Temple City Voice

Temple City High School has finally found their most talented people! With a line of great acts, each one after the other, the talent show was a success filled with talented student performers.

At the end of the night, there were two winners who had tied in first place, Senior Ben Hogue and Sophomore JJ Bassette. Ben Hogue played “On Green Dolphin Street” on the accordion, while JJ Bassette played an arrangement called “Ipod in a Blender” on the piano.

Most of the participants sang their hearts out for their audience. Some of the songs performed included “Everywhere”, “Wild Horses”, “Man! I Feel Like a Woman”, “Breathe”, and “Beautiful Disaster.”

Two energetic group performers were “Kufuffins” and “Lightening Thunders.” Others like “Baller Chicks” took action by performing some basketball tricks while tying in some Hip Hop moves into their choreography.

One of the most complicated and mysterious was “Dancing with Death”. Makoto Halverson was able to slow down someone’s pulse by using what he had learned during the last four months of his training; it was utterly amazing! Of course, all of the participants were very talented and each deserving of awards.

Ultimately, each person who performed worked very hard, which was clearly shown in the talent show that night. It’s surprising when you find out that one of your classmates had that singer’s voice you never knew of. Maybe the next day, you find yourself sitting next to the person who performed that night and suddenly become best friends. It’s a small world after all, but everyone has his or her own talent.

Dragonflicks helped coordinate the unforgettable night that was filled with various types of singing, playing, and dancing. For people were not able to attend or don’t want to forget the event, there are DVDs available for $8.

This article was written by Jackie Zhang. It was published in the December 5, 2007 issue of the Temple City Voice.

Since the beginning of the new school year, new faces have sat behind the desks of old ones. After Ray Plutko’s unexpected retirement in June, Mary Jo Fosselman-King was promoted and took his place as the new principal of Temple City High School.

Kevin Herington and Kyle Douglas were also new additions to the high school this year, filling the two dean positions left by Sam Oramas and Mike Mooney.

Also, Michelle David was recently hired as the new assistant principal for the high school. David only served a short term at the high school and resigned due to personal reasons.

Dr. Kate Franceschini, the former Rampage, TCHS’s newspaper, advisor, was hired as the assistant principal, after King’s promotion to principal created a new vacancy within the administration. Franceschini officially joined the administration on October 29.

To fill the vacancy left by David, Kevin Herington was promoted from dean to assistant principal, joining Dr. Kate Franceschini. The new dean to replace Herington has not been approved by the board yet. However, his name will be forwarded for approval at the December 12th Board of Education meeting.

“I am very excited about our new administration – all have different strengths, lots of new ideas – and we get along great, which contributes to our administration as we work as a team,” responded King.

King elaborates, “We are very supportive of each other as we are all learning new things, and we are all looking forward to having a full team so that we can start to work more thoroughly on our specific job responsibilities and not have to do the work of two or three other people anymore.”

The administrative turnovers began early in April 2007, when Lawton Gray, formerly assistant principal of Temple City High School was promoted to principal of Oak Ave Intermediate School by the Temple City Unified School District.

After failing to obtain the vacant assistant principal position, both Mooney and Oramas both announced their resignations shortly. The District then appointed Herington to fill Mooney’s vacant position.

The vacancies continued to plague the district when former principal Ray Plutko announced his retirement in June. That sparked three vacancies: principal, assistant principal, and dean. However, District officials quickly found replacements, Kyle Douglas as dean, and Michelle June David as assistant principal.

The District has yet to respond to a call regarding the administrative turnovers at the high school.

This article was written by Angie Yeh. It was published in the Temple City Voice on December 5, 2007.

The application period for the position of Deputy City Manager will close this Friday, December 7, 2007 at 5 p.m.

“Applications for the Deputy City Manager position are beginning to arrive” noted the personnel analyst in the October 25 City Manager’s report.

On August 21, 2007, the City Council approved the job specification for a Deputy City Manager.

The Deputy City Manager could potentially succeed the current City Manager, Charles Martin, in six months after assuming the job. Martin currently serves two roles within the City of Temple City: City Manager and City Attorney.

At the August 21st City Council meeting, the Council agreed to a few changes to the job description provided by the City staff. The changes include adding a desirable qualification of living within a 25 mile radius of Temple City and reducing the salary range for the deputy City Manager.

“I’d also suggest that the salary be reduced…so we have room to negotiate” proposed Councilmember Fernando Vizcarra.

Councilwoman Cathé Wilson and Mayor Pro Tempore Ken Gillanders concurred.

The Deputy City Manager is expected to work closely with the City Manager. According to the job specifications, the Deputy City Manager will exercise “direct supervision over city executive, administrative, professional, and clerical staff” and assist “in planning, directing and reviewing the administrative activities and operations of the city.”

