The City Council moved to adopt a budget of approximately $9.7 million in expenditures for the upcoming fiscal year. The previous fiscal year, FY 06-07, yielded a surplus of $1.2 million dollars. The current fiscal year began on July 1, 2007.

Under this year’s approved budget, the City is expected to renovate and expand the former Historical Society museum, make various renovations and improvements at Live Oak Park, install a new entry sign or monument at Temple City Park, fix the curbs and gutters on Longden and Lemon, upgrade the sewer line on Longden from Muscatel to Encinita, and re-roof the storage building at La Rosa City Maintenance Yard.

During discussion of the budget in May, Councilmember Dave Capra moved to place funds in the budget for the hiring of a separate City Manager. His suggestion was unanimously approved. However, on June 5, Councilmember Capra stated that he would agree to defer the hiring of a separate City Manager because of the City coming closer to controlling Rosemead Boulevard.

Councilmember Fernando Vizcarra disagreed with fellow Councilmember Capra’s plan to defer the hiring of a City Manager and stated that he was not in favor of doing so.

Mayor Judy Wong praised City Manager Charles Martin, stating that he has done a good job. She noted she was not in favor of a new City Manager, rather, she preferred a deputy City Manager to train under Charles Martin.

Since Charles Martin assumed the position of City Manager, some citizens have decried the Council’s action and stated that Martin’s role as City Manager would be a conflict of interest. Martin is also the City Attorney for the City of Temple City.

A motion was made to defer the hiring of a City Manager and it was seconded. It passed on a 4-1 vote, with Councilmember Vizcarra casting the dissenting vote.

Mary Burke, a Temple City resident, asked how long the hiring of a City Manager would be deferred. The Council reiterated that the hiring of a City Manager was deferred indefinitely, unless brought up again by another member of the Council.

Afterwards Councilmember Cathé Wilson moved to adopt the budget with amendments. The motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tempore Ken Gillanders. It was unanimously approved.

There is expected to be a $272,517-dollar surplus at the end of the fiscal year.

As of June 30, 2006, the City has approximately $29.2 million dollars in reserves.

This article was written by Matthew Wong. It will be published in the August 22, 2007 issue of the Temple City Voice.

Whether it is driving down the street or taking a nap in your own home, summer heats makes everything irritating and uncomfortable. Keeping cool at home is a difficult task unless the use of money and electricity are involved. However, some useful tips that conserve energy and save money can turn a stuffy room into something worth spending time in rather than outside in the heat.

Fans tend to only circulate air in the same temperature as the room; however, placing a tub of ice cubes in front of the fan produces the same effect as an air conditioner, without the cost. Also, using a fan saves more energy than an air conditioner, which saves money and prevents community blackouts.

Dehydration further stresses the annoyance of heat. Therefore, maintaining an adequate amount of water consumption throughout the day can reduce the amount of heat you experience. Chill water bottles and refill ice cube trays in order to ensure hydration.

Turning on many lights can also create unnecessary heat. By keeping them on for short periods of time will not only decrease electricity bills, but also keep you nice and cool. Instead, use the sun as a source of light by opening your shutters slightly to allow enough light to shine into your home. Opening a window may help, but it also allows outside heat to travel into your much cooler house.

With the oven baking and the stove boiling, cooking produces even more heat in your home. Resort to foods like sandwiches and salads that can be made without such appliances. Even buying take-out or dining outside can make you feel cooler and also help you continue to save energy.

Although avoiding the heat is impossible during the summer, simple money-saving tasks can help you feel more comfortable in your own home. Despite all these cool tips, staying only at home is not our only option. When all else fails, just take a trip to the mall or the market to enjoy air-conditioning that is not at your expense.

http://www.allthingsfrugal.com/keepcool.htm

This article was written by Margaret Thi. It will be published in the August 22, 2007 issue of the Temple City Voice.

Christopher Gilbert Lopez, 18, surrendered at the Alhambra courthouse on Tuesday, August 14, 2007. Lopez is the other suspect wanted for investigation by detectives in the July 25 drive-in shooting murder on Golden West Avenue.   

The other suspect, Philip Adrian Guerra, turned himself in on August 7, 2007.

Both suspects were originally suppose to turn themselves in after arrangements with family members; however, on August 7, police issued photographs of the suspects, because they did not do so.

Guerra is currently being housed in the North County Correctional Facility in Saugus, California. He was assigned there on August 12.

Bail has been set at $4.4 million dollars.

He is expected to appear at the Alhambra municipal court on September 19, 2007 at 8:30 am.

The murder of Deandre Netter has worried some residents of Temple City. At a recent City Council meeting, one member of the Council urged patience in allowing the Sheriffs to bring in the suspects.

Netter’s murder followed a local stabbing at Carl’s Jr. on May 25, 2007. Don Bailey-Meyer, 20, was allegedly attacked and stabbed in the parking lot. A hate-crimes team is investigating the case.

Lopez surrendered to the authorities at the Alhambra courthouse around 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Bail has been set at $3.05 million dollars.

He will be housed at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles. A court date has not been set for Lopez.

This article was written by Matthew Wong.   

The Temple City Voice community publication is pleased to announce the creation of two addition pages to this blog site.

In July 2007, TCV Founder Matthew Wong presented to the City Council a video of the operations of the Temple City Voice. Unfortunately, the video displayed poor quality. The video on the site is the correct version of what the video should have been like.

We are also pleased to announce the creation of a page devoted to the November School Board elections. Please stay with us as we attempt to reach out to the different candiates running for the School Board. We will attempt to provide as much information about these candidates in the weeks to come.

Philip Adrian Guerra, a person of interest in the Deandre Netter murder case has turned himself in to the authorities. Guerra is one of two suspects wanted by detectives in connection to the July 25, 2007 drive-in shooting on Golden West Avenue.

Authorities issued arrest warrants for Guerra and Christopher Gilbert Lopez, both 18 and from Temple City, on Thursday, August 2. Both suspects were expected to turn themselves in after relatives made arrangements with the police. Police began releasing photographs of the suspects last Tuesday, August 7.

The murder of Deandre Netter has frightened many citizens living in Temple City. Although city officials have claimed that this is a rare incident, some citizens still fear that the murder marks the beginning of an increased crime wave.

Netter’s murder follows the May 25, 2007 stabbing at Temple City’s Carl’s Jr. Temple City resident Don Bailey-Meyer, 20, was allegedly attacked and stabbed in the parking lot.

Guerra turned himself at the Los Angeles County Sheriffs – Temple Station at 5:30 p.m. on August 7, 2007. He was booked shortly after at 6:18 p.m.

Bail has been set at $4.4 million dollars.

Guerra is currently being housed in the Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles. He is expected to appear at the Alhambra Municipal Court on September 19, 2007 at 8:30 a.m.

Christopher Gilbert Lopez, the other wanted suspect, is still at large. Anyone with any information should call the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department.

Source: PSN

This article was written by Matthew Wong. It will be published in the Temple City Voice on August 15, 2007.

Like our paper publication, the Temple City Voice, I am proud to announce the creation of a “Calendar” page to inform residents about upcoming events. If you have an event you wish to be published, please send an e-mail to templecityvoice@yahoo.com or contact Matthew at the TCV number.

I am also pleased to announce that I have revised the “About” page, which gives a brief description about the TCV and its goals.  

Hello and welcome to the Temple City Voice blog site. The Temple City Voice is a local community publication serving the City of Temple City.

Currently, we are testing out this blog site to continue to modernize the way we inform the residents of Temple City about events. In the future, we hope to publish news stories on this blog site and on newspaper.

 Please have patience as we continue to test all the new features of this blog site.