Hawthorne Press Tribune The Weekly Newspaper of Hawthorne Herald Publications - Inglewood, Hawthorne, Lawndale, El Segundo, Torrance & Manhattan Beach Community Newspapers Since 1911 - Circulation 30,000 - Readership 60,000 (310) 322-1830 - November 27, 2014 Wall Murals Promote Healthy Living Wall murals promoting healthy living were unveiled at ten corner stores throughout Los Angeles County today to recognize and bring community awareness to the commitment and investment these stores have recently made in converting food inventory and offering affordable, healthier options for their shoppers. Lawndale Elementary School District officials and members of the community gathered at an unveiling ceremony that took place at La Fiesta, where healthy retail transformation has begun with support from the County and school district. Pictured (L-R): Ann Phillips, LESD School Board President; Dr. Ellen Dougherty, LESD Superintendent; Martin Ramirez and Family, La Fiesta owners; Steve Baldwin, Nutrition Program Director at LA County Department of Public Health; Rosa Renteria, Champions for Change Mom; Dr. Paul Simon MD, MPH, Director of Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention at LA County Department of Public Health; and Operation Clean Slate muralists. Photo courtesy of Enrique Leon, FAME Corporations. Inglewood Council Authorizes Signing of Contract for Center Park Improvement Project By Cristian Vasquez and additional recreational opportunities. In a unanimous vote, the City of Inglewood However, these spaces must be “recreation City Council authorized Mayor James opportunities in the proximity to the most Butts to sign the 2006 Parks Bond Act critically underserved communities across Statewide Park Development and Community California” stated the staff report. In addition, Revitalization Grant Contract for the Center the staff report indicated that any projects Park Improvement Project. funded through this program must be of In March of 2012, the Proposition 84 grant benefit to the health of the entire community, was awarded to the City of Inglewood in families, youth and seniors alike by meeting the amount $2.67 million. Said funds are to be used to obtain and develop land for the purpose of recreational space. It was reported in the staff report that the City of Inglewood recently reached an agreement with the Inglewood Unified School District to purchase a piece of property measuring .86 acres. The land was owned by the school district but was “contained along with City property by a City owned fence and considered part of Center Park.” In order for the city to develop on said property it needed to have a property interest either through lease or purchase. Proof of the agreement between the city and the district was then to be presented to the Department of Parks and Recreation. In 2006 voters approved Proposition 84 [Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006], which provided statewide funds. The $368 million grant program was made available via the Sustainable Communities and Climate Change Reduction chapter of the proposition. With the funds, localities would be given the opportunity to submit applications to obtain a portion of the grant money if several specific requirements were met. The program awards competitive grants to localities that aim at creating new parks the “recreational, cultural, social, educational, and environmental needs” of every subgroup in the community. With this opportunity, the Mayor and Council decided in June of 2011 to submit a grant application in order to fund the Center Park Improvement Project. The staff report indicates that the work outlined for the .86 acres of land include: the construction of new restrooms with stall doors, additional and proper space for the storage of recreational equipment, energy efficient security lights with timers, an eight-foot high wrought iron fencing perimeter, security cameras, concrete picnic tables and barbecue pits, water fountains, a walking path along the perimeter of the park, exercise stations, irrigation system with smart controllers, playground equipment/surfacing and landscaping that includes natural turf, trees, plants and flowers. Of the $2,670,00 being provided by the grant, the staff report stated that $1,871,500 will allocated in the 2014-2015 fiscal year budget. City Approves Memorandum of Understanding with LACMTA The Mayor and City Council approved an amendment to the existing Memorandum of Understanding with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority for the La Brea Avenue Intersection Realignment. Amendment No. 3, which will be enforced by the mayor on behalf of the city, was needed because when the funding of the project changed due to the funds not being expected “to meet the expenditure deadline.” MTA allows for agencies to ask for funding extensions, when needed. When approved, these extensions are granted for one year after the original lapsing date of the funds. The La Brea Intersection Realignment Project is designed to improve the intersections of La Brea Avenue and Market Street, La Brea Avenue and Spruce Street and La Brea Avenue and Hillcrest Boulevard through the modification and upgrade of traffic signals, pavement reconstruction, sidewalk improvements and the reconstruction of curb ramps. Since staffing changes within the city took place, along with the required State Department of Transportation [CalTrans] having to approve funding adjustments, a delay to the project’s “advertising and bidding occurred.” The project has been amended twice. Amendment No. 1 addressed changes in the scope of the project while Amendment No. 2 dealt with the replacement of matching funds. This new amendment will extend the deadline for the expenditure of funds to June 30, 2015. • Inside This Issue Classifieds............................3 Certified & Licensed Professionals.......................2 Finance..................................6 Food.......................................8 Legals....................................7 Looking Up...........................4 Pets........................................5 Police Reports.....................3 Politically Speaking............6 Sports....................................4 Weekend Forecast Friday Sunny 74˚/55˚ Saturday Partly Cloudy 69˚/56˚ Sunday Partly Cloudy 67˚/55˚ The program awards competitive grants to localities that aim at creating new parks and additional recreational opportunities.
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