Temple City Voice

The Temple City Voice will resume publishing on January 7, 2009. Also, the Voice and its staff want to wish the residents of Temple City a Happy New Year.

Thank you for your understanding and support in 2008. We look forward to serving you in 2009.

Though the Temple City Unified School District (TCUSD) is currently meeting its budget requirements, Governor Schwarzenegger’s prospective mid-year fiscal reductions will almost certainly unhinge the school district’s financial stability. 

Proposed reductions of $1,800 a month and up to $1.8 million a year may force the Board to oust jobs, shorten hours, and suspend essential maintenance projects until further notice.

To mitigate a potentially crippling problem, the Board has readdressed issuing a $76 million bond for the district. Current plans are still being worked on before the bond is released to the public for voting.

Tentative plans for the bond concentrate around upgrading classroom technology and replacing Temple City High School’s recreational facilities-impending projects include outfitting classes with interactive white boards, wireless internet access, and laptop carts; and modernizing lighting at the high school, investing in a new pool and track, and erecting a performing arts center. Debate has been raised; however, as to whether the Board should prioritize building maintenance over added amenities.

With the input of district principles, the Board has revisited the idea of constructing a three-story complex in order to replace the older 100-200-300 wings. Though this would absorb the bulk of the bond, a new building would provide the means towards other provident measures.

The Board has expressed interest in “greening” the schools to save money. Ideas to outfit newer building with solar panels project a potentially substantial reduction in electricity bills, and the possibility of composting wasted food for fertilizer would further supplement the district’s languishing budget. Other states, high schools outfitted with recycling plants, reap precedential benefits of up to $30,000 per school every year.

Though the overall prospect has yet to reach a consensus, the Board is redoubling its efforts to prepare itself for the perfect budget storm.

This article was written by Jessica Liu. It was published in the Temple City Voice on December 17, 2008.

The filing period for city council nomination is now closed. Six individuals, including the two current city council incumbents, have expressed interest in claiming two council positions in the March 2009 election.

The main legislative body of Temple City, the City Council passes judgment on financial, zoning, housing, communications, and regional development matters.

Running for reelection, incumbent Ken Gillanders, an opponent of excessive hotel development and critic of the halted Piazza project, will attempt to reclaim his seat. Gillanders has consistently voted against projects deemed “profligate”, such as utilizing a student recreational task force.

Mayor Cathé Wilson also plans to gain a seat in the Spring election. A councilmember for sixteen years, Wilson combines frugality and cordiality to maintain both efficiency and harmony within the city infrastructure. Also as a Temple City resident for forty years, she draws upon previous knowledge, citing an economic downturn and education as key matters for the community.

Planning Commissioner Vincent Yu is also vying for the council positions. The Planning Commission deals with structural and physical regulations of the city, often acting as the “behind-the-scenes” task force for the city.

Parks and Recreations commissioner Tom Chavez has also pulled papers. He oversees the general status and maintenance of Temple City’s parks and activities.

Chuck Souder, a former city councilmember, will also run.

Silenus Ong, a political newcomer is also vying for seat.

The election will be held in March 2009.

This article was written by Randy Shun. It was published in the December 17, 2008 issue of the Temple City Voice.

Beginning July 2009, Los Angeles county residents will pay 8.75% in sales tax. Measure R, a county measure aimed at raising money for transportation purposes, passed by a 67.9-32.1% margin on November 4, 2008.

LA County Clerk Dean Logan certified the results on Monday, December 1.

Measure R required 2/3rds of voters to support it before it could pass. As elections officials were counting the absentee and provisional ballots, the tax measure began increasing its overall lead.

Campaign officials for Measure R were confident of victory despite an early slim lead.

The Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) estimated that each person would pay an average of $25 more each year. Passage of the county measure was also projected to include a creation of over 200,000 new jobs.

While a huge number of San Gabriel Valley elected officials opposed the county measure, funding of $735 million is still expected for the Gold Line. Construction is expected to begin in the mid-2010.

The year 2013 is when there will be an anticipated improvement in current services for students and the disabled. The Expo line that extends from Culver City to Santa Monica, as well as the Gold line extension, are early priorities of the development. A new bus way or light-rail line will be built in the Crenshaw district in Los Angeles.

