Cinco de Mayo Celebration

The city of South El Monte will be having a Cinco de Mayo celebration.

Friday, May 1, 2009

5pm-9pm

South El Monte Community Center
1530 Central Avenue
South El Monte, CA


Bring the entire family for an evening filled with entertainment. There will be music, games, falles, crafts, a jumper, live entertainment food and much more.


Boxing Show
At 7:30pm
Featuring Boxers from Southern California


What a great way to bring the community together. We expect this event to a blast and foster unity in the great city of South El Monte.


For more information: 626 579 2043

Nick Salerno to Become Superintendent of EMUHSD

El Monte Union High School District Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services, Nick Salerno, has been appointed superintendent by the El Monte Union High School District Board of Trustees.


Salerno replaces Furnald who announced her retirement effective July 1, 2009 after 39 years with the District.


We wish Mr. Salerno success at his new position and may he govern as a man of caution and reason with the interests of the students always first.

Tickets are Here!

The tickets for our June 4th Dessert Reception Fundraiser are here! Yay! A fellow El Montean donated the tickets for our event.

The tickets are crystallic! I attached a picture of a ticket taken from my digital camera I hope you all can see it okay. Expecting a big crowd of supporters on June 4th....!

Spring Into Summer Youth Festival

Spring Into Summer Youth Festival

Saturday, May 2nd, 2009

Time: 10am-8pm

Location: Salesian Boys and Girls Club

3218 Wabash Avenue, Los Angeles, CA Ca 90063

Contact Information: Jose Silva (626) 409-6499



Featuring: From So you can think you can Dance, Pop Lock King, Mr. Fantastic with DJ Irony and E.P.I.C. Battleground of 2009 b-boy and b-girl pop lock contest


The Following Activities Will be Provided: Open Mic * Summer job, college and health fair * Live Street Art * Slam poetry * Art auction * Live performance * Martial Arts Demo * Bouncing Castle * Rock Climbing * Face painting * Poppin and Breakin


We are confident that this event on Saturday will be a huge success for the community, students and parents. I look forward to see you there! We will have a booth there of information about our scholarship program and future events.

Have a crystallic day!

El Monte Community Jog-a-thon

Saturday April 25 an El Monte Community Jog-a-thon was held at Durfee School in El Monte.

What a great event! Parents, students, educators, and the community were out in full force participating in the jog-a-thon. Many booths were set up on health, wellness, nutrition. There were also free manicures, and hair cuts, and a healthy lunch of baby carrots, apple slices, juice or milk, and a veggie quesadilla on whole wheat tortilla. The event was free to the public and a encouraged a healthy, active lifestyle to the those in attendance.

Eating right, exercising and taking care of your body is essential to reaching your American Dream.

Sen. Cedillo Supports MVHS Boys Soccer Program

On Saturday April 25th Mountain View HS's Varsity Boys Soccer Program held a Pozole Dinner Fundraiser to raise money for their CIF Rings. It was great time with yummy pozole, a silent auction and MVHS soccer tshirts for sale. State Senator Gil Cedillo stopped by to show his support the program. Sen. Cedillo chatted with the young men and took some photos. Also EMHUHSD Board of Education members: Salvador Ramirez, Carlos Salcedo, and Esthela Siegrist with her husband, David, were also in attendance, when I stopped by late in the afternoon.

We are confident that God will continue to multiply the success of the soccer program at Mountain View and look forward to a winning season next year. There is still time to support the championship soccer team with a contribution. You can walk in or mail in your checks/money orders at:

Mountain View High School

2900 Parkway Dr

El Monte, CA 91732

(626) 443-6181

Checks are made payable to: Mountain View High School

Memo: Boys Varsity Soccers

The path to college is made available through the road of athleticism. We encourage athletes such as the soccers players at MVHS to parlay their love and devotion for soccer at the collegiate level.

501 Spotlight

I would like to introduce our readers to a great 501c3 nonprofit in the San Gabriel Valley, the

How Can We Help Foundation.

The foundation wants to reach out to struggling communities in the Greater Los Angeles area with caring hearts and open arms, asking them, “How can we help?” The foundation will then match resources to needs, focusing on youth and those who work with them, in an effort to break the cycle of need through empowerment.



Please learn more about the organization at: www.howcanwehelpfoundation.org.

Mountain View HS Soccer Program Fundraiser

Come support the Mountain View High School Soccer Team tomorrow...