Mayor Pro Tempore Gillanders also suggested that the Deputy City Manager join a service organization in Temple City. However, Council agreed to postpone the idea until a later time period.

After discussion, Councilmember Vizcarra made a motion to accept the changes discussed at the meeting. Councilmember Capra seconded the motion. It was unanimously approved.

This article was written by Matthew Wong. It was published in the Temple City Voice on December 5, 2007.

The Temple City Board of Education voted 2-2 against placing the bond measure on the February 2008 ballot on November 7, 2007. Because of the tie, the Board could not place the bond measure on time for the February 2008 ballot. The deadline was November 7, 2007.

Concerns about the bond measure grew significantly during the School Board campaign season despite receiving positive marks when the District hired a company to conduct a poll earlier in the year.

Earlier in the summer, the Board hired George K. Baum & Company to perform a telephone survey among 400 voters, including property renters in Temple City, to determine if and how much voters were willing to support the General Obligation bond. The results were then published which showed those surveyed were overwhelming in favor of the bond.

At the October 24th Board of Education meeting, Chief Business Official David Jaynes reported that the bond will have an assessed rate of $55.5 million. Voters would need to vote 2/3 in favor of the bond for it to pass.

The focus of the bond money will be on Oak Avenue Intermediate School and Temple City High School.

On Wednesday, November 7, Board members Matt Smith and outgoing Board member Robert McKendrick emphasized that “this is the time.”

TCUSD Board of Education Vice-President Joe Walker disagreed. Walker “does not see support from the community” and Board member Emilie Cales agreed, saying “the community is not ready at this point.” Both voted against placing the bond measure in February.

The bond measure can still be placed on the June 2008 state primary ballot, should the Board vote to place it on the ballot.

Prior to the voting on the bond measure, there was a special presentation on October High, a mock drug and substance abuse trial and arrest provided by the staff of Oak Avenue and members of Dragonflicks.

Lawton Gray, principal of Oak Avenue, said, “If it reaches one student, it is a success.”

This article was written by Connie Lu. It was published in the November 14, 2007 issue of the Temple City Voice.

Welcoming warmth, family, and great food, Thanksgiving is a holiday that calls for a healthy intervention. Many dishes that are passed from table to table consist of extremely oily and fatty items. Simple substitutes in ingredients will make the overall festivities healthier yet still enjoyable.

First, the turkey. It is the single most important dish that makes a perfect Thanksgiving meal, and surprisingly has little fat. Removing the skin is one way to further reduce the amount of fat you consume that evening. Keep in mind that dark meat has more calories than white meat.

Gravy, the turkey’s counterpart, is one of the unhealthy components of a Thanksgiving meal. Use a fat separator or simply a straining tool to strain the fat from the pan juices of the turkey. To add thickness to your gravy, substitute flour for butter.

Stuffing may not be the best way to keep a healthy diet because its ingredients are packed in fat. Chicken sausage should be substituted for pork sausage, if your recipe calls for sausage. Fat-free chicken broth should be used, and include more vegetables like mushrooms instead of more meaty ingredients. The turkey should provide enough meat to feed the whole family.

Many families believe that having vegetables on the table is a compromise to having so much other unhealthy foods, but if they’re soaked in butter and oil, they’re just as unhealthy as let’s say, the biscuits. Prepare a salad, lightly drizzled with dressing and loaded with tomatoes, corn, and beans. Corn should be steamed and lightly marinated with butter.

Dessert doesn’t keep us from eating too much for dinner, sadly. However, dessert does play a crucial role in ending the meal with a satisfied stomach, not a heavy one. Pies are the most common dessert choices, and more commonly, pumpkin pie. Pumpkin pie is a great choice for keeping healthy if you use egg whites, fat-free evaporating milk, and a light crust.

People do choose to starve themselves in order to “save” their appetite for dinner, but in some ways, it can be more hazardous than we think. Sure you’ll eat more, but overeating is one step towards an unhealthy diet. Eat small snacks, possibly a light lunch, before the big night.

There are many recipes out there whether in cookbooks, television, or even the internet that show us how to prepare a healthy menu for a Thanksgiving meal. Secret techniques that don’t affect the flavor but the components are true life saving tips to creating an enjoyable night with no worries about gaining weight or feeling bloated.

Go to http://lowfatcooking.about.com/b/2004/11/24/a-happy-healthy-thanksgiving.htm for recipes and tips on keeping a healthy check on what you gobble up on Thursday night.

This article was written by Margaret Thi. It was published in the Temple City Voice on November 14, 2007.

