Shakey's Fundraiser for MVHS Boys Soccer

You are invited to come out to Shakey's Pizza Parlour to help raise funds for our Championship Holding Boys Soccer Team from Mountain View High School.

Day: MONDAY
Date: NOVEMBER 22, 2010
Time: 5:30-9:30 PM
Place: Shakey’s El Monte
11420 Valley Blvd. 626-350-4411
GOOD ON PHONE ORDERS TOO

Just stop in at Shakey's this coming Monday, and tell the cashier you are there to help the Mountain View Boys Soccer Team.

Let' s get together and support the team. Go Vikings!

Veterans Day 2010

Veterans Day is this Thursday, November 11, 2010.

According to military.com we celebrate Veterans Day to thank and honor veterans who served honorable in the military-in wartime and peacetime, deceased veterans are also rembered on this day.

[Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, was originally set as a U.S. legal holiday to honor the end of World War I, which officially took place on November 11, 1918. In legislation that was passed in 1938, November 11 was "dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day.'" As such, this new legal holiday honored World War I veterans www.military.com]

As a military spouse, I know this holiday is very important for my family and millions of other military families across the nation and those stationed abroad. So please make time to thank a veteran for his/her service to this great nation we call America.

Local Veterans Day Observances:

South El Monte Veterans Day Observance
Nov. 11, 2010 at 11am at City Hall

El Monte Veterans Day Observance
Nov. 11, 2010 at 11am at City Hall


Don't forget to hug a veteran!!

Mountain View Boys Soccer Team

All of us at the Crystal C. Chavez Foundation and to the larger extent the community of El Monte/South El Monte is eagerly excited for the 2010-2011 soccer season to commence for the Mountain View Boys Soccer Team. We look forward to supporting the team in any way we can. More details to follow about an upcoming fundraiser for the team. For more information about the team please visit their website located at: https://sites.google.com/site/mvhselmontesoccer/home.

The Mountain View Boys Soccer Team has accumulated a total of 8 Mission Valley League Titles (78', 98', 02', 03', 04', 05', 09',10') and 3 C.I.F. Southern Section Titles (05', 09',10'). Great going guys! Athletics is another avenue for which to enter college and continue the pursuit of higher education. There is without a doubt a great deal of talent, hard work, and determination in these young men and we hope that they will transition this passion and zest for the game at the collegiate level.

If you are interested in supporting the team please contact me at: crystal@crystalcchavez.org.

Have a productive day,

CCJ

Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics

We will be watching, hope you can too!

As Hispanic Heritage Month draws to a close, the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics invites you to watch as President Barack Obama signs the new executive order renewing the White House Initiative at 1 p.m. EDT, Tuesday, October 19.

We strongly encourage you to plan a watch party to view this historic event! Join thousands nationwide in watching the President as he demonstrates his strong support for the critical role Hispanics play in the overall prosperity of the Nation and the Administration’s commitment to expanding education opportunities and improving education outcomes for all students. As the largest and fastest-growing minority group in the country and in the pre-K-12 public education system, the future of our Nation’s competitiveness is inextricably linked to improving education outcomes for Hispanics.

The attached tool kit will assist you in organizing and promoting these events locally. For details about the signing ceremony, see below:

What: White House Initiative Executive Order Signing Ceremony
East Room, The White House, Washington, D.C.

Who: President Barack Obama, White House Initiative and Administration officials, and key Hispanic national and community leaders

When: Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2010
1 p.m. EDT
Noon CDT
11 a.m. MDT
10 a.m. PDT

Watch Parties: Register your watch party.
Find a watch party near you.

Web Stream: View the Oct. 19 event LIVE via the Web at http://www.whitehouse.gov/.

The Great California Shake Out!

At 10:21 a.m. on October 21, 2010, millions of Californians will practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On. Many people and organizations will also practice other aspects of their emergency plans.

Last year, nearly 6.9 million Californians participated in the 2009 ShakeOut Drill statewide. The Great California ShakeOut will be held on the third Thursday of October each year.

Register now and join our goal of 10 million participants in 2010 practicing quake safety!