POZOLE DINNER

SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2009

MVHS CAFETERIA

2900 Parkway Dr., El Monte, CA 91732

(626) 443-6181

$10.00 DONATION PER PERSON

Mountain View High School socccer team won the CIF Southern Section Division 6 Championship. We are hosting a Pozole Dinner this Saturday, April 25, 2009 at Mountain View High School here in El Monte from 1pm-5pm.

We want to help our athletes purchase their CIF RINGS and help our seniors with scholarships for their first year in college next year.

See you tomorrow...!!!

Scholarship Applications are Now Available!

The Crystal C. Chavez Foundation is pleased to announce that our 2009 scholarship application is now available!


Applications can be downloaded and printed by logging on to: http://www.crystalcchavez.org/. Look under Scholarships.


The Deadline is May 31, 2009.



Please email me at: crystal@crystalcchavez.org if you have any questions or need help with the application.


We will be awarding at least two (2) 500 dollar scholarships this year.

2009 Crystal Awards

The City of Monterey is accepting applications for the 2009 Crystal Awards.

Nominations are being sought in four categories: Leadership, Inspirational, Volunteerism, and Athletics.

1st place: $600
2nd place: $300
3rd place: $100



Applicants must be a Monterey Park resident (attending high school and 15-19 years old).

Applications can be found online: http://www.ci.monterey-park.us/
Look under:
City Government » Economic Development » Community Events/Services » Youth Advisory Board

I also believe that City Hall has copies available and their location is:

Monterey Park City Hall
320 W. Newark Avenue
Monterey Park, CA 91754

For more information please call: (626) 307-1385

Rosemead School District

The Educational Foundation of the Rosemead School District

Coordially invites you to attend our 150th anniversary dinner celebration.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

4pm-8pm

Doubletree Hotel

888 Montebello Blvd., Rosemead, CA

$50 per person

RSVP/Questions please contact:

Linda Mengel lmengel@rosemead.k12.ca.us
Rosemead School District
3907 Rosemead Blvd.
Rosemead, CA 91770

(626) 312-2900 ext. 212

Earth Day Celebration at Longo Toyota

The Earth Day Celebration at Long Toyota in El Monte was a success. The weather was perfect and their were many parents and children in attendance. There was many booths set up of information, a moon bounce, and arts and crafts for children and many FREE goodies! El Monte Councilman, Art Barrios, was there to show his support when I stopped by in the earlier half.

Other businesses that were there include: Valley Vista Services, Longo Toyota, Phoenix Waste and Recycling Services, TRI , American Reclamation, Sam's Club, and El Monte Environmental Department. We are excited about next year's Earth Day event and look forward to marching towards a GREENER community.

Fiesta of Books

26th Annual Fiesta of Books

Saturday, May 2, 2009

10:30am-1:30pm

El Monte Community Center

Grace T. Black Auditorium

3130 N. Tyler Avenue

El Monte, CA 91732

Hosted by: El Monte City School District, Mountain View School District, El Monte Police Department, and the El Monte Community Services Department

The event is open to children preschool through 6th grade who each receive two free books.


Fiesta of Books Seeks Donations for May 2nd Event in the form of cash/check donations payable to the El Monte City School District New Directions Office c/o: Fiesta of Books at 3540 N. Lexington, El Monte, CA 91731. Donations of used and new books are also being accepted. For more information please contact Roger Cobian (626) 580-2183.


Reading is very important in school and essential for a successful academic career. There is a lot of required reading in COLLEGE...and so it is critical that the love of reading is instilled at young age. Hope you can support this great event, and maybe even make a donation to benefit our children. The Crystal C. Chavez Foundation is a proud supporter of reading initiatives that benefit the children of our community.

South El Monte Library

So I stopped by the S. El Monte library today and chatted with head library manager, Roberta Marquez, for a bit. She let me know of all the great events happening at the libary like the program set to happen next week....

South El Monte Library will host:

"The Emerald Necklace"

A program presented by Claire Robinson of Amigos de los Rios

Thursday, April 23, 2009

6:30pm

Learn about this wonderful project and the Whittier Narrow Natural Area

@

South El Monte Public Library

County of Los Angeles Public Library

1430 N. Central Avenue (next to SEM City Hall)

South El Monte, CA 91733

(626) 443-4158

Green Valley Expo

LookinGreen.org presents

GREEN VALLEY EXPO

Saturday, April 18, 2009

9a.m.-3p.m.