Temple City will finally maintain control of the coveted state highway, Rosemead Boulevard. Come January 1, 2008, Rosemead Boulevard, also known as California Highway 19, will officially become part of Temple City.

Earlier this year, State Senator Jack Scott authored SB 910. SB 910 relinquishes state control of the highway to Temple City. Scott and Assemblymember Anthony Portantino carried the bill through various legislatives committees in Sacramento. The governor then signed the bill into law.

“With the City acquiring Rosemead Blvd. from the State of California, all local ordinances (parking, right-of-way encroachments, etc.) will now be enforceable” stated Temple City Public Safety Officer Bryan Ariizumi.

Beginning in January 2008, residents who live on Rosemead Boulevard will need a valid overnight parking permit in order to park between the hours of 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. The annual cost of a permit is $46. Residents may also purchase a temporary parking permit for $1 a night.

“If a vehicle is parked on a City street without displaying a valid overnight parking permit, a citation may be issued,” added Public Safety Officer Ariizumi. The fine for the citation is a minimum of $32.

Under the deal with the State, Temple City is expected to spend $5 million in improvements of Rosemead Boulevard. City staff have estimated a cost closer to $1 million.

For those worried about the added workload for the City’s enforcement officers, Public Safety Officer Ariizumi commented that “there will not be a need for additional staffing for the enforcement efforts on Rosemead Blvd.”

For more information about the acquisition of Rosemead Boulevard or about parking on Rosemead Boulevard, please contact Bryan Ariizumi at 626-285-2171.

This article was written by Matthew Wong. It was published in the special November 14, 2007 issue of the Temple City Voice.

The ballots are in and the School Board election campaign season has come to an end. Three political newcomers, Robert (Bob) Ridley, Janet Rhee, and Rachel LaSota, have emerged victorious in the November 7, 2007 election.

Of the six candidates, it was Ridley who obtained an outstanding lead with 1332 votes. Rhee and LaSota followed with 1221 votes and 1057 votes, respectively.

The three teachers-endorsed candidates ran as a slate, defeating incumbent Robert McKendrick, former City Councilmember Dan Arrighi, and former Temple City School Board member Joan Vizcarra.

McKendrick, who will serve out his term in December 2007, was in fifth place behind former Councilmember Dan Arrighi.

“Although the major media did not portray it, this was a very controversial and a rarely contested election,” stated Matthew Wong, a Temple City resident and political science major at UC Davis.

Despite major endorsements from both Assemblymember Anthony Portantino and State Senator Jack Scott, former Councilmember Arrighi and former Temple City Board member Joan Vizcarra did not win seats on the School Board. Both Portantino and Scott chair the Education committees in the state legislature.

Endorsements may also strain relations between the City and the School District. The candidates who lost won endorsements from Mayor Judy Wong and Councilmember Fernando Vizcarra.

Tensions may emerge between Board member Matthew Smith and the new School Board members. Smith endorsed McKendrick, Arrighi, and Vizcarra in the election.

Board Vice-President Joe Walker, elected in 2005 with Smith, endorsed Ridley, Rhee, and LaSota.

Both Smith and Walker wrote letters to the editors asking voters to support their candidates just a few days before the election.

The Temple City Unified School District is well known throughout the region for its high-performing schools. In recent years, Temple City High School obtained an API (Academic Performance Index) score of above 800.

This summer, a TCUSD student Deandre Netter was killed on Golden West Avenue. The new School Board members will most likely tackle the issue when they take their seats in December.

In addition to Netter’s death, the Temple City High School has had plenty of administrative turnovers. Before the new school year began, several deans and a principal moved to other districts or retired. In recent weeks, newly hired assistant principal Michelle David resigned her position at Temple City High School.

According to the Los Angeles Country Registrar of Voters, the official voter turnout in Los Angeles Country was 12.29%. Voter turnout among Temple City residents was 7.87%.

In the Temple City Unified School District, voter turnout was 14.64%. 2200 out of 15, 028 eligible voters casted ballots in the School Board race.

This article was written by Margaret Thi. It was published in the Temple City Voice on November 10, 2007.

Brightly covered tents were set up all around Temple City Park on October 27th, 2007 for the city’s annual Harvest Hoedown.

Although the event started off with a morning drizzle, the rain wasn’t able to dampen the spirits of Harvest Hoedown’s many entertainers. The Temple City High School Band performed several numbers followed by the auxiliaries who did a couple dance routines.

The brightly attired Brighterside singers sang a few hits including “Wicked” numbers and danced energetically. The women’s choir, concert choir, and elementary choir also participated in the show. The lively music brightened up the atmosphere and took everyone’s focus off the weather.