City of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s project, the “Subway to the Sea”, could also begin. The subterranean route is predicted to run along the Wilshire corridor.

Los Angeles county residents should not see a reduction of traffic in the near future because the effects of Measure R will not reap immediate benefits until development of proposed projects.

The sales tax increase will remain in effect for 30 years.

This article was written by Chris Du. It was published in the Temple City Voice on December 17, 2008.

The City Council and Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich met at the Denny’s restaurant on Thursday, August 28, 2008.

Mayor Cathé Wilson started the meeting on a warm note, by thanking Supervisor Antonovich and the County for a $46,000 grant. The grant is for a outdoor fitness course at Live Oak Park.

Several topics were discussed, including reconstruction of the City sewage system and improving Rosemead Boulevard. A controversial topic regarding the Las Tunas Redevelopment Project was touched, but no immediate solution was proposed.

The Temple City public library was also on the agenda. A discussion about upgrading the county-owned facility involved a potential computer center annex, as well as expansion and renovation.

One councilmember noted the library was “old and outdated” and contained “furniture from the [1960s].”

Councilmember Judy Wong inquired about an expansion of the library, but County Librarian noted there would be problems in adding a story on top of the current building. Todd also stated it was cheaper to demolish the building and construct a new facility.

Because renovation of the county library would be costly, the City solicited the County for assistance regarding the matter.

The meeting lasted for about an hour. Councilmembers Ken Gillanders and Dave Capra were not present.

This article was written by Sophia Chang. It was published in the Temple City Voice on December 17, 2008.

We compare and want our children to be better than everyone else’s. We believe that being successful requires a job that pays well. Our children must get accepted to the flashiest of colleges.

This is how the stereotypical “Asian” parent is portrayed. This view is not necessarily bad, but it really pushes younger generations. The majority of these parents require their children to prepare for college, which means spending a lot of high school time.

What about college? Many parents never tell their children what to do in college. They assume that their children’s good grades mean they will achieve something outstanding in college. It is good to have goals, but parents should not have to push their own children because of competition.

One portion of college preparation is taking the SAT Reasoning test. “Study, study, study for the SAT!” is what many parents tell their children. What good does taking the weekend, a time meant to relax without worrying about school, to prepare for the SAT do?

Spending a few thousand dollars on SAT preparation classes at places such as Elite or ACI will only make one’s college application look good, but it will not prove much about the future. Studying for the SATs shows that one knows how to take the test. The real test, however, is being able to take the learned concepts and applying them to everyday life.

Also, a student must be able to focus on school. If a student receives straight A’s, that means he or she will be successful, right? Not necessarily.

The “typical” straight-A student is up later at night, not receiving the recommended amount of sleep. Even regular teenagers sleep late. Many become sleepy during the school day, a routine observed by many teachers. Students may be pushing for the “A,” but they sacrifice their overall health in the process.

Most people think that having the whole schedule filled with AP classes means that one is a genius that will inevitably have no social life because of all the rigorous work. This is definitely true. However, one does not need to take every AP class. Why would anyone bother to take every AP class offered? Personally, I choose to take AP classes only in mathematics and sciences because my goal is to become an engineer one day.

What happens after high school? Students, on the most part, transition into college, and the common belief is that a glamorous school will produce better scholars.

This is the crucial time where students decide on a career path. Only a certain top percentage of students are able to become doctors, engineers, or the like. Those jobs usually require painful years of studying; after all those years, one may decide to follow a more practical or more enjoyable profession, putting all of those years spent to waste.

So I encourage people to be happy and free, within limits, of course. Enjoy the innocence of childhood. After all, being a child is a relatively small portion of one’s life.

This opinion was written by Darren Lai. The views of this author do not reflect the views of the Temple City Voice or its staff. It was published on December 10, 2008.

Filling to the brim, Temple City High School’s annual Holiday Strings Concert saw packed crowds and parents, eager to listen to critically acclaimed music performing groups.

Every December, the high school hosts a Christmas concert of various musical pieces, ranging from classical holiday tunes to traditional orchestral arrangements. Three different groups, separated by age and level, perform handpicked music for all to enjoy.