Victory Park Community Center

2575 Paloma Street, Pasadena, CA

(just north of 210 freeway and San Gabriel Blvd)

A peek at the latest gadgets, products, and services for energy-efficiency and environmentally-friendly options.

FREE ADMISSION

www.lookingreen.org

(626) 200-6722

EM/SEM Chamber of Commerce 26th Annual Golf Tourney

On Friday, June 5, 2009 the El Monte/South El Monte Chamber of Commerce will hold their 26th Annual Golf Tournament at the Whittier Narrow Golf Course.

Cost for a single golfer is still $120-includes green fees-golf cart awards steak or prime-rib dinner-lunch BBQ, goody bag and refreshments on the course all day long. A corporate sponsorship is $570, this includes your foursome green fees, golf cart, a tee sign and a green sign, awards dinner, Steak or Prime Rib-entry in the "golfers only" raffle-lunch on the course, your company name in the program good y bag and refreshments on the course all day long.

The Golf Classic is the Chamber's only fundraiser and we hope that you will support this great event this year! Together we can work together to continue to foster entrepreneurship and a friendly business environment in Friendly El Monte and South El Monte by raising funds at the Golf Classic.

Call (626) 443-0180 for more information and to sign up.

P.S. If you don't Golf you can help us by sponsoring a Tee sign or a Green sign-only $100 each-advertise your business!

P.P.S. The CCC Foundation is a new member of the EM/SEM Chamber!

See you on the green!

Festival of Books

The Los Angeles Times in Association with UCLA

Presents

Festival of Books

April 25-26

UCLA*Free Admission

www.latimes.com/festivalofbooks

What is the festival of Books? The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books began in 1996 with a simple goal: to bring together the people who create books with the people who love to read them. The festival was an immediate success and has become the largest and most prestigious book festival in the country, attracting more than 130,000 book lovers each year.

I have missed this event in the past but hope to attend this year. Reading is fundamental for a successful academic career and hope everyone is reading often. Hope to see you at the Festival of Books next week!

SAVE THE DATE

Support the Crystal C. Chavez Foundation Scholarship Program:

Join us on Thursday, June 4, 2009

6:00pm-8:00pm

Dessert Reception

Proceeds Will Benefit our Scholarship Program!

Grace T. Black Auditorium

3130 N. Tyler Avenue,

El Monte, CA 91732

Tickets: $20

Door Prizes*Raffle*Sweet Treats

Eye Dreams, Inc.

Yesterday I attended a fundraiser to help a local nonprofit called Eye Dreams, Inc. The event was entitled: Poetic Dreams and consisted of Live Music*Spoken Word*Entertainment. It was held at the American Legion Building in Pasadena starting at 7:30pm. I was blown away from the performances and bought two of the CD compliations after the show. I will post more about the artists in another post.

I became aware about the work of Eye Dreams through my recent Pasadena connections. Eye Dreams is a 501c3 nonprofit that believes in "Creating a community of Overachievers. Eye Dreams hopes to develop strong, healthy communities founded on values, education, support and training. For more information please check out their website: www.eyedreamsla.org, where you can find out about donation opportunities, volunteering/mentoring and learning more about support the organization's mission. Please consider supporting your local nonprofits!

Eli Broad

The Los Angeles Times Saturday, April 11, 2009 Edition had an article about billionaire, Los Angeles philanthropist, Eli Broad.

The article entitled: Eli Broad dangels a carrot in front of L.A. Unified is on Page A7 written by Howard Blume.

Broad has called on L.A. Unified to let a nonprofit group manage its new arts high school. From the article: The Broad Foundation has pledged to contribute $425,000 so the Julliard School can allow dozens of public school students to receive up to four years of free musical training...In L.A. the billionaire donor has contributed tens of millions of dollars to arts endeavors.

Our education system, our schools and children are in need of desperate help. God Bless Eli Broad and the Broad Foundation in their quest to close the education gap for children in our neediest school districts. The arts is especially neglected area in our schools due to lack of funding, resources and qualified teachers especially in the areas hit hard with low-performing students and minorities.

I know that one day the Broad Foundation and the Crystal C. Chavez Foundation will work together to further ensure that the education of our students is taken to the next level in order to compete in the global competitive market place. Interested? Please check out: www.broadfoundation.org and www.crystalcchavez.org.

Pasadena Chamber of Commerce

The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce (www.pasadena-chamber.org) held a breakfast networking event on Friday, April 10, 2009 at the Brookside Golf Club. I made connections and became aware of great Pasadena businesses!