Californians must get better prepared before the next big earthquake, and also practice how to protect ourselves when it happens. The purpose of the ShakeOut is to help people and organizations do both.

The Crystal C. Chavez Foundation is proud to participate in the 2010 Great California Shake Out!

Wellness Fair and Health Expo

Greater El Monte Community Hospital will be hosting a day of wellness and family fun on August 28, 2010 from 10am to 2pm at the Main Hospital Grounds.

The Hospital is located at 1701 Santa Anita Avenue, South El Monte, CA 91733 and their phone number for more information: (626) 350-7908.

There will be health screenings and testings and free community health/wellness booths.

Hope to see y'all there!

Support the Nuvein Foundation!

Mark your calendars for a fun fundraiser on July 28th to support a local El Monte nonprofit raise funds for programming. See details below. Hope y'all can make it! Thanks for your support.

Have a productive day,
CCJ

The Nuvein Foundation for Literature and the Arts will beholding the 3rd Annual San Gabriel Valley Comic Books Festival in September and theFirst Annual Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Celebration in ElMonte in October. We are hard at work in making these events become stapleattractions for the city and neighboring areas.

In order to successfully promote and advertise these two events,Nuvein needs to pay for fliers, posters, banners, and other marketingexpenses.To raise some of the money, Nuvein is holding a fundraiser at Shakey's Pizza (11420 Valley Blvd, El Monte, California 91731) on Wednesday,July 28, 2010. The fundraiser will begin at 5:30PM. You can enjoy dinner at Shakey's and support the activities of the Nuvein Foundation at the same time.

Here is how it works. When you attend the Nuvein fundraiser along with your family and friends, Shakey's Pizza will donate 15% of net food sales from anyone who identifies themselves asone of our supporters.Please make sure that you and your guests identify yourselves to thecashier as attending the Nuvein fundraiser before you make your purchase. This is necessary inorder for Nuvein to receive credit for your order.

We hope that you can make this fun-filled event and support NuveinFoundation. If you have any questions, please call us at (626)401-3466.

Quote from First Lady of California

“California women are trailblazers in everything they do. They’ve made history by doing things their way. They didn’t wait to be asked. They didn’t wait to be invited. And they didn’t wait to be told. They just did! I love people who just do.” ~ Maria Shriver

California is a special state and it is our people that make the difference. Male and female, we are innovators, designers, engineers, athletes, musicians, artists, writers, mothers and fathers, planners, cultivators, risk takers, change agents, and the list goes on. So, what are you doing to make California great?

Congratulations Edward's Steak House!

Congratulations to Edward's Steak House as it celebrates 64 years of business in El Monte. If you have not had the pleasure of eating at Edwards please take time to visit this gem right next to 10 fwy: 9600 Flair Drive, El Monte, CA 91731-3097 (626) 442-2400

Happy Eating,

Crystal

From El Monte E-Newsletter, July 2, 2010:

Edward's Steak House Celebrates its 64th Anniversary
Edward's Food Service, Inc., the parent company of popular El Monte Restaurant Edward's Steak House, is celebrating its 64th Anniversary in Southern California. In light of the momentous occasion, Edward's is offering a special sale on its famous, Original House Dressing, which will be sold for .64-cents a pint daily through July 11."The reason we have been in business for 64 years is due in large part to our loyal patrons and our hardworking staff," said company president Ken Rausch. "We take great pleasure and pride in celebrating our 64th year. Being in the restaurant business today requires you to stay close to your guests, deliver what they want and exceed their expectations. We do this while continuing to uphold the values that have remained constant for us over the past six decades; offering our customers consistently high quality, fresh food and never compromising on service."Known for its cut-fresh-daily fine steaks, grilled fresh fish and super-lean ground beef, Edward's Steak House has been a long-time staple in El Monte. Edward's was even recognized by the California State Assembly, being awarded the Outstanding Small Business Award in the City of El Monte."Edward's is a really beloved establishment in El Monte and should be considered a model for other small businesses in our community," said Mayor Pro Tem, Patricia Wallach. "We would like to congratulate the Edward's owners and employees on this magnificent accomplishment and continue to wish them luck in their future endeavors."For more information on Edward's Steak House and their 64th Anniversary special please visit www.edwards-steakhouse.com.