A myriad of booths were set up around the park selling a hodgepodge of items. From fragrant wreaths to glittery shawls, beaded bags to delicate ornaments, every object shared a common aspect-they were all lovingly handmade.

Every festive sign was meticulously painted by its vendor and each pair of snuggly pajama bottoms were made with care. Ceramic candle holders, wooden toys, and other crafts displayed the artistic talents of many Temple City residents. There were even tents where goers could get a caricature of themselves drawn or have their names artfully written by font artists.

The Harvest Hoedown also reflected the spirit of the Temple City community. Miss Temple City, Fei Yao, and her Honor court, Princess Alexandra Aguirre and Princess Katherine Tompkin were also present. They helped sell raffle tickets, took pictures, and mingled with the crowd. The Temple City High School Key Club volunteered at the many booths. They helped children with crafts and supervised the Bounce House.

Delicious smells wafted from the playground area as several Temple City associations set up the food booths. Kiwanis sold corndogs, popcorn, and iced tea. The Drill Team sold corn-on-the-cob, snow cones, and cotton candy. The Harvest Hoedown was a great way for a community to get together and show off its various talents.

This article was written by Christine Keung. It was published in the Temple City Voice on November 10, 2007.

The Piazza Las Tunas project is finally moving forward after having declared “a huge challenge ahead” the previous month at the City Council meeting.

The Piazza, approved in May 2006, has had fifteen months to commence construction. Residents have inquired when the project would begin construction.

The project, formerly known as the “Temple City Galleria”, must be completed by August 23, 2009. Failure to comply would result in a violation of the Developer’s Agreement with the City of Temple City.

At the August 21, 2007 City Council meeting, A & W Builders, the construction management firm for the Piazza project gave the City Council an update on the project’s status.

Louie Aurelio, Senior Project Manager with A & W Builders stated that the project was in line with the Developer’s Agreement. Aurelio added that a project presentation to the City Council would take place in September.

“[The] progress on the Piazza development [is] far exceeding my expectations” declared Councilmember David Capra.

On August 7, City Manager Charlie Martin noted that a second groundbreaking for the Piazza mixed-use development would occur in either October or November.

The Piazza Las Tunas project has generated staunch controversy since the idea was first presented to the City Council.

After approval of the project, a grassroots organization immediately formed to collect signatures for referendums on the project. A total of 1937 signatures were gathered, but the petitions were rejected by the City Clerk on the basis of a “technicality.”

The Piazza mixed-use development project is expected to generate about $800,000 to $1 million in tax revenues annually to the City of Temple City.

This article was written by Matthew Wong. It was published in the Temple City Voice on November 10, 2007.

Incorporated in May 1960, Temple City is presently in the process of updating its General Plan. The General Plan is a long-range planning document that was last updated in 2002.

On September 11, 2007, the Planning Commission requested updates from each of the task force committees. The Commercial, Housing, and Parks and Open Spaces committees were founded in July 2007 to assist with updating the General Plan.

In addition to the three aforementioned committees, a Communications task force committee was created in June 2007. The Communications task force committee is expected to give a recommendation to the Planning Commission in October.

According to Planning Commissioner Carl Blum, the members of the Communications team will “figure out ways to better communicate with the citizens [of Temple City].” The Communications team has also created three subcommittees: Media, Education, and SWOT.

Members of the team distributed SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) surveys to businesses throughout the City. The deadline to return a SWOT survey was on September 15, 2007.

Lorraine Lefler, Chairwoman of the Housing task force committee, praised the surveys, “We’ve gotten good comments from those [SWOT surveys].” Additionally, she reported that the Housing team was discussing density, secondary housing units, relaxing developments restrictions, and the hiring of consultants.

The Housing task force committee has been assigned to produce a plan to build affordable housing units in Temple City. The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) had ordered Temple City to have a plan for 978 additional affordable housing units.

Representing the Commercial task force committee, Commissioner Blum stated that the team had identified the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats of the commercial aspect of the City. He added that five subcommittees had been formed to assist the Commercial task force committee.

The Commercial task force committee has been designated to recommend ways to generate sales tax revenue for the City. Additionally, one of its goals is to find a way to triple the current sales tax revenue the City receives.

Speaking for the Parks and Open Spaces task force committee, Peggy Miller, the secretary, stated that members of the team had discussed meeting with the Commercial task force committee, buying land from churches, and attending workshops on grants that the City could receive from the state and federal governments.

The Parks and Open Spaces task force committee is responsible for working with the Parks and Recreation commission to find additional areas within Temple City for parks.

For more information about the task force committees, please contact Joe Lambert, Community Development Manager, at 626-285-2171.

This article was written by Matthew Wong. It was published in the Temple City Voice on November 7, 2007.