The business host for the event was the Pasadena Child Development Associates. a nonprofit 501c3 tax exempt corporation, that strives to design and implement innovative services in response to the needs of the community and current scientific knowledge about development and developmental challenges. The mission of PCDA, Inc. is to provide quality, family-centered, multi-disciplinary services for children with special needs using teh DIR/Floortime approach, and to provide training and consultation to staff, parents and professionals about best child development practices. Please check out more about PCDA at: www.pasadenachilddevelopment.org.

PCDA is hosting a fundraising event, please consider supporting a worthy cause: >>

Wine and Hors d'oeuvres Reception

Diane Cullinane, M.D.

Mimi Winer, R.N., M.S.

Executive Directors & Members of the Board of the Directors

Honored guest: Mr. Phillip Hain,

Executive Director L.A. Chapter of Autism Speaks

Thursday, April 30, 2009

6:30-8:00pm

Celestino Ristorante

141 S. Lake Avenue

Pasadena, CA

RSVP: (626) 793-7350

Amber at ext. 229

Rio Hondo Community College District

Rio Hondo Community College District Board of Trustees Meeting was held today at North Park Middle School, 4450 S. Durfee, Pico Rivera.

Many great things are being accomplished at Rio beginning with the introduction of the Geospatial Techonology Program offering courses in civial engineering, GIS, and architecture.

Commendations were given out to Pico Rivera City Council, Superintendent of El Rancho Unified School District Norbert D. Genis and Principal, of North Park Middle School, Mr. John Lopez. The City of Pico Rivera is a flourishing to be a thriving happy place to live, work and play...Keep current with Pico happenings by learning more at: http://www.ci.pico-rivera.ca.us/homepage.html.

Presentations were made by the Environmental Program update by Karen Koos/Steve Katnik and followed by a presentation of ACEDD-GIS.

The next Board of Trustees meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 13, 2009 6pm at Rio Hondo College, 3600 Workman Mill Road, Whittier, CA.

Valle Lindo School District

The Valle Lindo School District had a Board of Education meeting today where they honored the Dean L. Shively's PEP squad and the Science Jr. Olympiad team. Many families and students were in attendance for the award recognition and small dessert reception afterwards.

I made a presentation to the Board of Education introducing the Crystal C. Chavez Foundation and asking them for their support our mission to better serve the students in the area. My presentation was well received.

The Valle Lindo School District is located in the City of South El Monte
1431 N. Central Avenue, South El Monte, CA 91733 Ph. (626) 580-0610
Fax: (626) 575-1534 e-mail: mllabrucherie@vallelindo.k12.ca.us

Dr. Mary Louise Labrucherie, Superintendent
Mrs. Andréa Bidart-Oteiza, Director of Pupil Services & Special Education

More information on the Valle Lindo School District can be found at: http://www.vallelindo.k12.ca.us/ or by visiting the district office. The District encompasses the Dean L. Shively Middles School and New Temple Elementary Schools located in the City of El Monte.

The CCC Foundation wishes the Valle Lindo School District continued success for a prosperous and productive school year.

Grand Opening

I am pleased to announce a new company opening it's doors for business in Friendly El Monte.

Foothill Federal Credit Union held a Grand Opening Ceremony today at 1pm at their new location in El Monte located at:

Foothill Federal Credit Union

3580 Santa Anita Blvd., #J

El Monte, CA 91731

We welcome Foothill CU to our community and are excited to have them provide their services to the fellow El Monteans. EM/SEM Chamber of Commerce moderated the afternoon's activities. Whether you decide to open an account at a credit union or national bank servce provider, it is recommended that a savings account for college should be started as earliest as possible in one's life. Save, save, save that money because college tuition's have been steady increasing the past years. So please check out the Foothill CU and see if they can help you plan for college financing options. Branch Manger, Erika Idoni, is a very pretty and welcoming woman whom I am confident will answers all your banking needs in addition to the branch staff members.

More information on Foothill Federal Credit Union can be seen on the web at: http://www.foothillcu.org/. or by calling (626) 445-0950.

Start planning for how to pay college today!

University of California Accepts Fewer Applicants

Informative piece from the San Gabriel Valley Tribune today: >>

Associated Press
Posted: 04/07/2009 11:59:08 AM PDT

SAN FRANCISCO - Fewer high school students are getting acceptance letters from the University of California this year.