It's That Time of Year Again...

Yes, it's everyone's favorite time of year again. It's the world-famous, annual Golf Classic benefitting the El Monte/South El Monte Chamber of Commerce! This is the Chamber's only fundraiser so your support will make a big difference.

The event is set for Friday, June 4, 2010 at the Whittier Narrows Golf Course with a Scramble Format. Check-In is at 11am and Tee Off at 12pm.

How you can help?

1) Golf! Individual Golfer tickets are only $125
2) Play in a Foursome: $450
3) Corporate Sponsor: $570
Includes: Green fees & golf cart for your foursome.
-Awardrds Dinner
-2 drink tickets per golfer
-Entry to golfers only raffle
-Two Sponsor Signs and name in Program
4) Or Advertise Your Company
Be a Tee & Green Sponsor $200
Be a Tee Sponsor $100

You can also DONATE a raffle item/door prize or VOLUNTEER the day of the event! With so many ways to contribute the Golf Classic, there is something for everyone!

I hope our community, especially our business community, steps up to the plate to help make this Golf Classic better and bigger that last year's. I know that together we can do it, after all, the Chamber is there to support businesses and entrepreneurship for everybody.

So iron those Tommy Bahama shirts, and bermuda shorts and I'll see you on the green on June 4th!

Golf Classic 6/4/2010 Benefitting the EM/SEM Chamber of Commerce

Phone: (626) 443-0180

Email: chamber@emsem.com

Fax: (626) 443-0463

Mail: EM/SEM Chamber, P.O. Box 5866, El Monte, CA 91734

California Cash for Appliances!

Please check out: www.cash4appliances.ca.gov for more information about a new Earth friendly iniatiative sponsored by the Golden State. You can earn a rebate for recylycing old appliances and purchasing a much more energy efficient one.

When does the program start?

The Cash For Appliances program starts on April 22, 2010 (Earth Day).

How long will the program last?

The program begins on Earth Day, April 22, 2010, and continues at most through May 23, 2010, but rebates will only be available as long as the rebate funds last. R ebates are first-come, first-serve and will be processed as received until funds are depleted. When funds run out, no more rebates will be issued, so act now!

Who qualifies for a rebate?

The rebates are available to all California residential consumers who do the following:
Purchase a new, qualified appliance model in-store at a California retail location during the rebate period (April 22, 2010 - May 23, 2010); Recycle an old appliance of the same type through a Certified Appliance Recycler; and Submit the required rebate application materials no more than 30 days after the date of purchase of the new model.

Start saving the Earth today, one appliance at a time!

Hispanic Graduation Rates at Local Colleges

An interesting article I found on the San Gabriel Valley Tribune online edition. (www.sgvtribune.com)

Report: Area colleges graduating higher percentage of Hispanic students
By Tracy Garcia, Staff Writer
Posted: 03/28/2010 07:02:50 AM

A new report says far too many four-year colleges and universities are graduating fewer than half their Hispanic students - but locally, Whittier College, Biola University and the University of La Verne are proving to be the exceptions. A recent survey of national college graduation data by the American Enterprise Institute showed 51 percent of Hispanic students who start college complete a bachelor's degree in six years - compared to 59 percent of white students.
The disparity holds true no matter the ability of the students or the reputation of the schools, AEI researchers said. Even many federally designated "Hispanic-serving" institutions are graduating less than 50 percent of their Hispanic students, the report said.
"These data show quite clearly that colleges and universities cannot place all of the blame on students for failing to graduate," said AEI researcher Andrew P. Kelly.
"Colleges struggling to graduate their Hispanic students should learn from the successes of leaders like Whittier College, which has successfully closed the gap between its Hispanic and white students," Kelly said.