Opening the concert, the Advanced Orchestra, led by Mr. Bert Ferntheil, sang out four diverse pieces. Created solely from incoming ninth graders, the ensemble began with two classical pieces. Ninette at Court, by Louis Saint-Almans, featured a marvelous balance between instruments, while Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings sent the air humming. Ukranian Carol and Feliz Navidad ended the Advanced Orchestra’s performance with cheers.

Tailing the Advanced group, a purely ninth grade ensemble, led by Mr. Phil Bailey, drew upon cartoon influences for musical inspiration. Hard bass beats bopped from “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and a medley of nostalgia rose from a rendition of “The Little Mermaid’s” various themes. Completing their performance was “A Day at Disneyland”, highlighting multiple Disney pieces.

Ending the concert, the Honors Orchestra, whose members must audition to enter, began with Christmas specials (Let It Snow!, Joy to the World), finished under the direction of Mr. Bert Ferntheil. The famous “Music of the Night”, from Phantom of the Opera, drew tears in audience members as soloist Jason Wu rolled chords. However, soloist Joan Kim incited a standing ovation with her “Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor”, a demanding piece brimming with octave chords and pacing sixteenth notes, ending the concert with a bang.

All of the Temple City High School orchestras have received a “Superior,” which is the highest, ranking from the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association.

The Honors Orchestra, which has played at venues such as Carnegie Hall and the Walt Disney Concert Hall, will perform for the annual Holiday Concert next week at the San Gabriel Civic Center next week.

This article was written by Randy Shun. It was published in the Temple City Voice on December 10, 2008.

While the sun went down and began its wintry, earlier-than-usual descent, hundreds of people from surrounding cities gathered on Sunday, December 7 for the annual event, Lights on Temple City.

The atmosphere was strongly child-friendly – the average height of attendees being below 4 feet – but parents and others of all ages found enjoyment in the array of activities as well.

From a colorful variety of homemade jewelry stands and booths selling baby clothes to two men keeping up a constant, somewhat comedic banter throughout the early part of the evening, entertainment was on all sides.

A mini-train snaked around the library parking lot, causing thrilled shrieks from its small occupants. And, as a true nod to the typical, “California Christmas,” children and their parents enjoyed the pleasure of a fake-snowball fight in the 60-degree dusk.

The light faded nearly perfectly in sync with the lighting-up of the park’s gazebo; the stage to Temple City High School’s Brighter Side.

Though the clouds opened and the slightest of raindrops fell, the cheery group still performed several “feel-good” tunes, kindling a spirit of merry cheer from the surrounding crowd.

Lights On Temple City gave a fun excuse to the community to start Holiday-ing a couple weeks early, and share some good times – and fake snow.

This article was written by Katie Brown. It was published in the Temple City Voice on December 10, 2008.

After the onslaught of terror in the September 11 terrorist attacks, citizens worldwide have been reminded of the shocking “Age of Terrorism” in which we all live in.

The United States has gone seven years without any major terrorist attacks within American soil and with Obama’s promise to withdraw American troops from Iraq by 2010, citizens are slowly beginning to distance themselves from the horrors of terrorism. But that easiness will be put into question as the Obama administration will face its international crisis in the Mumbai terrorist attacks.

On Wednesday, November 26, terrorists initiated a series of attacks that devastated Mumbai, India’s financial stronghold. Iconic landmarks including the Taj Mahal Palace were afflicted with shootings and bombings, killing at least 125 people and injuring 327 others. Indian natives have described the terrorist attackers as “foreign looking” and “fair skinned.”

The inadvertent initiation of racial profiling has subconsciously caused anyone who dons a turban, dark skin, or Middle Eastern features to be quickly held into suspicion.

However, these recent attacks have shown that the Islamic terrorist network is not limited to a local profile. The popularity of these networks stretch across Europe to Asia, attracting men and women who are willing to fight and die for extremist causes. These attacks are a gripping reminder that terrorism is significant beyond American borders and that the heinous crime is beyond the Taliban and al Qaeda.

To many Americans, these international attacks may seem distant and unimportant. They may even be a source of reassurance in knowing that America is no longer being targeted for terrorist attacks.