UC reported Tuesday that the admission rate for freshman applicants for fall 2009 was about 72 percent, down from 75.4 percent for fall 2008.

The lower admission rate comes after UC received a record number of applications and reduced freshman enrollment by 6 percent in response to state budget cuts.

The nine UC campuses offered admission to 66,265 freshman applicants for fall 2009, a roughly 2 percent decrease from the previous year.
Admission offers rose 4 percent for Latino students and 2 percent for black students. Offers declined 6 percent for white students and remained relatively unchanged for Asian students.

Celebrate Earth Day

Celebrate Earth Day at Longo Toyota hosted by the City of El Monte.

See flyer here: http://www.ci.el-monte.ca.us/pdf/earthday.pdf

Saturday, April 18th, 2009 from 10am-2pm

Scholarship Applications to be Available Soon

The Crystal C. Chavez Foundation will make available our scholarship applications later this week accessible online at: www.crystalcchavez.org and have application copies distributed at each high school in the EMUHSD through the career/college centers.

So please pass the word and let 12th students/Seniors know that they are qualified to apply for one of our scholarships.

Fundraiser tomorrow at Mountain View High School

Mountain View High School is having a fundraiser tomorrow evening to benefit the athletic program and Champion Boys soccer team. I don't know exact time, I think it starts at 6pm and tickets are $6 at the door.

The event is a friendly basketball game involving Mountain View staff versus South El Monte staff. It should be a great time and a low-cost way to raise much needed funds for our students. So please support our schools and make it out to Mountain View High tomorrow at 6pm.

Mountain View High School

2900 Parkway Dr.

El Monte, CA 91732

(626) 443-6181

P.S. Mountain View colors are gold and purple and South El Monte colors are gold and baby blue, so show your spirit and wear your colors for your favorite team!

El Monte/S. El Monte Rotary Club

Ms. Chavez and Rotary President Caesar Mayor.

Today I was a guest speak at the El Monte/S. El Monte Rotary Club meeting. I introduced the Crystal C. Chavez Foundation to the members and let them know our mission and future plans. Rotary is the world's first service club organization and it serves our community well. We look forward to working with the Rotary in the future and to have their support. We are proud and thankful to have such a vibrant club in our community.

Rotary is a worldwide organization of more than 1.2 million business, professional, and community leaders. Members of Rotary clubs, known as Rotarians, provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world.There are 33,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Clubs are nonpolitical, nonreligious, and open to all cultures, races, and creeds. As signified by the motto Service Above Self, Rotary’s main objective is service — in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world.

More information can be found by logging on to: http://www.rotary.org/

El Monte Community Jog-a-thon

El Monte Community Jog-a-thon

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Time: 8am-12pm

Durfee School

12233 Star Avenue

El Monte, CA 91732

Come learn, play and be fit!

5K Walk/Jog along the San Gabriel River Walkway

We are tickled pink that the El Monte community is hosting a hysical fitness event, this will serve as a great prelude to the Bike Rally event on May 16th which I blogged about last week. Helping students get on the path to college is great but equally as important is the promotion of proper exercise and eating right for our students. So lace up your running/walking shoes to Durfee School on April 25th!

Champions!

The Crystal C. Chavez Foundation would like to congratulate the Mountain View High School Varsity Soccer team for winning CIF Southern Section Division 6 Soccer Championship!

The MVHS soccer team was honored today at the El Monte Union High School District for their recent accomplishment.

The MVHS Soccer team needs your support! In order to raise funds to purchase their championship rings the team will be hosting a pozole lunch fundraiser on April 25, 2009 at Mountain View. We hope we can count on your support and see you there! More details will follow.

The team really needs your help to be the best in the league and to SHINE for the District, please consider contributing to the soccer program with your time, a monetary contribution, or donation of goods that can be utilized by the soccer team. For more information please contact Mountain View High School at: 2900 Parkway Dr., El Monte, CA 91732 (Phone: 626) 443-6181. You can also email me: crystal@crystalcchavez.org for more information on how you can help.

We are extremely proud of these young men who worked hard, and proved that they are #1 in soccer. Together we can make a difference and encourage and promote excellence with our students in athletics such as soccer, the arts and literature, academics, music, etc. as a path to college.

Rosemead School District

Board of Education Meeting Tommorow!

Thursday, April 2, 2009 at 7pm
@
Rosemead School District Office
3907 Rosemead Blvd.
Rosemead, CA 91770
(626) 312-2900