The report shows Whittier College's six-year graduation rate is 63 percent for Hispanics and 58 percent for white students.
"Almost a third of our students are Latino, so I think they find a home when they arrive here," Whittier College President Sharon Herzberger said.
"But the things that are working for us to promote success among Latinos are the same efforts we make to promote success with African- American and white students as well," Herzberger said. "It's not a specific effort aimed at just Latinos."
That includes having a diverse student body, a strong financial aid program that enables students to continue their education and the school's Living and Learning communities, which pair groups of students taking the same courses.
As such, Herzberger said, students "get the opportunity to know the faculty; they have the support provided by being a member of a small class; and they get to know each other and upper-class students as well."
Hispanic students at the University of La Verne graduate at rate of 56 percent - two percent higher than the rate for white students. At Biola University in La Mirada, the AEI report showed an even better six- year graduation rate: 71 percent among Hispanics compared to 69 percent for white students. "I think that can be attributed to the relationships and quality of mentoring with the faculty, staff and students," said Carrie Stockton, director of academic advising and student retention. Last spring, the private Christian university launched a new Retention Council to be more strategic in getting all students to graduation, Stockton said. "Students make a connection here, and they want to stay and graduate," she said. "Biola provides the opportunity for students to have a Christ-centered way of thinking about spiritual issues, and that's meeting a need for students."
For the AEI study, researchers said they used data from the U.S. Department of Education to examine graduation rates. The schools were grouped by how selective they are in admitting students, from noncompetitive to most-competitive. The crucial factor to good Hispanic graduation rates, the study's authors argued, is having an institution-wide commitment to graduating all students. And with the rapid growth in the Hispanic population, it's particularly important to make sure all students are succeeding in their educational goals, experts say.
"Educating all students well and getting them across the finish line is the biggest challenge facing higher education today," said Hilary Pennington, director of Education, Postsecondary Success and Special Initiatives at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which provided the grant for the AEI study. "These are students who are going to replace the baby boomers," Pennington said, "and who we will rely on to drive our economy over the next several decades."

tracy.garcia@sgvn.com
562-698-0955, ext. 3051

He's Got the Whole World in His Hands

All of us at the Crystal C. Chavez Foundation would like to personally send our deepest prayers and condelecences to the family of Agustin Roberto "Bobby" Salcedo.

Salcedo a product of Mountain View High School and member of the El Monte City School Board, was gunned down with five other men on New Year's Eve in the Mexican town of Gomez Palacio. He and his wife were visiting his wife's family there for the Christmas holiday (San Gabriel Valley Tribune Online).

Nothing can prepare you death especially an unexpected and tragic one like Bobby's, but I (like many Americans) find peace and comfort with God and I know that He's Got the Whole World in His Hands. He allowed Bobby's life to be an example for us all and we should rejoice in celebrating his life and keeping his values alive and moving forward in our community.

Bobby, we will never forget you and thank you for giving us your life to celebrate and remember always.

Community Meetings in South El Monte

Attention all South El Monte residents, or those of you who can inform your S.E.M. friends/family/relatives.

The "City of Achievement" will be holding three upcoming community meetings to get input as to what uses residents want in a new community center through Prop 84 funding. Potential ideas for the funding include: boxing gym, fitness center, skate park, racquetball courts with locker facilities and community meeting rooms.

The meeting dates are as follows:

Thursday, January 14, 2009 from 6pm-8pm
Saturday, January 23, 2009 from 11am-1pm
Thursday, January 28, 2009 from 6pm-8pm

At the South El Monte Senior Center
1556 Central Avenue, South El Monte

(Find parking in the rear, behind Community Center or on streets)

There will also be a public hearing on Thursday, February 9, 2009 from 6-7pm at the City Council Chambers located at 1415 N. Santa Anita Avenue.

For more information please contact 626 579 6540.

Go. Get informed. It's your community and we should all contribute to make it a safer, healthier, more prosperous place to live. You also will likely get the opportunity to meet the new City Mayor, Luis "Louie" Aguinaga and the other council members.

You can also check out the city's website at: http://www.ci.south-el-monte.ca.us/

Have a productive week and chose to make it a great day.