However, if anything, the attacks on Mumbai are a frightening warning of the frequency of terrorism. As a country and as a significant world power, we may be affected at any given time. How prepared will we be when these attacks do finally occur and when our guard is down?

This opinion was written by Leslie Wu. The views of this author do not reflect the views of the Temple City Voice or its staff. It was published on December 3, 2008.

The talent show at the gym of Temple City High School on the night of November 21, was a phenomenal performance that showcased the abilities of Temple City’s rising stars.

Giving the opening performance, Tianyi Cheng, clad in a formal suit, began with a classic piano piece.

Following, Amber Willard’s song was the first vocal performance of the night. With her remarkably high voice and shimmering black dress, she set a tough precedent for the other vocals follow with her heavenly tune “Angel”.

When Amber first appeared, she was seated gracefully on a stool in center stage, but when the tune picked up beat after the first chorus, she arose and paced around the stage, elevating with the music.

The next singer, however, did not let the first success overpower her performance, and gave an equally passionate one. Ariana Barret first appeared before the audience as a dark silhouette amidst a turquoise backdrop; then she took the spotlight.

The petite girl, clad in jeans, had hardly begun her song when she hesitated. “I’m sorry,” she apologized for her balk, but the audience was already won over and encouraged her to go on. Then the audience witnessed a transformation from timidity to bursting confidence. “Say yes I will, yes I can, ‘cause I am a Superwoman.” A strong, resonating voice carried these verses throughout the entire gym.

Water polo player/composer Jeffery Bassette then brought to us a riveting piano performance dedicated to the senior class of ‘09 and his fellow water polo teammates. “I was clueless about what I would be performing only 48 hours ago,” he admitted to the audience.

According to his onstage confession, the reality was that his water polo season was over, high school life was nearing its end, and his nostalgia and strong bond with his friends inspired him to compose his song.

The show then took a sharp turn in its ambience-Andi Lu and Brooke took center stage with a hip hop dance with songs from various popular artists. Their moves were snappy and clear, and completely unhesitant, and their countenances and wardrobe, consisting of matching tutus and mini vests, displayed the same confidence.

Nick Der then appeared in his bright red cardigan, and seated himself at the piano. He took the room with his very first chord, struck with a theatrical tango head-twist to the right. His movements were fluid and dynamic; he put as much emotion into his piece as possible. The performance concluded with yet another tango head-twist amidst roaring applause.

Act Two began with Hannah Mousa singing the classic “Over the Rainbow”, a song written just for soft, lyrical voices like hers. A rainbow illuminated the backdrop as she sung, and the entire room was cast under a spell. Her simple blouse and jeans only added to the relaxing effect her song had on the audience.

Christian Goin and Elizabeth Hawkins, then performed “Hear you me” by Jimmy Eat World. The pair’s voices were in sync throughout the slow song, and although they started out nervously, having each other on stage seemed to quell their nervousness by the second chorus.

There was then a “surprise performance” from Sarah Lazatin. A petite figure, she startled the audience with her undeniably strong voice that rivaled that of the original singer, Beyonce, as she encouraged the audience to “stand up for love”. At no point did her charismatic demeanor falter, at no point did she allow any self-doubt to tarnish her performance.

Hannah Hoague then lugged a weighty accordion onstage to perform the classic Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin. While one hand played out the main chords of the piano, her other hand pulled and tugged, commanding the symphony of an entire orchestra.

It was amazing how one girl could summon the same amount of intensity that an orchestra could, and although her fingers stumbled a few times, she would always glance up and smile, regain her composure, and continue on her way.

The talent show ended with another hip hop performance by Cassie Yang, Joanna Amores, and Katie Nguyen. Their dance consisted of a hip hop mix with several songs used in previous cheer performances. Chairs were even used as props for a brief chest-popping move.

Concluding the eleven performances, the first, second, and third place winners were announced. First went to Sarah Lazatin, second to Nick Der, and third to Hannah Hoague. The talent show definitely provided each performer with their “shot at fame.”

This article was written by Sophia Chang. It was published in the Temple City Voice on December 3, 2008.